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#1
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Refrig victim of Sandy
My bad, did not unplug refer during the power outage. Smelled
something electrical when it came back online. Refrigerator section get semi-cool, freezer compartment 36-38. Lights work, ice maker doesn't Model is a 1988 Whirlpool so I am not adverse to replacing it. That said I'd prefer not to toss it out if some $20 component on the back can be swapped out. After the storm road and gas conditions mean I have plenty of time to investigate. Where should I start? Or is it a lost cause? |
#2
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Refrig victim of Sandy
Sniff around, find the electrical smell. Look for signs of burn. Let us know
what you find. Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. "Jim" wrote in message ... My bad, did not unplug refer during the power outage. Smelled something electrical when it came back online. Refrigerator section get semi-cool, freezer compartment 36-38. Lights work, ice maker doesn't Model is a 1988 Whirlpool so I am not adverse to replacing it. That said I'd prefer not to toss it out if some $20 component on the back can be swapped out. After the storm road and gas conditions mean I have plenty of time to investigate. Where should I start? Or is it a lost cause? |
#3
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If the power just came back on recently, then the reason your freezer compartment is above freezing may just be due to the fridge having warmed up while the power was off.
I really don't see any reason to unplug a fridge during a power outage. When the power comes back on, the fridge will start operating again. I don't see how the power coming back on would harm the fridge if it was plugged in. On a frost free fridge, both the fridge compressor and the evaporator fan should turn on and off at the same time. So, listen for the compressor running while you feel for a draft in the freezer compartment. You should both hear the compressor running and feel a draft, or not hear the compressor and not feel a draft. You shouldn't have one without the other. If neither the compressor nor the evaporator fan are operating, then either the thermostat isn't calling for cold, or the defrost timer is stuck in the defrost cycle. In that case, turn the fridge cold control higher (colder) to start the compressor and evaporator fan. And, if that doesn't work, then locate your defrost timer. It will have a shaft on it that's specially designed so that it can only be manually turned with a screw driver in one direction. That's because you will damage the defrost timer if you turn that shaft in the wrong direction. Turn the shaft on the defrost timer to advance it until the fridge comes back on again. If the fridge is working, and you can feel a draft in the freezer compartment as long as the compressor is running, then get back to us and confirm that that much (at least) is working properly. Last edited by nestork : November 4th 12 at 06:54 AM |
#4
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Refrig victim of Sandy
On Nov 3, 7:30*pm, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote: Sniff around, find the electrical smell. Look for signs of burn. Let us know what you find. Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus *www.lds.org . "Jim" wrote in message ... My bad, did not unplug refer during the power outage. *Smelled something electrical when it came back online. Refrigerator section get semi-cool, freezer compartment 36-38. Lights work, ice maker doesn't Model is a 1988 Whirlpool so I am not adverse to replacing it. That said I'd prefer not to toss it out if some $20 component on the back can be swapped out. After the storm road and gas conditions mean I have plenty of time to investigate. *Where should I start? *Or is it a lost cause? You have to make sure the timer motor that does the auto-defrost is not burned out, that might be what you smelled. Take off the kick plate and pull the refrig out from the wall so you can see/small all four sides, then plug is in and watch closely. You need to figure out if the compressor is working or not. If it gets cool in the refrig section and down to 25 in the freezer, the compressor is probably ok. As far as temps are concerned, allow at least 8 -10 hours for the refrig and freezer to settle to a final temp. You not only have to cool the interior, but also all the insulation in the walls, base, door, and top, and that does take quite a few hours, before equilibrium is reached. |
#5
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Refrig victim of Sandy
No visible signs of shorting. Fan works. Compressor hot to the
touch. Overnight the freezer compartment did make it down to 30 degrees. Switch assembly on side of the compressor is unlike others seen at repairclinic.com. Wires connect to a device JSU18X126AQW which I can reference anywhere. Beginning to think being a 1988 purchase the time may have come to replace it anyhow. On 11/03/2012 08:30 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote: Sniff around, find the electrical smell. Look for signs of burn. Let us know what you find. |
#6
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Refrig victim of Sandy
If you're not averse to replacing it, newer ones are more energy-efficient and have nicer features- better-designed shelving, more drawers, etc.
Worth getting a new one. |
#7
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If this is a 1988 fridge, it's 24 years old now. I'd go up to $200 on the repair. If it's gonna cost you more than $200 to repair it, then I'd spring for a new fridge.
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#8
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Refrig victim of Sandy
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#9
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Refrig victim of Sandy
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#10
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Refrig victim of Sandy
On 11/03/2012 03:17 PM, Jim wrote:
My bad, did not unplug refer during the power outage. Smelled something electrical when it came back online. Refrigerator section get semi-cool, freezer compartment 36-38. Lights work, ice maker doesn't Model is a 1988 Whirlpool so I am not adverse to replacing it. That said I'd prefer not to toss it out if some $20 component on the back can be swapped out. After the storm road and gas conditions mean I have plenty of time to investigate. Where should I start? Or is it a lost cause? Now I'm confused. Temp shows -6f. Making ice cubes. |
#11
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Refrig victim of Sandy
On Nov 4, 3:24*pm, Jim wrote:
On 11/03/2012 03:17 PM, Jim wrote: My bad, did not unplug refer during the power outage. *Smelled something electrical when it came back online. Refrigerator section get semi-cool, freezer compartment 36-38. Lights work, ice maker doesn't Model is a 1988 Whirlpool so I am not adverse to replacing it. That said I'd prefer not to toss it out if some $20 component on the back can be swapped out. After the storm road and gas conditions mean I have plenty of time to investigate. *Where should I start? *Or is it a lost cause? Now I'm confused. *Temp shows -6f. *Making ice cubes. As I said, yuou meed to give it time to stabilize. When you tried it last time, the deforst timer might have been at the start of a 1-hour defrost cycle, delaying the start of cooling. Keep an eye on it for a few days, and then relax and enjoy the $$$ you have saved. |
#12
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Refrig victim of Sandy
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#13
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Refrig victim of Sandy
If it's running constantly more than a couple of days after resuming operation then it's likely low on coolant and that means using a ton of electricity. Further increasing what you'd save by replacing it.
Also, some utilities (Con Ed in NY, for one) has or had a program where they'd pay you to give up old appliances (as long as they're working) such as fridges and air conditioners. |
#14
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Refrig victim of Sandy
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