An ageing relative (95 years old) has just had her fridge moved from
the garage into the kitchen, with the kitchen heate to about 22C, and
the fridge doesn't function properly, only getting down to about 12C.

Is this likely to be because the cooling matrix on the back of the fridge
cannot dissipate heat once the temperature of the compressed gas
has fallen below the ambient room temperature?

On Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at 11:31:48 PM UTC+1, gareth wrote:
An ageing relative (95 years old) has just had her fridge moved from
the garage into the kitchen, with the kitchen heate to about 22C, and
the fridge doesn't function properly, only getting down to about 12C.

Is this likely to be because the cooling matrix on the back of the fridge
cannot dissipate heat once the temperature of the compressed gas
has fallen below the ambient room temperature?

No.
22Deg should be no problem at all.
Likely lost gas.
Symptom is that it runs continuously but never achieves set temperature.

On 10/06/2015 23:29, gareth wrote:

An ageing relative (95 years old) has just had her fridge moved from
the garage into the kitchen, with the kitchen heate to about 22C, and
the fridge doesn't function properly, only getting down to about 12C.

Is this likely to be because the cooling matrix on the back of the fridge
cannot dissipate heat once the temperature of the compressed gas
has fallen below the ambient room temperature?

Yes. The fridge is now only able to maintain a small differential from
ambient. Probably because it has lost coolant over the years.

The compressor should be producing an output gas flow that is
significantly hotter than 22C. Loss of coolant is the most likely cause
and I suspect the thing wasn't really working properly in the garage
(either that or you switched it on again too soon after moving it). It
is just that most of the time that garage was cool enough that the puny
efforts of the heat pump could just about reach 4C (ambient - 10).

If you put it back in the garage check that it is actually working
correctly as a fridge and reaching 4C internally. New fridge needed.

The usual problem is the other way around. Many modern fridge and
freezers use a refridgerant mix that will only work in a warm house
environment and will turn into a liquid in winter garage temperatures.
No evaporation means no cooling and is disastrous for a freezer.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

On Wednesday, 10 June 2015 23:31:48 UTC+1, gareth wrote:
An ageing relative (95 years old) has just had her fridge moved from
the garage into the kitchen, with the kitchen heate to about 22C, and
the fridge doesn't function properly, only getting down to about 12C.

Is this likely to be because the cooling matrix on the back of the fridge
cannot dissipate heat once the temperature of the compressed gas
has fallen below the ambient room temperature?

No. Causes include saturated insulation, loss of refrigerant, faulty thermostat, broken door seal. 1,2,4 cause the compressor to run continuously, with 3 it doesn't.


NT

In article ,
writes:
On Wednesday, 10 June 2015 23:31:48 UTC+1, gareth wrote:
An ageing relative (95 years old) has just had her fridge moved from
the garage into the kitchen, with the kitchen heate to about 22C, and
the fridge doesn't function properly, only getting down to about 12C.

Is this likely to be because the cooling matrix on the back of the fridge
cannot dissipate heat once the temperature of the compressed gas
has fallen below the ambient room temperature?

No. Causes include saturated insulation, loss of refrigerant, faulty thermostat, broken door seal. 1,2,4 cause the compressor to run continuously, with 3 it doesn't.

Also, no airflow over the condensor (external hot element), due to being
clogged with dust or having been installed in a situation which prevents
free air circulation over it, or in fridges with compact condensors which
use fan driven forced-air cooling, fan not working.

Also, some old fridges with an ice box and a defrost button - button has
got pressed.

Also, fridge not leveled on the floor so the door is jarred and not sealing.
(Test the door seal grips a till receipt all the way around.)

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

"Jonno" wrote in message
...
gareth scribbled


An ageing relative (95 years old) has just had her fridge moved from
the garage into the kitchen, with the kitchen heate to about 22C, and
the fridge doesn't function properly, only getting down to about 12C.

Is this likely to be because the cooling matrix on the back of the fridge
cannot dissipate heat once the temperature of the compressed gas
has fallen below the ambient room temperature?


Yes

http://www.whitegoodshelp.co.uk/can-...r-in-a-garage/

That's the opposite of what she has done.

The problem also is that over time theinsulation of the fridge can degrade,
making the heat pump go into overdrive and still not get the temperature
down. Might just have been damaged by the move and needs either repairing or
a new unit.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Jonno" wrote in message
...
gareth scribbled


An ageing relative (95 years old) has just had her fridge moved from
the garage into the kitchen, with the kitchen heate to about 22C, and
the fridge doesn't function properly, only getting down to about 12C.

Is this likely to be because the cooling matrix on the back of the fridge
cannot dissipate heat once the temperature of the compressed gas
has fallen below the ambient room temperature?


Yes

http://www.whitegoodshelp.co.uk/can-...r-in-a-garage/