The situation when in a two-chamber refrigerator Atlant the upper compartment stops cooling, and the freezer continues to work properly, familiar to many owners of this equipment. Often this does not mean a breakdown, but indicates the need for proper adjustment or temporary shutdown of the main cooling circuit to save energy. Understanding the operating principle of the system No Frost or drip defrosting allows you to effectively manage the modes.
Owners often look for ways to insulate the upper compartment in order to use it as a cabinet or prevent food spoilage in the event of a malfunction. It is important to immediately note that, structurally, refrigerators Atlant most often have one common compressorthat drives the refrigerant through both circuits. You can completely “turn off” the upper part, leaving the lower part, only programmatically (via a thermostat) or mechanically shutting off the freon supply, if the model allows such a modification, which requires the intervention of a specialist.
In this article we will analyze the technical nuances of setting thermostats, features of the operation of dampers in systems with one motor and methods to achieve the desired temperature conditions. You will learn how to correctly set the parameters so that ice remains in the freezer, and the temperature in the refrigerator compartment rises to room temperature or near zero, depending on your goals.
The principle of operation of a dual-circuit cooling system
Most models Atlant, especially series with one compressor, use a sequential circulation scheme refrigerant Freon first passes through the evaporator of the freezer, cooling it to very low temperatures, and then enters the refrigeration circuit. That is why the freezer is always colder, and it is the one that receives the cold first.
If you want the freezer to work, and the upper chamber not to freeze, you need to understand the work thermostat. In classic models, the thermostat is installed in the refrigerator compartment. It measures the air temperature there and commands the compressor to turn on or off. The freezer in this combination is always a “slave”: it freezes only when the compressor is running according to a signal from above.
Why can’t you just shut off the tube?
Physically pinching the copper tube of the capillary without evacuating the system and replacing freon will lead to depressurization and the refrigerator stops completely. This is a complex technical operation.
There are models with a system Full No Frost and two evaporators, where a system of dampers and fans is responsible for the distribution of cold. In such units electronic module he decides where to direct the flow of cold air. Disabling the upper compartment here occurs programmatically, by setting the "Vacation" mode or closing the air damper.
Setting the thermostat for insulating chambers
The safest and most common way to ensure that only the freezer compartment works is to competently manipulate the thermostat. On mechanical models Atlant the control knob is usually located inside the refrigerator compartment or on the front panel. By turning the knob to the minimum position (often indicated by the number 1 or the word "Min"), you reduce the operating time of the compressor.
However, if you set the thermostat to a minimum, the compressor may stop turning on altogether if the temperature in the upper chamber rises above the response threshold. In this case, the freezer will also stop freezing. Here lies the main nuance: in order for the freezer to work and the top not to freeze, you need to find a balance in which the compressor rarely turns on, but the freezer manages to maintain minus.
- ❄️ Set the thermostat to the middle position and wait 2-3 hours for the cycle to stabilize.
- 🌡️ If it is too cold in the refrigerator compartment, turn the knob towards decreasing power (counterclockwise).
- 🔊 Monitor the frequency of switching on: if the compressor is silent for hours, the freezer will begin to defrost.
- 🧊 Use an additional thermometer inside the chambers to accurately monitor the indicators.
In some cases, if you need to turn it off completely cooling the upper compartment (for example, for storing vegetables at above-zero temperatures in winter on the balcony, although this is not recommended by the instructions), users resort to turning up the thermostat itself. This requires removing the handle and adjusting the screws under the sensor housing, which is technical intervention.
⚠️ Attention: Adjusting the internal screw of the thermostat will reset the factory settings. If you are not sure of your actions, it is better to contact a specialist, otherwise you may disrupt the operating mode of the entire unit.
Using the "Vacation" mode and electronic panels
Modern refrigerators Atlant with electronic control are often equipped with a special function that is ideal for your task. Mode "Vacation" (or "Eco","Holiday") is designed specifically for situations when the owners leave for a long time. In this mode, the refrigerator compartment turns off (the temperature in it rises to +15...+17°C), and the freezer continues to operate as normal.
Activation of this function usually occurs through the control panel on the door. You don't need to reach inside the case or turn screws. Just press the appropriate button or key combination. An indicator will light up on the display, indicating that the main cooling circuit of the upper compartment is blocked.
The advantage of electronic control is accuracy. Microprocessor it controls the operation of the compressor and fans, preventing the lower compartment from defrosting. This is the most civilized way to solve the problem without the risk of damaging the equipment.
| Control type | Shutdown method | Risk of error | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | Adjusting the thermostat knob | High (experience required) | Medium |
| Electronic | Vacation button / Menu | Low | High |
| Combined | Switch + thermostat | Medium | High |
| Smart / Wi-Fi | Application on a smartphone | Low | Maximum |
If you have a model with a display, but there is no "Vacation" button, try holding down the key combination (often it is "Freeze" and “Defrost” simultaneously for 3-5 seconds). It is better to check the exact combination for your model in the instructions, since the logic of operation Atlant it is better to clarify in the instructions, since the logic of operation display panels may differ in different years of manufacture.
Mechanical methods of limiting the flow cold
In older models or in the absence of electronics, users sometimes resort to physical limitation of heat transfer. If your goal is not to save electricity, but to preserve food in the freezer when the upper thermostat malfunctions, you can use the insulation method. The point is to prevent cold air from the freezer from entering the upper compartment if, for example, a glass shelf there is broken or the seal is broken.
One of the methods is to block the air supply channel. In systems No Frost the cold is pumped by a fan through an air duct. If you carefully remove the plastic panel in the freezer (usually the back wall), you can find the damper. Its forced closing (fixation in the closed position) will block the upward flow of cold air.
☑️ Check before intervention
However, this method has a downside. If you block the channel through which the cold escapes, the evaporator in the freezer may become overcooled, and the compressor will work without stopping, since the sensor in the upper chamber (if there is one) will “scream” about the lack of cold. Therefore, mechanical intervention requires simultaneous adjustment of the operation of thermostat.
Another option is the creation of a thermal barrier. Some users install an additional partition made of foam or thick cardboard between the chambers, if the design allows. This helps to keep heat in the upper chamber, but requires care not to damage the door seals.
Diagnostics of faults at different chamber temperatures
Often the desire to turn off the refrigerator compartment arises because it has stopped working, but the freezer is functioning. This is a classic symptom of several faults. If you didn’t set a shutdown as a goal, but it happened on its own, you need to look for the reason. First of all, it is checked thermostat. If its contacts are stuck in the open position, the compressor will not receive a signal to turn on, and both chambers will defrost. But if the freezer is working, then there is a cycle.
The more likely reason for the situation “the freezer is freezing, the refrigerator is not” is a freon leak or a clogged capillary tube. In double-circuit systems, when freon leaks, the second evaporator (in the refrigerator compartment) first stops getting enough cold, while the first one (in the freezer) still copes due to residual pressure or wear and tear.
- 🔍 Check whether the back wall in the refrigerator compartment is frozen with a “fur coat” - this is a sign of problems with defrosting.
- 👂 Listen to the operation of the compressor: if it hums constantly and does not turn off, a leak is possible.
- 🌬️ Make sure that the ventilation holes between the chambers are not clogged with products.
⚠️ Attention: If you find that the compressor is running around the clock, and the temperature is does not fall into the refrigerator compartment, further operation may lead to motor burnout. You need to call a technician to check the pressure in the system.
Also the cause may be a malfunction switching valve (if the model is two-compressor or with a complex distribution system). But in most single-compressor Atlantov the culprit is precisely a violation of the refrigerant circulation or a malfunction of the sensors.
The influence of seasonal factors and external temperature
It is important to consider that the efficiency of the refrigerator Atlant is highly dependent on the room temperature. In winter, when the apartment or house is cool (below +16°C), the thermostat may not turn on the compressor often enough, since it is already cold in the refrigerator compartment. As a result, the freezer may begin to thaw.
In the summer, on the contrary, high ambient temperatures force the compressor to work at the limit. If you want to turn off the upper chamber in the summer so that it does not spoil food (for example, if something is stored there that should not freeze, but also should not be warm), you will have to experiment more actively with the thermostat settings.
There is a concept climate class refrigerator. If you operate the equipment outside the recommended range (for example, on an unheated veranda in winter), the system may behave inappropriately. In such conditions, “turning off” the upper chamber occurs naturally due to the cold outside, but this is dangerous for the compressor oil.
Energy consumption when operating one chamber
Many users are wondering about savings: will the refrigerator consume less energy if you turn off the refrigeration chamber? The answer is ambiguous. The compressor is the main energy consumer. If you set up the system so that the freezer is running and the top compartment is turned off, the compressor must still start to maintain minus below.
The difference in consumption will depend on how often the motor is turned on. If you lower the thermostat power, the cycles will become less frequent and there will be savings. However, if you simply shut off the air passage but the thermostat is on high, the compressor will grind non-stop trying to cool the top that you have insulated. In this case, electricity consumption will even increase.
The use of the "Vacation" mode in modern models is optimized by software: the electronics themselves selects optimal pauses in motor operation to minimize costs while the main chamber is not in use.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to physically cut off the freon supply tube to the refrigeration chamber?
Theoretically, this is possible, but technically it is extremely difficult and impractical. This requires completely evacuating the system, removing the freon, sealing the tube and refilling it. It is easier and cheaper to buy a separate freezer than to carry out such an operation that will forever deprive you of the function of the refrigerator.
Why is there ice in the freezer after turning off the lights, but warm in the refrigerator?
This is the normal physics of the process. The freezer compartment has greater thermal inertia (there is more ice and denser food packaging). The cold lasts longer. In addition, if the door of the refrigerator compartment was opened more often, the heat exchange there occurred more intensely.
Will the refrigerator work if you seal the hole between the chambers?
In models with a drip system and one evaporator (on the back wall of the refrigerator) - no, the freezer will stop freezing, since the cold comes from there. In No Frost systems with a separate evaporator in the freezer, the freezer will work, but the refrigerator may overheat or the compressor will go into an eternal cycle of operation.
How to understand that the thermostat is faulty?
If when you turn the control knob you do not hear a characteristic click (when the refrigerator is turned off from the network and the sensor is warmed up with a hairdryer), or if the compressor does not start/stop at the extreme positions of the handle, it probably thermostat requires replacement.