Brand refrigerators Hotpoint Ariston, especially models with the system No Frost, are famous for their reliability, but even they are not immune from technical failures. One of the most common problems that owners of these units face after 5-7 years of operation is the failure of the evaporator in the freezer. This leads to the fact that the cold ceases to be produced evenly, and an ice crust forms on the walls. In 80% of cases, the culprit is a failed defrost heating element (heating element).
Before calling a technician or rushing to the store for spare parts, it is necessary to carry out competent diagnostics. Checking the heating element is a procedure available to any home craftsman with a minimum set of tools. It is important to understand that malfunction of the heating element is often confused with a breakdown of the thermostat or defrost timer, so accurate identification of the problem is critical for successful repair.
In this article we will analyze in detail the algorithm of actions that will allow you to accurately determine the condition of the heater in your Hotpoint Ariston. We will look at visual inspection methods, using a multimeter to measure resistance, and nuances that service centers are silent about. Correct diagnosis will save you money and time, allowing you to replace exactly the part that really requires attention.
Symptoms of a malfunctioning heating element
Understanding what exactly happened to your refrigerator begins with an analysis of the symptoms. When Evaporator heating element burns out, the No Frost system stops functioning normally. Ice that builds up on the evaporator while the compressor is running will no longer thaw during the defrost cycle. Over time, this ice turns into a monolithic piece that blocks the air channels.
As a result, cold air simply cannot enter the refrigerator compartment or circulate through the freezer. You may notice that the food in the main chamber has begun to deteriorate faster, although the compressor is running almost non-stop. This is a classic sign that air circulation the ice jam is broken.
- 🧊 A thick layer of frost or ice is visible on the back wall of the freezer or in the evaporator niche.
- ❄️ The refrigerator compartment has stopped cooling, the temperature in it has risen above +10°C.
- ⏱️ The compressor works continuously, trying to gain temperature, but does not turn off.
- 🔊 There is an extraneous noise of the fan rubbing against the ice crust.
Sometimes users notice that the lower The part of the freezer freezes well, but the top part does not. This occurs due to ice blocking the overhead ducts. If you observe such signs, the probability of failure defrost heater is extremely high. However, you should not make hasty conclusions without an instrumental check.
Preparation for diagnostics and access to the heating element
To conduct a quality check, you will need access to the internal components of the refrigerator. In models Hotpoint Ariston with the No Frost system, the heating element is usually located behind the rear panel of the freezer. Before starting any work, you must completely de-energize the unit. This safety rule cannot be ignored, since you will be working with electrical components.
You will need to empty the freezer of food and remove all shelves and drawers. Then the plastic back wall is carefully removed. It can be attached with self-tapping screws or plastic latches. Be careful with plastic: after prolonged use in the cold, it becomes brittle and can crack if handled carelessly. Having reached the evaporator, you will see an aluminum radiator and wires coming from it.
☑️ Preparing to check the heating element
Often the heating element is a curved tube built directly into the fins of the evaporator or located under it. Some models Ariston use a tubular heater inserted into special holes in aluminum lamellas. To check it, it is not necessary to completely disassemble the entire assembly, it is enough to provide access to the contacts for “diagnosis”.
⚠️ Attention: If you see that the heating element is swollen, has visible breaks in the shell or traces of burning, further checking with a multimeter is not required - the element requires mandatory replacement.
Instrumental test with a multimeter
The most reliable way to determine the performance of the heating element is to measure its electrical resistance. For this you will need a digital multimeter. Switch the device to resistance measurement mode (Ohms), selecting a limit of 2 kOhm or 20 kOhm. First, check the measuring device itself by connecting the probes to each other: zeros or a value close to them should appear on the screen.
Go to the contacts of the heating element in the refrigerator. Typically these are two wires connected to the ends of the heater tube. Disconnect the connector or terminals to isolate the element from the rest of the circuit. Touch the probes of the multimeter to the terminals of the heating element. If the heater is working properly, the device will show a resistance in the range from 200 to 400 Ohms (the value may vary depending on the power of the specific model Hotpoint).
Exact resistance values for different models
The power of the heating element in Hotpoint Ariston refrigerators usually ranges from 150 to 350 W. The resistance of a working element is calculated by the formula R = U² / P. For a 220V network and a power of 300 W, the resistance will be about 160 Ohms. If the multimeter shows infinity (one on the left or OL), it means that the spiral has broken inside and the heating element has burned out.
If the unit on the left (the infinity symbol) is lit on the multimeter screen, this means that the circuit inside the tube has burned out, and the current does not pass through it. case replacement of the heating element is inevitable. It is also important to check the absence of breakdown on the body. To do this, one probe is applied to the metal tube of the heating element, and the second to one of the contacts.
If the insulation is working properly, the device should show infinity. If you see any resistance values, this means that current is leaking to. case. Operating such a refrigerator is dangerous, as this can lead to an electric shock or short circuit. In such a situation, a complete replacement of the heating element is also required.
Diagnostics of related system components
Simply replacing the heating element and hoping for success is not always the right solution. Often, failure of the heater is accompanied or provoked by a malfunction of other elements of the defrost system. refrigerators Hotpoint Ariston the operation of the heating element is controlled by a defrost sensor (defrost thermostat) and, in some models, a fuse.
The defrost sensor controls the temperature of the evaporator. When the ice melts and the temperature rises to a certain value (usually +10...+15°C), the sensor opens the circuit and turns off the heating element. "stuck" in the open state, the heating element will never receive a command to turn on, even if it is fully operational. Therefore, checking the circuit must be comprehensive.
It is also worth paying attention to the fuse, which is often installed in the immediate vicinity of the heating element. Its task is to break the circuit if the heating element overheats to a critical temperature and can cause a fire. If the fuse is blown, the circuit will not close, and a new one will not close. The heating element will also not work.
It is recommended to check the entire chain: from the power wire to the contacts of the heating element. Make sure that there are no oxidized contacts or frayed wires, which could cause a voltage surge and subsequent failure of the heating element.
Table of typical values and parameters
For ease of diagnosis, the main parameters that may be encountered when servicing refrigerators Hotpoint Aristonare summarized in a table. Remember that the values may vary slightly depending on the year of manufacture and the specific modification of the unit.
| Parameter | Normal value | Fault symptom | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating element resistance | 200 - 400 Ohm | Infinity (break) | Replacing the heating element |
| Insulation resistance | Infinity | Any value in Ohms | Replacement of the heating element (breakdown) |
| Defrost sensor (at t < 0°C) | Closed (0 Ohm) | Open (infinity) | Replacing the sensor |
| Fuse | Closed (0 Ohm) | Open (infinity) | Replacing the fuse |
Using this data, you can get a complete picture of the state of the system. If the heating element shows a break, and the sensor shows normal, we only change the heater. If the fuse has blown, be sure to find out the reason: fuses do not blow out just like that, usually this is a consequence of overheating of the heating element due to a faulty sensor.
⚠️ Attention: When installing a new heating element, it is strongly recommended to change the fuse, even if the old one “rings”. Its resource could be exhausted, and it could work in the near future.
Replacing the heating element and assembling the refrigerator
If the diagnostics confirmed the malfunction, we proceed to the replacement. In refrigerators Hotpoint Ariston this process may require complete defrosting of the unit within 12-24 hours. This is necessary to safely remove the old heating element, which often freezes tightly into the ice mass, and to avoid damaging the aluminum evaporator lamellas when installing a new one.
Carefully remove the old heater. The new heating element must be installed in the same seats. Make sure that the heater tube does not touch the plastic parts of the housing, as it heats up to high temperatures during operation. Connect the wires, observing the polarity (although this is not critical for the heating element, a reliable connection is important), and install a new fuse.
After installing all components, reassemble the structure in reverse order. Make sure all connectors are fully latched. Before turning on the refrigerator, visually check again that there are no unnecessary wires or tools inside the chamber. Only after complete assembly can you connect the unit to the power supply.
For the first few hours of operation, the refrigerator may make more noise than usual - this is normal, as the system is entering mode. Monitor the temperature in the chambers throughout the day. If ice no longer forms and cooling occurs evenly, it means repair of heating element it was successful.
Is it possible to temporarily operate a refrigerator without a heating element?
Technically, the refrigerator will freeze if you manually defrost it every 3-4 days, completely disconnected from the network. However, this is inconvenient and harmful to the compressor due to frequent on-off cycles. In addition, the fan can damage the blades due to growing ice.
Why did the new heating element burn out after a month?
Most likely, the defrost sensor or fuse was not replaced. If the sensor was “stuck” in the “off” position, the heating element would not turn on, ice would build up, the sensor would not work, and at some point the system would fail. Or a heating element of unsuitable power was installed.
Which heating element is better: the original or an analogue?
For Hotpoint Ariston it is better to look for original spare parts or high-quality analogues from trusted brands (for example, Cylinda, Zanussi compatible). Cheap Chinese heating elements often have thinner walls and burn faster, and their geometry may not coincide with the seats.
Do you need to change the entire evaporator block at once?
No, in most cases you can only replace the heating element (tube) itself if you have access to its ends. However, if the aluminum lamellas are severely damaged by corrosion or mechanically, it is more advisable to consider replacing the entire evaporator assembly.
How often should the heating element be checked?
A routine check is not required. Diagnosis is carried out only when symptoms appear: ice freezing, lack of cold, continuous operation of the compressor. During normal operation, the heating element lasts 7-10 years or more.