The situation when the system refrigerator No Frost stops cooling food, always takes you by surprise. You open the door, and there it is warm, like in the room, or, conversely, the food is covered with frost, although the equipment should work differently. There is no need to panic at such a moment, since most breakdowns have a logical explanation and can often be repaired.
Modern units are more complex than older models with a drip system. Here, a complex system of air ducts and fans is responsible for the circulation of cold air. If one of the elements of this circuit fails, compressor it may hum while idling, but you will not feel the cold. It is important to correctly diagnose the problem so as not to spend extra money on calling a technician where you can handle it yourself.
In this article we will analyze the main causes of malfunctions, from simple operating errors to serious technical failures. Understanding the principles of operation of your equipment will help you quickly determine the source of the problem and bring the refrigerator back to life.
Violation of operating rules and simple errors
Before looking for complex technical breakdowns, it is worth eliminating the human factor. Often the reason for the lack of cold lies in trivial things that the user may overlook. For example, if you recently carried out general cleaning or defrosted equipment, errors may have been made when turning it on.
One of the common reasons is incorrect setting of the temperature mode. If the regulator is accidentally moved to the “minimum” or “0” position, the compressor simply will not start. It is also worth checking the tightness of the door seal. If the rubber band is dirty or damaged, cold air will escape and warm air will flow in, creating the illusion of breakage.
⚠️ Attention: If you have just defrosted the refrigerator and turned it on, do not load food right away. Give the unit 2-3 hours to reach operating mode, otherwise the compressor will work with overload.
Another important aspect is ventilation. No Frost refrigerators require free space around the body to remove heat from the condenser. If the equipment is located close to the wall or in a niche without gaps, heat exchange it is violated. This leads to the fact that the refrigerator seems to be working, but is not cooling.
Problems with the defrosting system: heating element, timer and sensors
The most common technical reason why a No Frost refrigerator stops freezing is the failure of the evaporator automatic defrosting system. Unlike older models, frost should not build up here. The defrost cycle, which runs periodically, is responsible for its removal. If this cycle is disrupted, the evaporator becomes overgrown with a “fur coat” that blocks air circulation.
First of all, attention should be paid to defrost heating element. This is a heating element that turns on several times a day to melt the ice on the evaporator. If it burns out, the ice does not melt, accumulates and eventually blocks the channels through which cold air should enter the chamber. As a result, the fan circulates air inside the technical compartment, but it does not enter the refrigerator.
In addition to the heater, sensors and a timer are responsible for the process. Defrost thermostat controls the temperature of the evaporator and turns off the heating element when the ice has melted. If it is faulty, the system may not “see” the need for heating or, conversely, heat for too long. The defrost timer (or electronic control module) is responsible for switching the “cooling” and “defrosting” modes.