The situation when the refrigerator Hotpoint Ariston stops freezing often takes you by surprise, threatening food spoilage. The owner may notice that the chamber is warm, the food is defrosting, and the compressor either works without interruption or is silent. This does not always mean a complex breakdown that requires calling a technician, but the problem cannot be ignored.
First of all, it is necessary to carry out an initial diagnosis in order to understand the scale of the disaster. Often the cause is a simple violation of operating rules or a failure in the control system. In this article we will look in detail why the refrigerator does not gain temperaturehow to check the main components and what you can do yourself.
If you notice that frost has disappeared on the back wall or, conversely, a “fur coat” has formed, and the food has become warm, you need to act quickly. Let's consider the main scenarios for the behavior of equipment.
Primary diagnostics and checking settings
The very first step is to eliminate the human factor. Sometimes users accidentally touch the temperature control or children change settings in electronic models. Check what position the thermostat is in. For mechanical control, this is a knob with numbers from 1 to 5 or 7. The optimal operating mode is 3 or 4. If the knob is set to minimum, the freezer may not be able to cope with the load.
In models with a system No Frost and electronic control, a failure could occur in the control module. Try restarting your device. To do this, unplug the refrigerator, wait 10-15 minutes and turn it on again. This action often helps clear temporary controller errors.
⚠️ Attention: Do not attempt to adjust the temperature until the chamber has reached thermal conditions. After each change of settings, wait at least 2-3 hours before checking again.
It is also worth checking the tightness of the door. If the rubber seal is worn out or dirty, the cold will evaporate, and the compressor will work for wear, trying to compensate for heat loss. Inspect the magnetic tape around the perimeter of the door for cracks or peeling.
Problems with the No Frost defrosting system
One of the most common reasons why Hotpoint Ariston it freezes poorly is a malfunction of the automatic defrosting system. In refrigerators No Frost the evaporator is hidden behind a plastic panel. If the heating element, defrost thermostat or timer (or control module) fails, ice stops melting and builds up on the evaporator.
Air stops circulating through the heat exchanger clogged with ice, and cold does not enter the chambers. Outwardly, it may look like this: the freezer is still cold, but the refrigerator compartment is warm, or the compressor is constantly humming, but is not cooling. Visually, you may not see the ice, since it is hidden inside the case.
- ❄️ Symptom 1: You can hear the sound of the fan running, but no air is blowing from the holes.
- 💧 Symptom 2: Water appears under the refrigerator or inside on the floor of the chamber.
- 🧊 Symptom 3: A layer of ice is visible on the back wall of the freezer if you remove the panel.
Complete defrosting is often required to confirm the diagnosis. Unplug the appliance for a day (at least 10-12 hours), leaving the doors open. If, after turning on, the refrigerator began to freeze normally, but after a week the problem returned, it means that one of the elements of the defrost system is faulty and requires replacement.
Why can’t you chip off the ice with a knife?
Mechanical removal of ice with sharp objects can damage the evaporator tubes in which the refrigerant circulates. This will lead to freon leakage and expensive repairs with refilling.
Faults in the compressor and start relay
The compressor is the “heart” of the refrigerator. If it does not start or does not work correctly, there will be no cooling at all. Refrigerators Hotpoint Ariston compressors are often used Aspera or Embraco. Pay attention to the sounds that the unit makes when trying to start.
If you hear a quiet click, a hum for a few seconds, and then a click and silence again, the start relay is most likely faulty. This is a small part that provides an impulse to start the engine. Replacing it is simple and inexpensive. However, if the compressor hums constantly but does not cool, or is hot to the touch, the situation is more serious.
⚠️ Attention: If the compressor runs nonstop for more than 24 hours and does not turn off, and the temperature does not drop, this may indicate a freon leak or loss of performance of the motor itself. Operation in this mode is dangerous.
It is also worth checking the integrity of the compressor windings with a multimeter if you have skills in working with electrical appliances. A lack of resistance or a short circuit will indicate the need to replace the unit. In modern models with inverter compressors, diagnostics are more complicated and require special equipment.
Refrigerant leak and capillary system clogged
If the compressor is working properly, the defrosting system is in order, but there is no cold, there is probably a problem in the refrigerant circuit. In refrigerators Hotpoint Ariston there are two main problems: freon leakage due to corrosion or microcracks, as well as a clogged capillary tube.
If there is a freon leak, the compressor will work almost non-stop, trying to increase the temperature, but to no avail. The condenser grille at the rear may be only partially cold or warm. If clogged, on the contrary, the compressor may overheat and turn off via a thermal relay, and the evaporator will be covered with an uneven layer of frost.
Diagnostics of these faults requires a professional approach. The technician uses a leak detector to look for leaks and a pressure gauge station to check the pressure in the system. It is impossible to independently find a leak or break through a blockage without a vacuum pump and a supply of freon.
Failures in the electronic control module
Modern refrigerators Hotpoint Ariston are equipped with complex electronics. The control board regulates the operation of the compressor, fans, heating elements and displays information on the display. Power surges in the network can lead to failure of board elements or freezing of the program.
If errors appear on the display (for example, flashing temperature indicators) or the device behaves inappropriately (spontaneously turns on and off), the problem may be in the module. Sometimes flashing helps, but more often it is necessary to replace burnt radio components or the entire board.
Check the integrity of the wiring going to the module. Rodents or moisture may have damaged the contacts. Oxidized connectors often cause loss of communication between temperature sensors and the “brain” of the refrigerator.
Table of common faults
For convenience, we systematize the main symptoms and probable causes in a table. This will help you quickly navigate the nature of the breakdown.
| Symptom | Probable cause | Difficulty of repair |
|---|---|---|
| The compressor does not start, there are no clicks | Malfunction of the thermostat or module | Average |
| Buzzes for 5-10 seconds and clicks | Start relay or jammed compressor | Low / High |
| It freezes slightly, ice freezes | Malfunction of the defrost system (heating element, sensor) | Medium |
| Works constantly, does not cool | Freon leak or blockage | High (requires a technician) |
| Error on display | Failure of electronics or sensors | High |
| .. | .. | .. |
Checklist of actions before calling a technician
Before submitting a repair request, go through this short verification process. This will save your time and money if the problem turns out to be trivial.
☑️ Diagnostics before calling the technician
If after complete defrosting and checking the settings the situation has not changed, the intervention of a specialist is probably required. Do not delay repairs: operating a faulty refrigerator increases the electricity bill and can lead to food spoilage.
⚠️ Attention: When disassembling the refrigerator to replace the heating element or sensor, be sure to disconnect the device from the network. Working with live electrical components is deadly.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why does the Hotpoint Ariston refrigerator freeze only after defrosting?
This is a classic sign of a system malfunction No Frost. Most likely, the defrost heating element has burned out, or the defrost sensor or timer has failed. Ice builds up on the evaporator and blocks the flow of cold air. After manual defrosting, the ice melts, the path for air is cleared, and the refrigerator operates normally until it builds up again.
What refrigerant is used in Ariston refrigerators?
Most modern models use environmentally friendly freon R600a (isobutane) or R134a. The type of refrigerant is indicated on a label located inside the chamber or on the back of the housing. It is important to use exactly the type of gas for which the system is designed.
Is it possible to operate a refrigerator if it does not freeze?
For a short time - yes, for diagnostics. But prolonged operation of a faulty unit is harmful. If it does not freeze due to a leak, the compressor may burn out from overheating, working without stopping. If the problem is electrical, there is a risk of a short circuit.
How long does it take to reach the temperature after switching on?
After the first load or long defrosting, the refrigerator Hotpoint Ariston may take from 2 to 6 hours to reach operating mode. At this time, you should not load the chambers with warm foods.