The situation when food spoils in the refrigerator compartment and ice melts in the freezer often takes you by surprise. Owners of equipment are faced with the fact that compressor works without stopping, hums, but there is no desired cold. This is a clear sign that the cooling cycle is broken and the system is unable to maintain the set temperature.
Sometimes the problem lies in a simple overload or an incorrectly selected operating mode, but most often we are talking about more serious technical malfunctions. Understanding the operating principles of your unit, whether it is old Indesit or modern LG with the No Frost system, will help you quickly diagnose a breakdown.
You should not ignore the first symptoms, such as the formation of ice in only one corner or the appearance of condensation on the walls. A timely response can save products and prevent costly repairs. In this article, we will analyze in detail the main reasons why refrigerator stops freezing, and we will determine what you can do yourself.
Main reasons for the lack of cold in the freezer
The first thing to do before panic, check basic things. Users often forget that the equipment could simply turn off due to a power surge or accidentally pulling the plug out of the socket. It is also worth checking whether the temperature setting in the electronic control module has gone wrong.
If everything is in order with the electricity, pay attention to compressor. If it is silent and there is no light in the chamber, the problem is in the wiring or thermostat. If the motor hums but does not start or runs constantly without shutting down, this indicates a refrigerant leak or a clogged capillary system.
⚠️ Attention: If you hear clicking sounds when you try to start the motor, but it immediately stalls, do not try to turn on the device again. This may indicate a malfunction of the starting relay or a compressor wedge, which requires the intervention of a technician.
In models with a system No Frost a frequent cause is the failure of a fan or defrost heater. The air simply does not circulate through the chambers, remaining warm in the upper sections while an ice coat forms below.
Problems with refrigerant: freon leakage and blockages
The most common technical malfunction is leakage freon. The refrigerant circulates in a closed circuit, and if a microcrack appears in the tubes, the gas escapes. Without a sufficient amount of freon, heat is not removed from the chambers, and the temperature begins to rise.
Leaks often occur in places where pipes are soldered or in the evaporator, which could be corroded due to moisture. This is difficult to determine visually, but an indirect sign is that the condenser grille at the back of the refrigerator remains cold or is only partially heated.
The second option is Clogged capillary tube. An ice plug from moisture or clogging with oil breakdown products could have formed in the system. In this case, the compressor works with overload, trying to push gas, but there is no circulation.
How do technicians find a leak?
Craftsmen use a special device - a leak detector, which reacts to freon vapor, or fill the system with nitrogen under pressure and lower the unit into a bath with water, observing the bubbles.
Diagnosis of these problems requires special equipment. It is impossible to fill the system yourself or clean the capillary without a vacuum pump and pressure gauges.
Malfunctions of the compressor and start relay
Compressor are the heart of the refrigerator. If it fails, the cold ceases to be produced completely. The motor-compressor can burn out due to power surges, overheating, or simply exhaust its service life. In modern inverter models, such as Samsung or Bosch, diagnostics are more complicated due to the presence of an electronic control unit.
Often it is not the motor itself that fails, but start relay. This device provides an impulse to start the motor windings. If the relay is “stuck” or burnt out, the compressor cannot start, emitting only a quiet hum or clicking.
- 🔌 Check the integrity of the wires going to the relay.
- 🔨 Gently tap the relay body (sometimes it helps shake the jammed mechanism, but this is a temporary solution).
- 🌡️ Measure the resistance of the compressor windings with a multimeter.
Replacing the relay is a simple procedure and is often done with your own hands if you have the skills to work with the tool. The main thing is to choose a similar part with the same parameters.
Failure in the defrost system (for No Frost models)
In refrigerators with the system No Frost moisture does not freeze on the food, but settles on the hidden evaporator. Periodically, this ice must be melted by a heater. If Defrost heating element, the defrost timer or thermostat fails, the ice does not melt and freezes in a huge lump.
This ice monolith blocks the channels through which the fan should drive cold air into the freezer and refrigerator compartments. As a result, the fan may even become jammed with ice, and circulation will stop completely.
Symptoms of such a breakdown: the refrigerator is humming, the fan may not work or make noise, and a thick layer of ice or frost is visible on the back wall of the freezer. In some models Whirlpool or Atlant this is indicated by an error on the display.
☑️ Diagnostics of the No Frost system
To solve the problem, it is often necessary to completely defrost the refrigerator within 24 hours. If, after switching on, the problem returns after 1-2 weeks, it means that one of the elements of the defrost system is faulty and requires replacement.
Diagnostic table of main faults
To systematize knowledge and quickly understand what happened to your equipment, use the table of symptoms. It will help narrow down the search for the problem before visiting a specialist or starting an independent repair.
| Symptom | Probable cause | Difficulty of repair |
|---|---|---|
| Compressor does not start, silence | Faulty relay, thermostat or wiring | Low |
| The engine hums, but there is no cold | Freon leak or system blockage | High (needs a technician) |
| Ice only on the back wall | Defrost system failure (No Frost) | Medium |
| The refrigerator turns on and turns off immediately | The compressor or start-up protection is faulty relay | Medium/High |
| Strong ice in one corner | Loose door seal or damaged seal | Low |
Remember that diagnostics - this is only the first step. The exact cause of freon leakage can only be determined using a pressure gauge station and a leak detector. Without these devices, any refueling actions will be meaningless.
The influence of the seal and operating rules
Sometimes the equipment is in good working order, but there is no cold due to a leak in the seal. Sealing rubber the door dries out over time, cracks or becomes deformed. Warm air, which contains moisture, enters the chamber through the cracks. The compressor does not have time to cool this volume, working for wear.
You can check the tightness of the fit using a sheet of paper. Clamp the sheet with the door around the perimeter: if it pulls out easily without resistance, then there is a leak in this place. Also, frequent opening of the door or placing hot food upsets the temperature balance.
⚠️ Attention: Never place pots of hot soup in the refrigerator. This creates an enormous load on the compressor and leads to the formation of a “coat” of ice, which blocks cooling.
Regularly clean the drainage hole in the refrigerator compartment. If it is clogged, the condensate does not leave, freezes and can turn into an ice plug that disrupts the operation of the system.
When you need to call a technician
There are a number of situations when independent repair is not only useless, but also dangerous. If you find that you need to replace the compressor or find a freon leak, it is better to leave it to the professionals. Working with refrigerants requires a license and special equipment.
It is also worth contacting the service if the problem lies in the electronic control module. Modern technology is crammed with complex electronics, and without a circuit diagram and experience it is almost impossible to re-solder burnt capacitors or microcircuits.
- ❄️ The smell of burning or burnt wiring.
- 🔊 A knock or vibration that was not there before.
- 💧 Oil under the refrigerator (a sign of compressor destruction).
A timely call to a specialist can save money in the long run by preventing complete combustion of the engine or spoilage of food.
Why does the freezer freeze, but the refrigerator does not?
Most often this indicates for a problem with air circulation (in No Frost models) or a freon leak. In two-compressor models, this may mean failure of one of the compressors or the refrigerator thermostat.
How long does it take to defrost a refrigerator if it breaks down?
For complete defrosting and thawing of ice in the No Frost system, a minimum of 24 hours is required. Do not plug in the appliance until all the ice has melted and the water has been removed.
Is it possible to use a refrigerator if it does not freeze?
Short-term - yes, but this will lead to overheating of the compressor and its eventual combustion. In addition, food in a “warm” refrigerator will quickly deteriorate.