The situation when the upper compartment in the refrigerator Indesit stops freezing is one of the most common and alarming for owners of household appliances. In two-chamber models of this brand, the evaporator is traditionally located in the freezer compartment, which is located on top, so a violation of cold circulation or a breakdown of the defrost system immediately affects the temperature in this compartment. Food begins to defrost, ice forms, and in some cases it becomes warmer inside than in the room. Understanding the structure of your model, whether it is a classic system Direct Cool or a more modern one No Frost, is the first step to successful diagnosis.
Before calling a technician or disassembling the unit, it is necessary to conduct an initial visual assessment of the condition. Often the reason lies in trivial things: a door that is not tightly closed, the thermostat settings are off, or mechanical damage to the seal. However, if you notice that the compressor runs continuously without turning off, or, conversely, is silent, although the chamber is warm, we are talking about a more serious technical malfunction. In this article, we will analyze in detail the main components responsible for the cold and help you determine whether you can fix the problem yourself.
⚠️ Attention: If you smell a strong chemical odor or see oily stains around the refrigerator tubes, immediately unplug the appliance and ensure the room is ventilated. This may indicate a refrigerant leak, which requires the intervention of licensed professionals.
Problems with the defrost system and evaporator heating element
The most likely reason for the lack of cold in the upper chamber of refrigerators Indesit with the system No Frost is the exit from building defrost systems. During operation, frost builds up on the evaporator, which is hidden behind the back wall of the freezer. The heating element (heating element) must be turned on periodically to melt this ice. If the heating element burns out or the defrost sensor breaks, the ice stops melting and turns into a huge monolithic piece.
This ice lump completely blocks the channels through which cold air should enter the upper chamber. As a result, the fan circulates air inside the freezer, but the cold does not reach the main compartment. Often a sign of such a breakdown is that the refrigerator hums, works, but does not freeze, and when defrosting during the day, the problem temporarily disappears. To check the integrity of the heater, you need to “get” to the evaporator by removing the back panel and ring the heating element with a multimeter.
- ❄️ Symptoms: abundant ice on the back wall, lack of cold at the top, running compressor.
- 🔌 Diagnostics: checking the resistance of the heating element (should be within 200–400 Ohm).
- 🔧 Solution: Replacing the burnt heating element and checking the control circuit.
It is important to understand that not only the heating element itself is involved in the defrosting chain, but also defrost thermostat (bimetallic sensor) and a timer (or electronic control module). If the sensor is “stuck” in the “cold” position, it simply will not give the command to turn on the heating. In models Indesit with electronic control, the board itself may fail, sending incorrect signals to the actuators. Therefore, replacing only the heating element does not always guarantee the result if the control element is faulty.
☑️ Diagnostics of the defrost system
Malfunctions of the thermostat and sensors temperature
In refrigerators Indesit with a drip system or a combined cooling system, a thermostat (thermostat) or an electronic sensor is responsible for maintaining the temperature. If this component fails, it may “think” that the chamber is already cold enough and not command the compressor to turn on. In this case, the upper chamber gradually heats up, since the refrigerant does not circulate through the system.
The opposite situation is also possible: the thermostat “does not see” the cold and keeps the compressor on constantly. This leads to deep freezing of food in the freezer and the formation of a “fur coat”, but due to freezing of the channels, the cold may still not reach the upper compartment of the refrigerator compartment (if it is on top) or vice versa. In electronic models Indesit this is responsible NTC sensors, which often change their resistance when aging, giving incorrect readings to the control module.
Mechanical thermostats are characterized by wear of the bellows tube or contacts. The test can be carried out by closing the thermostat contacts directly (for diagnostics). If after this procedure the refrigerator starts working and cold appears, it means the regulator is faulty. In electronic systems, diagnostics are more complicated and require knowledge of error codes, which can be displayed on the display or by blinking indicators.
How to check a mechanical thermostat without instruments?
Remove the thermostat from the refrigerator, lower its sensitive tube into a container with water at a temperature of about 0-2 degrees (you can add ice). After 10-15 minutes a characteristic click should be heard. If there is no click, the thermostat is not working.
Freon leak or clogged capillary tube
One of the most unpleasant and expensive problems is a leak in the refrigerant circuit. Freon is a working fluid that, circulating through tubes, takes heat from the chambers. If a microcrack has formed in the system (often in the foamed part of the case or in soldering areas), the gas gradually evaporates. First, performance drops, the refrigerator starts working longer, and then the upper chamber stops freezing at all. Indesit a microcrack has formed (often in the foamed part of the case or in soldering areas), the gas gradually evaporates. First, performance drops, the refrigerator starts working longer, and then the upper chamber stops freezing at all.
Similar symptoms are observed when clogged capillary tube. Oil and freon circulate in the system, and over time, a plug of oxidation products or moisture may form in a bottleneck in the capillary. The circulation of the refrigerant stops and the cold is no longer produced. It is difficult to distinguish a leak from a blockage at home, but there are signs: when there is a leak, the condenser (grid at the back) will be cold or lukewarm, and when there is a blockage, it can only be hot at the beginning.
| Symptom | Freon leak | Capillary clogged | Compressor malfunction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Condenser temperature | Cold or room temperature | Hot at the beginning, cold after clogged | Barely warm or hot |
| Compressor operation | Works continuously or turns on frequently | Works with overload, may hum | Does not turn on or hums and clicks |
| Presence of cold | Completely absent or weak | Weak, uneven | Absent |
| Oil stains | Possible at the leak point | Absent | Near the compressor |
⚠️ Attention: Independently refilling the refrigerator with freon without finding and eliminating the leak is a pointless waste of money. The gas will leave again after a short time, and the quality of the compressor may deteriorate due to moisture entering the system.
If you observe that the motor-compressor turns on, hums for a few seconds, then a click is heard and it turns off - this may indicate a thermal protection relay or problems with the starting mechanism, but also a water hammer if it is completely clogged. In such cases, you need to call a technician with a vacuum pump and leak detection equipment (leak detector).
Malfunctions in the operation of the fan and blower
In refrigerators Indesit systems No Frost A fan located in the freezer is responsible for air circulation. If its blades become covered with ice or the electric motor fails, cold air simply does not enter the upper chamber. The fan may stop due to icing, if the defrost system is not working correctly, or due to mechanical wear of the bearings.
You can check the operation of the fan by opening the freezer door. In most models, when the door is open, it should turn off (the limit switch is triggered), but if when the door is closed you do not hear its noise, and there is no characteristic airflow howl in the chamber, it may not be spinning. Sometimes the problem is solved by simple defrosting if the blades are frozen to the body.
- 🌀 Check: listen to the operation of the motor with the door closed.
- 🧊 Icing: ice can block the rotation of the blades.
- 🔌 Electrical: the motor winding may have burned out or the contacts have oxidized.
It is also worth checking air duct damper. In some models Indesit the air flow is regulated by a mechanical or electric damper. If it gets stuck in the closed position, the cold will physically not be able to get into the refrigerator compartment. This often happens when there is severe freezing or foreign objects (pieces of packaging, ice) get into the mechanism.
Problems with the seals and the tightness of the chamber
It would seem like a simple thing - rubber seal on the door - can cause serious temperature problems. If the rubber Indesit has dried out, cracked or is simply dirty, warm air from the outside constantly enters the chamber. The compressor tries to compensate for the heat by working non-stop, but due to the high humidity of the incoming air, the evaporator quickly becomes overgrown with ice and ceases to cool effectively.
You can check the tightness with a simple test with a sheet of paper. Clamp the sheet with the door around the perimeter. If it pulls out too easily or falls out, the seal is broken. This happens especially often in the corners of the door or in the area of the handle, where the seal experiences the greatest load. Also, the cause of a loose fit may be a misalignment of the door due to improper installation or loosening of the hinges.
Adjusting doors is a procedure available to every owner. It is necessary to check the horizontal installation of the refrigerator itself (often it is not level) and tighten or loosen the mounting bolts of the hinges. If the rubber profile itself is deformed, it is better to replace it with a new one, since restoring the shape of the old one by heating or boiling water gives only a temporary effect.
Other technical reasons and electronics
Modern refrigerators Indesit are packed with electronics, and failures can occur at the level of the control module. Oxidation of contacts, power surges in the network, or simply aging of elements can lead to the “brains” of the refrigerator incorrectly interpreting data from sensors. For example, the module may not supply voltage to the compressor, believing that the temperature is normal.
Another rare but possible reason is a loss of performance of itself compressor. The engine may hum and even start, but due to wear of the valve group, it cannot create the necessary pressure in the system. In this case, freon circulates, but very slowly, not having time to cool the volume of the upper chamber. This is diagnosed by the pressure in the system and current consumption, which is done only by a master.
⚠️ Attention: Technical characteristics and location of elements may vary depending on the specific series and year of manufacture of the Indesit refrigerator. Always check the technical documentation of your model before starting disassembly.
Don’t forget about such banal things as the “Super Freeze” mode. If you accidentally activate this function (snowflake button or Super), the refrigerator will run continuously in an attempt to freeze food, which can lead to freezing of the ducts and temporary disruption of air circulation. Turn off this mode and wait a few hours.
Why can’t you ignore the problem?
Prolonged operation of a refrigerator with a faulty defrost system or freon leak leads to overheating and combustion of the compressor. Replacing a compressor costs 2-3 times more than timely repair of the defrost system or finding a leak.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How long should it take to defrost an Indesit refrigerator to remove an ice plug?
For complete thawing of ice in the channels and on the evaporator, the refrigerator Indesit needs at least 24 hours. A shorter defrosting (for example, 5-8 hours) may remove visible ice, but will not melt the ice plug deep in the drainage system, and the problem will return in a couple of days.
Is it possible to use the refrigerator if the upper chamber does not freeze?
Short-term - possible, but not recommended. If the cause is a freon leak, further work will lead to the compressor burning out. If the reason is in the defrost system, the products in the lower chamber may deteriorate due to insufficient cold, and the compressor will work for wear. It is better to turn off the device before diagnostics.
Why did the refrigerator work after defrosting, but after a week it stopped freezing again?
This is a classic sign of a malfunction of the defrost system (the heating element, sensor or timer burned out). Defrosting removes the effect (ice), but not the cause. The ice builds up again, blocks the channels, and the cycle repeats. A faulty part of the defrost system needs to be replaced.
Where is the thermostat located in the Indesit refrigerator?
In older models, the thermostat knob is located inside the refrigerator compartment. In modern electronically controlled models, temperature sensors are built into the housing (often in a plastic casing inside the chamber or behind the control panel), and there may be no mechanical regulator at all.
What to do if the compressor is hot but there is no cold?
A hot compressor in the absence of cold usually indicates that it is working, but freon is not circulating (clogging) or not enough (leakage). This may also be a sign of a malfunction of the motor itself. Diagnostics by a technician with a pressure gauge manifold is required.