The situation when inside the refrigerator compartment Hotpoint Ariston suddenly becomes warm and food begins to spoil always takes you by surprise. The owner is faced with alarming symptoms: the engine hums continuously or, conversely, is silent, there is no frost on the walls, and the temperature in the compartments rises above acceptable values. This is not just a household inconvenience, but a signal of a serious technical failure that requires immediate attention.
Before calling a technician, it is worth conducting an initial diagnosis to eliminate common operating errors. Often the reason lies in a violation of the rules for placing equipment or incorrect setting of operating modes, which can easily be fixed independently without disassembling the unit.
In this article we will analyze in detail the main malfunctions characteristic of refrigerators Aristonand explain why the cooling system could fail. You will learn how to distinguish a compressor breakdown from a freon leak and in which cases repair is not economically feasible.
Primary diagnostics: external factors and settings
Often users begin to panic ahead of time, without checking basic things. The refrigerator may not freeze due to simple overheating or an electronics failure. First of all, you need to make sure that the equipment is installed correctly. The gap between the back wall of the unit and the kitchen wall should be at least 5-7 cm for free air circulation.
Pay attention to the thermostat or control panel. If the refrigerator has two compressors, check to see if one of the circuits is disconnected. In models with the system No Frost it often happens that the user accidentally activates the “Vacation” or “Super Freeze” mode, which disrupts the normal operating cycle.
⚠️ Attention: If you notice that the refrigerator is standing close to furniture or in a niche without ventilation, immediately provide air flow. Prolonged overheating of the condenser is guaranteed to lead to failure of the compressor.
Check the tightness of the door. If the rubber seal is worn out or dirty, cold air will evaporate and the motor will run idle, unable to cope with the heat flow. A simple test with a sheet of paper will help identify leaks: hold the sheet with the door and try to pull it out - if it slides too easily, the seal requires replacement or adjustment.
Problems with refrigerant circulation: freon leak
One of the most common reasons, why Hotpoint Ariston stopped freezing is a refrigerant leak. Freon is a working fluid that transfers heat from the chamber to the outside. If a microcrack has formed in the circuit, the gas gradually evaporates and the pressure in the system drops. As a result, the compressor wears out, trying to gain temperature, but does not produce cold.
It is almost impossible to diagnose a leak visually, since freon is colorless and odorless. However, there are indirect signs: swelling of the evaporator, the appearance of oily stains on the floor under the equipment, or a characteristic hissing sound during operation. If the compressor is hot, but the condenser (grid at the back) remains cold or only partially warm, this is a sure sign of a lack of gas.
- 🧊 Symptom: The evaporator is covered with an uneven layer of frost or is completely dry.
- 🔥 Symptom: The compressor runs non-stop and gets very hot (more than 90°C).
- 🔇 Symptom: Periodic clicks of the start relay, but the engine does not start.
Removing the leak requires professional intervention. The technician must find the location of the damage, solder the tube, evacuate the system and fill in a new volume of freon strictly according to the rate indicated on the unit nameplate. It is impossible to carry out this operation independently without a pressure gauge station and scales.
Why can’t you ignore working without freon?
If the compressor operates for a long time at low suction pressure, it will overheat. Ultimately, the motor winding may burn out or the piston group may jam, which will lead to an expensive replacement of the unit.
Malfunctions of the defrost system (for No Frost models)
In refrigerators Ariston with a system No Frost proper operation of the defrost system is critically important evaporator. If one of its elements fails, the evaporator becomes overgrown with a “fur coat”, which blocks the circulation of cold air. As a result, the chambers become warm, although the compressor can work properly.
The main culprits of the breakdown are the evaporator heating element, the defrost sensor or the fuse. Also, the defrost timer or the control module often fails, which simply “forgets” to give the command to turn on the heater. In such cases, complete defrosting of the unit is required for 10-12 hours to remove ice.
To check the heating element and sensors, use a multimeter in dial mode. The resistance of a working heating element is usually several tens of ohms. If the device shows a break (one on the screen), the element must be replaced. The defrost sensor should “ring” at room temperature and open the circuit when heated.
☑️ Diagnostics of the No Frost system
It is important to note that in modern electronically controlled models, a defrost system error is often displayed on the display or signaled by flashing temperature indicators. Error codes may differ depending on the series Ariston, so checking with the instructions is mandatory.
Failures in the operation of the compressor and start relay
The “heart” of the refrigerator is the compressor. If it doesn't start, there won't be any cold anywhere. There may be several reasons: the motor winding has burned out, the mechanism has jammed, or the starting relay has failed. The relay is responsible for sending an impulse to start the motor, and this is one of the most common breakdowns that can be easily fixed on your own.
If you hear a click, a hum lasts a few seconds, and then another click and silence follows - most likely the problem is in the relay or in an attempt to start a jammed compressor. In the first case, replacing the relay (the black box on the side of the motor) will solve the problem in 15 minutes.
In more complex cases, when the compressor hums but does not start, or operates with severe overheating, measuring current consumption is required. If the current is significantly higher than the rated current, this indicates an interturn short circuit in the windings or mechanical wear of the components.
| Symptom | Probable cause | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| The motor is silent, there is no light | No power, cord burnt out | Check the socket and cable |
| Clicks, buzzing for 5-10 seconds | Faulty starting relay | Replace the relay |
| Humming constantly, does not turn off | Freon leak, compressor wear | Call a technician |
| Strong vibration and noise | Unbalance, touching pipes | Adjust the pipes, check the floor |
⚠️ Attention: An attempt to “reanimate” an old compressor by installing a more powerful starting capacitor or relay can lead to complete burnout of the windings. Use only original spare parts.
Fan and damper malfunctions
In two-chamber refrigerators Hotpoint Ariston with one compressor, cold is forced from the freezer to the refrigerator using a fan. If the fan stops, cold air stops circulating, and the upper compartment becomes warm, while in the freezer the temperature may be normal or even excessive.
The reason for the fan stopping may lie in the icing of its blades. This occurs when the defrost system is faulty (see above). The fan motor itself may also burn out or the wiring going to it may break. You can check the operation of the fan by opening the door of the refrigerator compartment - in some models it should go silent, but when the door is closed its noise should be audible.
Another element that regulates air flow is a damper (damper). It opens and closes at the command of the thermostat. If the damper is stuck in the closed position, the cold simply does not enter the refrigerator compartment. Mechanical cleaning or replacement of the damper drive restores normal operation.
Electronic faults: control module
Modern refrigerators Ariston are packed with electronics. All processes are monitored by the main control module. Power surges, moisture, or manufacturing defects can lead to board failure. In this case, the refrigerator may behave chaotically: turn on and off spontaneously, not respond to buttons, or show the wrong temperature.
Often, tracks on the control board burn out, capacitors swell, or triacs that control the compressor and heating elements fail. A visual inspection of the board may reveal blackening or traces of burning, but accurate diagnostics can only be carried out by a specialist with an oscilloscope.
In Hotpoint Ariston models with Dual No Frost technology, there is often a problem with oxidation of contacts in the wiring harnesses going to the sensors, which the module perceives as system error. Before replacing an expensive module, it is worth checking the integrity of all connections.
If the control module is “buggy”, sometimes a full reset helps. To do this, you need to unplug the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes. This will allow the capacitors to discharge and the controller will reboot, possibly resetting the software error.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why does the Hotpoint Ariston refrigerator work non-stop and does not turn off?
Most often this indicates a freon leak or loss of performance compressor. The unit is trying to reach temperature, but cannot due to lack of refrigerant. Also, the reason may be a loose fit of the door or placement in a too hot room.
How long should it take to defrost a No Frost refrigerator?
To completely thaw the ice in the hidden evaporator and dry the channels of the No Frost system, it takes at least 10-12 hours, and it is better to leave the unit turned off for a day. A short-term defrosting of 2-3 hours often does not solve the problem, since the ice remains deep in the channels.
Is it possible to use an Ariston refrigerator if it has stopped freezing?
You cannot operate a faulty unit. If the problem is a leak, the compressor will burn out. If it is in the defrost system, the heating element or wiring may burn out. In addition, food in a warm chamber will quickly deteriorate, creating a risk of poisoning.
Where is the temperature sensor in a Hotpoint refrigerator?
The location of the sensors depends on the model. Typically, one sensor is located in the air duct of the freezer, the other in the refrigerator compartment (often in a plastic casing on the back wall). The exact location is indicated in the service documentation for the specific series.