The situation when a loved one Biryusa refrigerator stops refrigerating food always takes you by surprise. The inner shelves may be warm, but the ice cream in the freezer has already begun to melt, which causes panic in any home cook. However, before calling a technician or looking for a new unit, it is worth carrying out an initial diagnosis.
Often the reason lies in trivial things that can be fixed on your own in a few minutes. In other cases, we are talking about a serious breakdown compressor or a refrigerant leak that requires professional intervention. Understanding exactly how your model works will help save time and money.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the possible reasons for the lack of cold, from simple operating errors to complex technical malfunctions. You will learn to identify the symptoms of specific breakdowns and understand in which cases repairs are possible with your own hands, and when it is better not to risk it.
Checking the power supply and thermostat settings
The first thing to do if Biryusa refrigerator it is not freezing is to make sure there is electricity. Sometimes the cord may be pulled out of the socket or the machine in the panel may be knocked out. Check whether the indicator light is on on the control panel or inside the chamber.
Next you should pay attention to thermostat. On mechanically controlled models, the knob may have accidentally moved to the "0" or "Min" position. In electronic models, the operating mode may have been lost or the "Vacation" function may have been activated.
⚠️ Attention: If you hear the hum of the motor, but there is no cold, do not try to immediately disassemble the unit. Allow the equipment to stand turned off for 15-20 minutes before restarting to stabilize the pressure in the system.
Make sure that the temperature conditions comply with the manufacturer's recommendations. In winter, at low room temperatures, the refrigerator may not turn on due to the way the thermostat operates if it is installed in an unheated area.
- 🔌 Check the integrity of the power cord and the tightness of the plug in the outlet.
- ❄️ Make sure that the temperature regulator is not set to the minimum value.
- 🔦 Inspect the internal light - if it does not light up when the door is opened, there may be a problem with the wiring.
Problems with the door seal and chamber sealing
One of the common reasons why Biryusa refrigerator it freezes poorly is a violation of the seal of the chamber. If warm air from the room constantly penetrates inside, the compressor simply does not have time to cool it, working hard.
The main culprit here is rubber seal doors. Over time, it dries out, cracks or becomes deformed, no longer fitting tightly to the body. Also, the door may warp due to loose hinges or too much load on the shelves.
You can check the tightness using a simple folk method. Take a regular sheet of paper or a banknote, clamp it around the perimeter of the door and try to pull it out. If the paper is removed easily, without resistance, it means that the seal does not fit in this place.
| Symptom | Probable cause | Elimination method |
|---|---|---|
| Ice on the back wall | Dense fit, but long work | Check the thermostat |
| Warm at the door | The seal contour is broken | Replacing rubber |
| Whistling when closing | Clamp too tight | Lubricate with silicone |
| Gap in the corner | Deformation of the seal | Warming with a hair dryer |
Defrost system malfunctions and ice freezing
If your Biryusa refrigerator equipped with a No Frost or drip defrosting system, the problem may lie in a defrost cycle failure. The evaporator becomes overgrown with a “coat” of ice, which blocks the circulation of cold air.
In this case, the compressor can work properly, and even hum, but the cold does not enter the main chamber. This is often accompanied by the fact that the back wall inside the refrigerator is covered with a thick layer of frost or ice.
For diagnostics, it is necessary to defrost the unit completely, leaving it turned off with the doors open for at least 24 hours. If after turning on the refrigerator works normally, but after a week or two the problem returns, it means that one of the elements of the defrost system has failed: the heating element, timer or defrost sensor.
⚠️ Attention: Never use sharp objects (knife, screwdriver) to chip ice inside the chamber. This is guaranteed to lead to puncture of the evaporator tubes and leakage of freon.
In models with No Frost the drain hole through which water should drain may also become clogged. As a result, moisture accumulates and freezes, blocking the air supply channels.
- 💧 Complete defrosting within 24 hours is the first diagnostic step.
- 🌡️ Checking the operation of the defrosting heating element requires a multimeter.
- 🌬️ Cleaning the ventilation ducts from ice jams.
Why can't you rush defrosting?
Using hair dryers or hot water for quick defrosting can lead to sudden temperature changes and damage to plastic parts or even cracks in the metal of the evaporator.
Freon leakage: signs and consequences
Refrigerant (freon) is the “blood” of the refrigerator, circulating through a system of tubes. If Biryusa refrigerator stops freezing, and the compressor is constantly running without stopping, there is a high probability of leakage.
Freon can escape through microcracks in the condenser tubes, which often rot from moisture and salt, or through soldering points. In modern models with a foamed evaporator, a leak may occur inside the housing.
One of the obvious signs of a leak is swelling of the wall of the refrigeration chamber or the appearance of oily spots near the unit. Also, the compressor may become very hot to the touch, trying to compensate for the lack of refrigerant.
It is almost impossible to repair the leak and fill the system with freon on your own without special equipment and skills. It requires searching for the location of the damage, soldering, evacuation of the system and precise charging with refrigerant.
Failure of the compressor and start relay
The heart of any refrigerator is compressor. If it fails, no cold will be generated. However, it is often not the motor itself that is to blame, but the starting relay, which supplies voltage to it.
Symptoms of relay failure: a click is heard when trying to start, the motor hums for a couple of seconds and turns off, or silence and lack of response to being plugged into the network. In some cases, the relay may “stick” in the on position.
If the problem is in the compressor itself (interturn short circuit, broken winding, wedge of the piston group), then repair is often not economically feasible. Replacing a compressor is expensive and requires qualified soldering and refueling.
Sequence of checking the relay:1. Disconnect the refrigerator from the network.
2. Remove the casing at the back of the unit.
3. Remove the relay from the compressor contacts.
4. Shake the relay: if you can hear the knocking of the ball inside, it is faulty (for posistor models).
Replacing the starting relay is one of the few operations that you can do yourself if you have the skill to work with electricians and have selected an exact analogue of the part for your model Biryusa.
Capillary tube clogged
Another technical reason for the lack of cold is clogging of the capillary tube. This is the thinnest pipeline through which freon enters the evaporator. Over time, oil oxidation products or moisture may accumulate in the system, turning into an ice plug.
When clogged, the pressure in the system is disrupted. The compressor is working, the condenser (grid at the back) may be only partially warm or be cold, and the evaporator inside is not cooling.
⚠️ Attention: Attempts to clean the system yourself by blowing with compressed air without evacuation can drive moisture deeper into the system, which will ultimately damage the equipment.
Diagnose Only a technician with a pressure gauge manifold can clog it. It will measure the suction and discharge pressure. Treatment consists of purging the system with nitrogen under high pressure and replacing the filter-drier.
☑️ Checklist before calling a technician
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why does the Biryusa refrigerator freeze, but does not turn off?
This may indicate a freon leak, a clogged capillary system, or a thermostat malfunction. The unit is trying to gain temperature, but due to a lack of refrigerant or circulation problems, it cannot do this, working non-stop.
Is it possible to operate the Biryusa refrigerator if it is standing on its side?
Absolutely not. After transporting it on its side or simply moving it, the refrigerator must stand upright for at least 4-8 hours (or better yet, a day) before turning it on. The oil must drain into the compressor crankcase, otherwise water hammer is possible.
What to do if it is warm in the refrigerator compartment and cold in the freezer?
Most often this is a problem with air circulation (No Frost channels are clogged) or freon leakage. It is also possible that the damper that regulates the supply of cold to the upper chamber fails, or the second compressor breaks down (in two-compressor models).
How often do you need to defrost the Biryusa refrigerator?
Models with manual defrosting require shutdown every 3-6 months as ice forms. Drip defrosting and No Frost systems do not require regular defrosting, but preventive cleaning is recommended once a year.