Broken Fridge Freezer?

[NSM]

The other day I opened up my fridge and noticed that the inside of it is
room temperature and that food had went off. It is a 2.5 years old Candy
fridge/freezer unit - it is not self-defrosting.

Sure? Usually the first thing to suspect is the defroster element.

 

[NSM]

Have you, or anyone else, got any idea what the fluid trickling noise is?
Whenever the fridge freezer gets switched on, it starts making the sound. It
sounds like water bubbling and trickling at the same time - as if a lot of
fluid is running down the back of the unit.

It's water or Freon. Freon seems doubtful. Carry on defrosting it - gentle
heat from a fan heater may help some.

 

[James Sweet]

The other day I opened up my fridge and noticed that the inside of it is
room temperature and that food had went off. It is a 2.5 years old Candy
fridge/freezer unit - it is not self-defrosting.

I had noticed the day before that there was the sound of water trickling
down the back of it, loud enough to be noticable from anywhere in my
kitchen. The unit is getting power (e.g. the light goes on) and the motor is
making the usual buzzing sound. I can still hear a trickling fluid sound
(like water bubbling and running slowly) when I switch it on.

The freezer part is also slowly defrosting, although it still has ice in it
which has been slowly melting for over two days now. I have left the unit on
because I initially thought only the fridge part had broken.

Any ideas what the problem is and how to fix it? Is a new fridge/freezer the
only way?

First thing to do is find out if the refrigeration system is working, it's
possible that the defrost coil is simply stuck on and heating it up as fast
as it can cool off. If that's the problem then you're lucky and the repair
is easy. The other possibilities are loss of refrigerant, or more likely,
the compressor has failed internally. Sometimes the valves (or vanes of it's
rotary) will fail and the motor will still run but no refrigerant will flow.
Any problem with the hermetic system (compressor, expansion orifice, lines,
etc) will have to be repaired by someone certified to handle refrigerant,
the electrical stuff feel free to fiddle with it yourself.

 

[James Sweet]

It may just need to have the refrigerant replaced - I don't know how
much that would cost.

You can't just replace the refrigerant, if it's gone, there's a leak and the
system is up to air. You have to fix the leak and pump it down to a vacuum
before recharging it.

 

[Edwin Pawlowski]

it's
possible that the defrost coil is simply stuck on and heating it up as
fast
as it can cool off. If that's the problem then you're lucky and the repair
is easy.

Given his first statement, I doubt he will be that lucky.

 

[Asimov]

"NSM" bravely wrote to "All" (10 May 05 01:40:05)
--- on the heady topic of "Re: Broken Fridge Freezer?"

NS> From: "NSM" <[email protected]>
NS> Xref: aeinews alt.home.repair:18809 misc.consumers.house:22393
NS> rec.food.equipment:8882 sci.electronics.repair:47731 uk.d-i-y:21439

The other day I opened up my fridge and noticed that the inside of it is
room temperature and that food had went off. It is a 2.5 years old Candy
fridge/freezer unit - it is not self-defrosting.

NS> Sure? Usually the first thing to suspect is the defroster element.

Isn't "self-defrosting" pretty much a standard feature these days?
In my experience the defroster element is pretty robust but the
problem area was more often the "defrost timer clock" getting stuck.
Another is the thermal cutout, this latter is a safety feature when
the defroster element stays on accidentally but this would result in
frost build up. However this frost might clog the cold air fan
circulation to the fridge section or the ice build up might strain the
coolant pipes until they crack a joint.

A*s*i*m*o*v

.... You may be a tech if you're entertained by a 6-pack and sparking HV.

 

[NSM]

Isn't "self-defrosting" pretty much a standard feature these days?

Yes, but they get some weird stuff in the UK (and Australia) - like Russian
made appliances. You'd have to sell them on eBay here to get rid of them but
people buy them there.

N

 

[Joe]

The other day I opened up my fridge and noticed that the inside of it is
room temperature and that food had went off. It is a 2.5 years old Candy
fridge/freezer unit - it is not self-defrosting.

I had noticed the day before that there was the sound of water trickling
down the back of it, loud enough to be noticable from anywhere in my
kitchen. The unit is getting power (e.g. the light goes on) and the motor
is making the usual buzzing sound. I can still hear a trickling fluid
sound (like water bubbling and running slowly) when I switch it on.

The freezer part is also slowly defrosting, although it still has ice in
it which has been slowly melting for over two days now. I have left the
unit on because I initially thought only the fridge part had broken.

Any ideas what the problem is and how to fix it? Is a new fridge/freezer
the only way?

OK, an update. I defrosted the fridge freezer but it made no difference. It
never cooled and still made a gargling noise when switched on.

I then called an engineer and he came out and said it has leaked
refrigerant, and the leak is on an inaccessible pipe inside the unit -
meaning I have to buy a new fridge freezer.

 

[Sparks]

OK, an update. I defrosted the fridge freezer but it made no difference.

It never cooled and still made a gargling noise when switched on.

I then called an engineer and he came out and said it has leaked
refrigerant, and the leak is on an inaccessible pipe inside the unit -
meaning I have to buy a new fridge freezer.

Then, if it were me, as it is only 30 months old, I would go back to the
shop you bought it from and explain the situation to the manager. In my
opinion it has not lasted a reasonable time (any reasonable person would not
expect to purchase a fridge/freezer every 30 months), and as the pipe that
has leaked is in an inaccessible place (So you cant have damaged it through
neglect), it is not of a satisfactory quality. (and the fact the pipe that
has now leaked is in an inaccessible place, I would think the fault would
have been present when you bought it)

In my opinion, the shop should arrange for it to be repaired, or replaced
with an equally specified model (or better)
The shop almost certainly will spout on about the warranty being expired,
but this is irrelevant, you are pursuing your rights under the sale of goods
act.

www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

Or more specifically
http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/cgi-bin/calitem.cgi?file=ADV0054-1111.txt
(http://tinyurl.com/2ovyu)

Give you local trading standards office a call, they will give you free
advise (well, for the cost of a phone call anyway!)

Sparks...

 

[Sam Goldwasser]

Then, if it were me, as it is only 30 months old, I would go back to the
shop you bought it from and explain the situation to the manager. In my
opinion it has not lasted a reasonable time (any reasonable person would not
expect to purchase a fridge/freezer every 30 months), and as the pipe that
has leaked is in an inaccessible place (So you cant have damaged it through
neglect), it is not of a satisfactory quality. (and the fact the pipe that
has now leaked is in an inaccessible place, I would think the fault would
have been present when you bought it)

In my opinion, the shop should arrange for it to be repaired, or replaced
with an equally specified model (or better)
The shop almost certainly will spout on about the warranty being expired,
but this is irrelevant, you are pursuing your rights under the sale of goods
act.

www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

Or more specifically
http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/cgi-bin/calitem.cgi?file=ADV0054-1111.txt
(http://tinyurl.com/2ovyu)

Give you local trading standards office a call, they will give you free
advise (well, for the cost of a phone call anyway!)

Sparks...

Around here (USA), don't most of these have a warranty on the sealed system
of at least 5 years?

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[Seafarer]

The other day I opened up my fridge and noticed that the inside of it is
room temperature and that food had went off. It is a 2.5 years old Candy
fridge/freezer unit - it is not self-defrosting.

I had noticed the day before that there was the sound of water trickling
down the back of it, loud enough to be noticable from anywhere in my
kitchen. The unit is getting power (e.g. the light goes on) and the motor is
making the usual buzzing sound. I can still hear a trickling fluid sound
(like water bubbling and running slowly) when I switch it on.

The freezer part is also slowly defrosting, although it still has ice in it
which has been slowly melting for over two days now. I have left the unit on
because I initially thought only the fridge part had broken.

Any ideas what the problem is and how to fix it? Is a new fridge/freezer the
only way?

I got a UK Candy at my wifes insistence as I think they are or were a
poor firm.Mine drives me up the wall with it's constant squealing and
motor noise,it is automatic defrost and I was informed this is normal.
Now I'm a retired electronic engineer and it don't sound normal to
me.Then again I know nothing re.Fridge/freezers.All I know is,as we
live in a bungalow,we have to keep the kitchen door closed at night as
it would keep us awake.Think it's a poor design

 

[NSM]

OK, an update. I defrosted the fridge freezer but it made no difference. It
never cooled and still made a gargling noise when switched on.

I then called an engineer and he came out and said it has leaked
refrigerant, and the leak is on an inaccessible pipe inside the unit -
meaning I have to buy a new fridge freezer.

This should have a 5 year warranty on the sealed unit - the broken bit.

 

[Stormin Mormon]

Regrets to hear. I'm sorry we were not more help. But some things aren't
fixed on a computer.

--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
www.mormons.com

The other day I opened up my fridge and noticed that the inside of it is
room temperature and that food had went off. It is a 2.5 years old Candy
fridge/freezer unit - it is not self-defrosting.

I had noticed the day before that there was the sound of water trickling
down the back of it, loud enough to be noticable from anywhere in my
kitchen. The unit is getting power (e.g. the light goes on) and the motor
is making the usual buzzing sound. I can still hear a trickling fluid
sound (like water bubbling and running slowly) when I switch it on.

The freezer part is also slowly defrosting, although it still has ice in
it which has been slowly melting for over two days now. I have left the
unit on because I initially thought only the fridge part had broken.

Any ideas what the problem is and how to fix it? Is a new fridge/freezer
the only way?

OK, an update. I defrosted the fridge freezer but it made no difference. It
never cooled and still made a gargling noise when switched on.

I then called an engineer and he came out and said it has leaked
refrigerant, and the leak is on an inaccessible pipe inside the unit -
meaning I have to buy a new fridge freezer.

 

[Joe]

Then, if it were me, as it is only 30 months old, I would go back to the
shop you bought it from and explain the situation to the manager. In my
opinion it has not lasted a reasonable time (any reasonable person would
not expect to purchase a fridge/freezer every 30 months), and as the pipe
that has leaked is in an inaccessible place (So you cant have damaged it
through neglect), it is not of a satisfactory quality. (and the fact the
pipe that has now leaked is in an inaccessible place, I would think the
fault would have been present when you bought it)

In my opinion, the shop should arrange for it to be repaired, or replaced
with an equally specified model (or better)
The shop almost certainly will spout on about the warranty being expired,
but this is irrelevant, you are pursuing your rights under the sale of
goods act.

www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

Or more specifically
http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/cgi-bin/calitem.cgi?file=ADV0054-1111.txt
(http://tinyurl.com/2ovyu)

Give you local trading standards office a call, they will give you free
advise (well, for the cost of a phone call anyway!)

OK I've spoke to Trading Standards and they have advised me to write to the
retailer, which I have done. It appears that I have a case under the Sale Of
Goods Act 1979 so I'll report back when I get a response from them.