Kitchen Fridge playing up

[Jim Brewster]

Our kitchen Fridge seems to be playing up, the back is freezing up and stuff is too cold, sometimes frozen. The door seal seems ok, although it has cracks it still forms a tight seal

It's a good Beko fridge freezer about 10 years old and would prefer to keep it. It could be the thermostat which would potentially be an easy swap as a serviceable item, but I was also wondering if an inkbird would do the job. I haven't got an Inkbird at the moment as I don't brew in a fridge but they're relatively cheap and I'll probably use it in the future.

 

[Agentgonzo]

Without trying to teach you to suck eggs, have you checked that the thermostat hasn't been knocked when something got put in/out? We kind of further the thermostat is there as we set it once, then forget it for 10 years.

At one point we kind of noticed that everything was warm, but didn't really notice it enough to think about it. When we did both comment that it seemed to bit be working very well, we took a look and the thermostat had been knocked down to 1. I wonder whether something knocked yours as you put stuff in/out and it's set on max?

 

[Jim Brewster]

Without trying to teach you to suck eggs, have you checked that the thermostat hasn't been knocked when something got put in/out?

I have actually turned it right down but stuff is still freezing.. I peeled some frozen carrots earlier

 

[Agentgonzo]

I have actually turned it right down but stuff is still freezing.. I peeled some frozen carrots earlier

Just as a second double check... Does "down" mean the temperature goes down? I've never been sure whether a "1" on the dial means "lowest cooling" or "lowest temperature"?.

 

[Jim Brewster]

Just as a second double check... Does "down" mean the temperature goes down? I've never been sure whether a "1" on the dial means "lowest cooling" or "lowest temperature"?.

Haha, it's near min.. but is that min power or min temp?

Spoiler: it goes 1 to 5 and 5 is coldest according to the manual

 

[Agentgonzo]

I assumed that was the case, but I'd have hated to have sat on my hands, have you go through all this trouble only to go "D'oh" for something I could have said.
Hopefully you can find someone who can give you actual help

 

[Donegal john]

is it only the bottom of the fridge is freezing the food ?
This is normally caused by lack of refrigerant in the system and rather than circulating the entire coil it stays at the bottom

 

[Jim Brewster]

is it only the bottom of the fridge is freezing the food ?
This is normally caused by lack of refrigerant in the system and rather than circulating the entire coil it stays at the bottom

You might be on to something there. It's mostly freezing stuff in the bottom compartment yes, but also on the back of the fridge at the top. Is it curtains for the fridge if that's the case?

 

[Old Fart At Play]

Some fridges (eg cerain bosch models) have an ambient temerature switch, which you flick in winter. Otherwise the fridge overcools. We used to have one and regularly forgot about it till things started freezing.
Bottom and back of fridges are usually coldest, door warmest, whatever the make.

 

[Davegase]

I had the same problem with my LEC fridge. Thermostat just didn't work properly, I even replaced the thermostat.
But rather than scrapping the fridge I decided to use an inkbird to control it. Works fine except the light doesn't come on when you open the door if it's not cooling.

 

[Donegal john]

You might be on to something there. It's mostly freezing stuff in the bottom compartment yes, but also on the back of the fridge at the top. Is it curtains for the fridge if that's the case?

If it is gas and not a cooling fan or compressor fault it can be re-gassed but if it’s an older model then it may not be worth it.

 

[Jim Brewster]

which you flick in winter. Otherwise the fridge overcools.

I did suggest this as a possibility to the OH previously as we're not using the heating this year (haven't up to now anyway) and the kitchen is therefore pretty cold. I was told pretty swiftly that it's not the case. I dunno This fridge doesn't seem to have a switch for different modes but it seems feasible if the ambient is colder than usual then inside the fridge would be too

 

[Jim Brewster]

Never got to the bottom of what's wrong. daren't start changing parts so instead I've been self-identifying as an Inkbird for the past month, I switch the fridge off when the back of the inside of the fridge freezes, then switch it back on when it has thawed.

 

[Davegase]

Never got to the bottom of what's wrong. daren't start changing parts so instead I've been self-identifying as an Inkbird for the past month, I switch the fridge off when the back of the inside of the fridge freezes, then switch it back on when it has thawed.

Will you be self-identifying as an inkbird when filling in official forms ??