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Farmgirl Debbie Posted on Apr 03, 2019
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Hi, could a freezer keep running because an evaporator fan is going bad? We have replaced everything but that. Still runs all the time.

1 Answer

geob91

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  • Refrigerators Expert 128 Answers
  • Posted on Apr 03, 2019
geob91
Refrigerators Expert
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Newer freezers/refrigerators tend to run a lot. Typically 75% of the time is a norm. Some other things could affect this such as ambient temperature, location could be an issue depending on if it is in the basement, or in a sunroom. Usage can also cause it if the door is opened and closed a lot. Along with trying to maintain a temperature below zero. The colder it is, the longer it needs to run to try and achieve it! Should be as close to 0' F as possible.

It is best to give as much info as possible when posting. Model #'s let me look up what you have and being a serviceman I am aware of certain "ticks" between models. Age of the unit tells me if it is maybe getting ready to go! Not always though. The temp you have while the problem is happening.

You said you replaced everything? do you men electrical parts or components? A list would be helpful. Location in home/ or is it business use? A picture of the frost pattern would also go a very long way!

  • 4 more comments 
  • Farmgirl Debbie
    Farmgirl Debbie Apr 06, 2019

    It’s a Frigidaire LFFH17F7HWH upright freezer. We replaced the thermistor, then the defrost heater assembly. Replaced the run capacitor, relay compressor start device, the door gasket and the electronic control panel we replaced 2x. The coils are lightly frosted on the top only. It beeps every morning at 3:20 to say high temp. Sometimes it’s -8, then jumps to 11, then 26. Inside we out a thermometer which reads what the panel says. Thinking it’s time to kick this freezer from hell to the curb.

  • Farmgirl Debbie
    Farmgirl Debbie Apr 06, 2019

    I ordered a evaporator fan and motor just to know that too will be replaced. Last chance sort of.

  • geob91 Apr 06, 2019

    Thank you for your input. I would cancel the fan motor as it sounds like you are having a sealed system issue. When looking at the evaporator, it should have a consistent frost from top to bottom,side to side and front to back. Looking at the two tubes that go into the evaporator, One is very small and is called the capillary tube. The Freon flows into the evaporator from this tube and removes heat offering the cooling effect.

    When a sealed system has a leak, or a restriction, or an inefficient compressor then the frost pattern will be partial typically heavy where the capillary tube connects and only frosting a row or two of tubing.

    Sealed systems can be difficult to diagnose without the proper tools and training. Unfortunately, it is usually best to give up and go buy a new one as the cost to repair usually greatly outweighs the cost of a new one.

    You have an awful lot of money in parts already! and spending more would be wasteful. You can call in a repairman to properly diagnose it but that is another cost to you.

  • Debbie
    Debbie Apr 09, 2019

    Everything is frozen.

  • geob91 Apr 09, 2019

    Looking at your picture, you only have frost at the top of the evaporator and it is heavy on the left front where the capillary tube (small copper tube) connects to it. The bottom 75ish percent looks clean with no frost and this is very typical of a leak,restriction or inefficient compressor. On a normal system, the frost would be uniform from the top to the bottom,left to right and front to back. Without tapping into the system, I can not tell you what the problem is but it is not the fan motor! Like I said, you have replaced a lot of parts and it was no small cost. I would recommend getting another freezer before putting any more money into this, or get a qualified tech to diagnose the sealed system issue.

  • Debbie
    Debbie Apr 09, 2019

    Okay. Thank you.

×

5 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 1066 Answers
  • Posted on Apr 29, 2009

SOURCE: freezer cold, fridge warm

The small cooling fan in the freezer compartment that sends chilled air to the food side is defective and needs replacement.  Sometimes that are only frozen stuck.

When you receive advice from this website you have to understand that without the item in front of us, we are only able to provide "a best guess" as to what the problem might be based on you description of the defect.  If you haven't described a clear and precise description of the defect you decrease the chances of an accurate reply.  Thank you. 

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douglas smith

  • 1462 Answers
  • Posted on Jun 19, 2007

SOURCE: Refrigerator trips GFI outlet

unlikely to be the defrost timer. more likely to be the defrost element. try disconnecting the element and see if it trips then. could be of course a wiring fault - frayed wires etc

Anonymous

  • 1543 Answers
  • Posted on Dec 09, 2008

SOURCE: not cooling

Sometimes when the evaporator fan goes out, it takes part of the motherboard also. (part number WR55X10552, which also subs into a WR55X10656) If this is the case, I would not expect the refrig to be running either. (If your compressor still runs, check door switch.)

Anonymous

  • 531 Answers
  • Posted on Mar 31, 2009

SOURCE: refrigerator evaporator fan won't run but compressor working

is the evaporator coil frozzen you may have a defrost problem

Anonymous

  • 1489 Answers
  • Posted on Apr 28, 2009

SOURCE: Evaporator fan did not start running when condenser fan started.

I don't know why there would be much of a delay between the condenser and evaporator fans coming on. If you have diagnosed it as a bad motor, that's probably correct.

But the motor could just need cleaning and lubricating

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Compressor start no longer working then stop cooling?

    There are several possible causes when a refrigerator doesn't keep your milk cold or your ice cream frozen. Before you attempt more complex repairs, try these simple fixes if your refrigerator is not cooling and if your freezer is not working:
    ·Be sure the fridge is plugged in and getting power. The light should come on when you open the door.
    ·Check the thermostat to make sure it hasn't been turned way down by mistake. If your fridge/freezer thermostat isn't working.
    ·Be sure the vents on the back of the freezer compartment aren't blocked by boxes of ice cream or frozen vegetables-the vents have to be clear for cold air to circulate.
    ·Vacuum the coils under or behind the fridge. Clogged coils can cause poor cooling.
    ·Check to make sure nothing is stuck in the condenser fan and that it spins freely (models with coils on the back won't have a fan). To do this, unplug the fridge and pull it out. Clean the fan blades and spin the fan by hand to see if it's stuck. Plugin the fridge and make sure the fan runs when the compressor is running. If the fan doesn't run, see the directions below, which show how to replace it.

      Replace the Refrigerator Evaporator Fan
      ·Here are some refrigerator troubleshooting tips to help you zero in on the problem if you notice your fridge not cooling. If you can hear the compressor running but the fridge isn't cooling, the problem is most likely either frost-clogged evaporator coils or a stuck or broken evaporator fan. Evaporator fans often squeal or chirp when they start to go bad. You'll know it's the evaporator fan if the noise gets louder when you open the freezer door. The evaporator coils and fan are located behind a cover in the freezer compartment
      ·If you remove the cover inside the freezer and find the coils completely filled with frost, take everything out of the freezer and fridge, unplug it and let it thaw for 24 to 48 hours. Keep a few towels handy to soak up water that may leak onto the floor. When all the frost is melted away, plug the fridge back in. If it works, the problem may be a defrost timer, defrost heater or defrost thermostat. Replacing these parts isn't difficult, but figuring out which is faulty requires troubleshooting that we won't cover here. Call a pro if you suspect a problem with these parts.
      ·Normally the refrigerator condenser fan and compressor, located near the floor on the back of most refrigerators, come on when the thermostat calls for more cooling. If you don't hear the compressor running after the door has been left open for a while, it could mean the condenser fan is stuck or worn out or that the relay or compressor is bad.
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My ffus2613lp doesn't seem to be circulating the cold air. It's alarm went off yesterday and the ice began melting. I took everything out of the freezer and unplugged it, pulled it out, cleaned...

it sounds like the evaporator fan isn't working,when you open the freezer door you should hear the fan running in the freezer,if not bad fan motor,part number 242077701 and it's around 75 dollars
go here and you can look up parts at sears
http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/part-model/FRIGIDAIRE-Parts/Refrigerator-Parts/Model-FFUS2613LP1/1428/0165000/R1009011/00005?blt=06&prst=&shdMod=ffus2613lp
1helpful
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What causes the coils behind the panel in the freezer to freeze up and stop the freezer fan? top half of freezer defrosts, lower half stays cold.Fridge is side by side and freezer fan keeps turning of

When the evaporator fan motor stops running the top half of the back wall of the freezer will frost over and the the only reason the lower portion stays cool is because cold air falls. More than likely you have a a dc motor fan and its bad, but be wary with ge, the main control board could also go bad causing the fan not to run.

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jason_4570d45317834dd3

1helpful
1answer

My magic chef rb193p fridge wont stop running. I replaced the fan motor 4 months ago. The top of the fridge compartment is freezing. Is the defrost timer bad?

I had the same problem. When the evaporator heater stops working, frost will build up until there is no air flow to the refrigerator. This will cause the refrigerator to keep running. Remove everything from the freezer and remove the pan at the bottom and see if there is a frost buildup. .... Bruce
0helpful
1answer

Ge arctica side by side. Freezer not freezing refrigerator not cooling

Hi,

Let's start by diagnosing the freezer;

Fan problem is one of the most common reasons for the freezer to start failing, this is called "frost free failure." Ice can build up on the evaporator coils over time, and this ice builds up until it starts blocking the fan. The fan is responsible for circulating cold air throughout the freezer, so if it is blocked the freezer will not be able to freeze any food. You can usually check this by removing an access panel in the back of the freezer to inspect the coils. If ice is built up on the coils, a hairdryer can assist in defrosting them.

It's also possible that the fan is not running at all. If the fan is burned out or the motor isn't running, cold air can't circulate through the freezer and everything will melt. You can normally hear the fan motor switch on and off from time to time. Listen for it and if you can't hear it coming on for an extended period of time, the motor may need repair or replacement. The wires connecting to the fan may be the problem, preventing the fan from receiving electricity.

Several other problems could be keeping your freezer from freezing:

There could be leaks in one or several of the hoses in the refrigerator, which results in the cold air being lost instead of circulating properly throughout the fridge and freezer.

If you have the freezer so full that the cold air can't circulate, your food will thaw even though the freezer isn't malfunctioning. Always leave some space open in the freezer and try to not store food right up against the cooling vents.

The thermostat might have shorted out, which means the freezer can't accurately determine how cold it is. If this is the case, the refrigerator would probably not be working, either.

If your defrost drain becomes clogged, the water in the line will just refreeze over and over again, which could damage the lines as well as the fan. Always check the drain and make sure no sludge is building up in it if you have a self-defrosting refrigerator.

Always try to keep the freezer door closed for long periods of time. The more the door is opened, the more warm air is let in and cold air is released. If the door is opened frequently, the freezer could be warming faster than the fridge can cool it, which will thaw your food

As for the fridge, the same solution but for more details. If refrigerator is not cooling properly can be due to a defrost timer, which is causing the fridge to go into defrost cycle. Usually it takes 45-60 minutes for refrigerator to come out of defrost cycle. If the timer goes bad then it will not come out of defrost cycle and can result in this kind of issues. It can also occur due to defrost thermostat, it allows current to pass through it at temperatures of 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit and prevents current from passing through it at 40 to 60 degrees. This is difficult to test, though, because it takes a prolonged, very-cold temperature to turn it on. The defrost thermostat is snapped onto the top portion of the evaporator. The thermostat sends temperature information to the processor. The defrost heater must be replaced when replacing the thermostat.

1. Remove the lower fan duct work from the evaporator cover.
2. Remove the 1/4-in. evaporator cover screws and remove the evaporator cover.
3. Disconnect the defrost thermostat wiring connector.
4. Remove the defrost thermostat from the evaporator.

I hope the above helps.......

Good luck.
0helpful
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Hi, My samsung RT26m is not cooling properly & all the vegetables in refrigerator getting ready to through away. I think cut off switch (Rely ) is not working. pl give me solution as early as...

Hi,

Let's start by diagnosing the freezer;

Fan problem is one of the most common reasons for the freezer to start failing, this is called "frost free failure." Ice can build up on the evaporator coils over time, and this ice builds up until it starts blocking the fan. The fan is responsible for circulating cold air throughout the freezer, so if it is blocked the freezer will not be able to freeze any food. You can usually check this by removing an access panel in the back of the freezer to inspect the coils. If ice is built up on the coils, a hairdryer can assist in defrosting them.

It's also possible that the fan is not running at all. If the fan is burned out or the motor isn't running, cold air can't circulate through the freezer and everything will melt. You can normally hear the fan motor switch on and off from time to time. Listen for it and if you can't hear it coming on for an extended period of time, the motor may need repair or replacement. The wires connecting to the fan may be the problem, preventing the fan from receiving electricity.

Several other problems could be keeping your freezer from freezing:

There could be leaks in one or several of the hoses in the refrigerator, which results in the cold air being lost instead of circulating properly throughout the fridge and freezer.

If you have the freezer so full that the cold air can't circulate, your food will thaw even though the freezer isn't malfunctioning. Always leave some space open in the freezer and try to not store food right up against the cooling vents.

The thermostat might have shorted out, which means the freezer can't accurately determine how cold it is. If this is the case, the refrigerator would probably not be working, either.

If your defrost drain becomes clogged, the water in the line will just refreeze over and over again, which could damage the lines as well as the fan. Always check the drain and make sure no sludge is building up in it if you have a self-defrosting refrigerator.

Always try to keep the freezer door closed for long periods of time. The more the door is opened, the more warm air is let in and cold air is released. If the door is opened frequently, the freezer could be warming faster than the fridge can cool it, which will thaw your food

As for the fridge, the same solution but for more details. If refrigerator is not cooling properly can be due to a defrost timer, which is causing the fridge to go into defrost cycle. Usually it takes 45-60 minutes for refrigerator to come out of defrost cycle. If the timer goes bad then it will not come out of defrost cycle and can result in this kind of issues. It can also occur due to defrost thermostat, it allows current to pass through it at temperatures of 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit and prevents current from passing through it at 40 to 60 degrees. This is difficult to test, though, because it takes a prolonged, very-cold temperature to turn it on. The defrost thermostat is snapped onto the top portion of the evaporator. The thermostat sends temperature information to the processor. The defrost heater must be replaced when replacing the thermostat.

1. Remove the lower fan duct work from the evaporator cover.
2. Remove the 1/4-in. evaporator cover screws and remove the evaporator cover.
3. Disconnect the defrost thermostat wiring connector.
4. Remove the defrost thermostat from the evaporator.

I hope the above helps.......

Good luck.
0helpful
1answer

My fridge /frezer stop working

Hi,

Let's start by diagnosing the freezer;

Fan problem is one of the most common reasons for the freezer to start failing, this is called "frost free failure." Ice can build up on the evaporator coils over time, and this ice builds up until it starts blocking the fan. The fan is responsible for circulating cold air throughout the freezer, so if it is blocked the freezer will not be able to freeze any food. You can usually check this by removing an access panel in the back of the freezer to inspect the coils. If ice is built up on the coils, a hairdryer can assist in defrosting them.

It's also possible that the fan is not running at all. If the fan is burned out or the motor isn't running, cold air can't circulate through the freezer and everything will melt. You can normally hear the fan motor switch on and off from time to time. Listen for it and if you can't hear it coming on for an extended period of time, the motor may need repair or replacement. The wires connecting to the fan may be the problem, preventing the fan from receiving electricity.

Several other problems could be keeping your freezer from freezing:

There could be leaks in one or several of the hoses in the refrigerator, which results in the cold air being lost instead of circulating properly throughout the fridge and freezer.

If you have the freezer so full that the cold air can't circulate, your food will thaw even though the freezer isn't malfunctioning. Always leave some space open in the freezer and try to not store food right up against the cooling vents.

The thermostat might have shorted out, which means the freezer can't accurately determine how cold it is. If this is the case, the refrigerator would probably not be working, either.

If your defrost drain becomes clogged, the water in the line will just refreeze over and over again, which could damage the lines as well as the fan. Always check the drain and make sure no sludge is building up in it if you have a self-defrosting refrigerator.

Always try to keep the freezer door closed for long periods of time. The more the door is opened, the more warm air is let in and cold air is released. If the door is opened frequently, the freezer could be warming faster than the fridge can cool it, which will thaw your food

As for the fridge, the same solution but for more details. If refrigerator is not cooling properly can be due to a defrost timer, which is causing the fridge to go into defrost cycle. Usually it takes 45-60 minutes for refrigerator to come out of defrost cycle. If the timer goes bad then it will not come out of defrost cycle and can result in this kind of issues. It can also occur due to defrost thermostat, it allows current to pass through it at temperatures of 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit and prevents current from passing through it at 40 to 60 degrees. This is difficult to test, though, because it takes a prolonged, very-cold temperature to turn it on. The defrost thermostat is snapped onto the top portion of the evaporator. The thermostat sends temperature information to the processor. The defrost heater must be replaced when replacing the thermostat.

1. Remove the lower fan duct work from the evaporator cover.
2. Remove the 1/4-in. evaporator cover screws and remove the evaporator cover.
3. Disconnect the defrost thermostat wiring connector.
4. Remove the defrost thermostat from the evaporator.

I hope the above helps.......

Good luck.
0helpful
1answer

Fridge section of fridge/freezer not working .

Hi,

Let's start by diagnosing the freezer;

Fan problem is one of the most common reasons for the freezer to start failing, this is called "frost free failure." Ice can build up on the evaporator coils over time, and this ice builds up until it starts blocking the fan. The fan is responsible for circulating cold air throughout the freezer, so if it is blocked the freezer will not be able to freeze any food. You can usually check this by removing an access panel in the back of the freezer to inspect the coils. If ice is built up on the coils, a hairdryer can assist in defrosting them.

It's also possible that the fan is not running at all. If the fan is burned out or the motor isn't running, cold air can't circulate through the freezer and everything will melt. You can normally hear the fan motor switch on and off from time to time. Listen for it and if you can't hear it coming on for an extended period of time, the motor may need repair or replacement. The wires connecting to the fan may be the problem, preventing the fan from receiving electricity.

Several other problems could be keeping your freezer from freezing:

There could be leaks in one or several of the hoses in the refrigerator, which results in the cold air being lost instead of circulating properly throughout the fridge and freezer.

If you have the freezer so full that the cold air can't circulate, your food will thaw even though the freezer isn't malfunctioning. Always leave some space open in the freezer and try to not store food right up against the cooling vents.

The thermostat might have shorted out, which means the freezer can't accurately determine how cold it is. If this is the case, the refrigerator would probably not be working, either.

If your defrost drain becomes clogged, the water in the line will just refreeze over and over again, which could damage the lines as well as the fan. Always check the drain and make sure no sludge is building up in it if you have a self-defrosting refrigerator.

Always try to keep the freezer door closed for long periods of time. The more the door is opened, the more warm air is let in and cold air is released. If the door is opened frequently, the freezer could be warming faster than the fridge can cool it, which will thaw your food

As for the fridge, the same solution but for more details. If refrigerator is not cooling properly can be due to a defrost timer, which is causing the fridge to go into defrost cycle. Usually it takes 45-60 minutes for refrigerator to come out of defrost cycle. If the timer goes bad then it will not come out of defrost cycle and can result in this kind of issues. It can also occur due to defrost thermostat, it allows current to pass through it at temperatures of 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit and prevents current from passing through it at 40 to 60 degrees. This is difficult to test, though, because it takes a prolonged, very-cold temperature to turn it on. The defrost thermostat is snapped onto the top portion of the evaporator. The thermostat sends temperature information to the processor. The defrost heater must be replaced when replacing the thermostat.

1. Remove the lower fan duct work from the evaporator cover.
2. Remove the 1/4-in. evaporator cover screws and remove the evaporator cover.
3. Disconnect the defrost thermostat wiring connector.
4. Remove the defrost thermostat from the evaporator.

I hope the above helps.......

Take care.
0helpful
1answer

Side-by-side refrigerator - freezer is working just fine, but the refrigerator is not cooling.

Hi,

Check out these tips...they can help you figure out what is going wrong with your refrigerator and why it is not cooling

Refrigerator not Cooling or Fridge not Cooling

How to Defrost Refrigerator Defrost Timer Problem

Water Running in refrigerator from Freezer


Refrigerator or Freezer not Cooling or Getting Cold


heatman101





...

1helpful
1answer

Our 4 year old GE side by side frig suddenly warmed to 64 degrees. Freezer stopped freezing and is at 43. Motor is running.

Really need to know what motor(s) are running (compressor, evap fan inside freezer compartment, condenser fan under fridge)?? Of course, check your temperature (thermostat) settings. Side-by-sides usually have 2 of them. They should be labled for refridgerator and freezer. The freezer control usually only opens a baffle from the freezer compartment to the refridge compartment. The refrigerator temp control is the one that controls the compressor on-off cycles and the temp of refrig compartment (this keeps the refrig compartment from freezing the milk and cokes) If the freezer control/baffle is set too far open, this will cause the refrig temp control to shut off too soon for the freezer temp to get low enough. These controls can get bumped out of the correct setting accidently from time to time.
To check the following, the fridge has to be running, or in a condition where it "should be" running: If compressor is running (condenser fan should be too), check if evaporator fan (inside freezer) is running. Open (freezer) door and hold door light switch in when you check evaporator fan operation (some fans stop when door is open) If it is not running you may have a bad evaporator fan motor. It could also be a bad defrost timer, causing the evaporator (also inside back of freezer) to ice-up. This blocks the air flow over evap. Also, there is a defrost terminator switch on the evaporator coil that stops the defrost cycle when coil is clear of ice/frost (but timer hasn't ended defrost cycle). If it is defective, that could also keep the fridge from going into the defrost cycle, or taking it out too soon. If it is the timer, change the defrost terminator as well. Depending on how handy you are, you may be able to check/change any of these parts yourself. If you don't know much about elecrical stuff, you should leave it to a repair tech. Hope this helps.
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