105
votes
Why does my freezer get a little warmer every 14 hours?
It is defrosting.
Frost free refrigeration equipment goes through a defrost cycle every few hours. This normally involves turning off the cooling compressor and activating a heat tape that is ...
- 19.3k
68
votes
Is it damaging to turn off a small fridge for two days every week?
Someone will close the door and...
It will fill the fridge's internal spaces with mold
Air holds moisture. Warm air is capable of holding more moisture than cold air. Everytime you open the fridge ...
49
votes
Is it damaging to turn off a small fridge for two days every week?
You're probably not saving any meaningful amount of electricity by turning it off for just 2-3 days. Sure, it won't use any for those days, but the temperature inside will raise to room temperature. ...
- 1,398
39
votes
Going to be away for 4 months, should we turn off the refrigerator or leave it on with water inside?
If you're gone for a long time, it's good to turn off anything that doesn't really need to be on. Not only does that not waste power, but it reduces the chance of something bad happening.
The issue ...
- 2,392
30
votes
Accepted
Why does my freezer get a little warmer every 14 hours?
Every Freezer including yours has to have a defrost cycle designed in or the cooling coils become so encrusted with frost the recirculation air can no longer pass over them. Then everything goes ...
- 6,705
27
votes
Accepted
Paint inside refrigerator water shutoff valve—clean or replace?
At this point, I'd just replace it. You're missing the connecting nut and ice makers have different connecting methods than they did years ago.
You can get a compression valve, which is what you have ...
- 53.7k
26
votes
Going to be away for 4 months, should we turn off the refrigerator or leave it on with water inside?
If you're going to turn off a fridge, you need to prop the doors open. If you don't, humidity in the fridge will cause the growth of mold everywhere, including potentially, places behind panels you ...
26
votes
Accepted
How long should I wait to plug in my refrigerator after unplugging it?
There's 2 reasons to wait after moving a refigerator.
If you tipped it over the oil needs to re-settle in the compressor.
If you interrupted a run cycle the compressor may not be able to re-start, ...
- 13.2k
25
votes
Accepted
Does a refrigerator compressor need settling time after being laid on its back or side?
As a certified HVAC person I can tell you it might work after standing back up and plugging in but depending on the system the oil drains from the compressor. On many units it takes time to make its ...
- 95.8k
23
votes
Accepted
Going to be away for 4 months, should we turn off the refrigerator or leave it on with water inside?
This depends a lot on where you live. Here in Florida for example, going away for a long period, you would NOT want to cut power to the fridge and leave it open. It would still grow "samples" all over ...
- 636
22
votes
Refrigerator won't cool if it's warm in the house
Refrigerators are cooled using a heat pump, the principle that all air conditioners work on. Basically, a refrigerant is pumped through the cool side and absorbs heat, then that heat is radiated out ...
- 5,079
21
votes
Does a refrigerator compressor need settling time after being laid on its back or side?
Instruction manuals for refrigerators and freezers typically tell you to transport upright, or if not possible to allow to stand 24 hours upright before using.
- 3,097
20
votes
Accepted
Refrigerator fail due to adjacent chest freezer
Total, utter, male-bovine-derived-organic-fertilizer.
The cabinet isn't helping it cool any (and is almost certainly less ventilation space than the manufacturer requires), but the freezer really ...
- 134k
19
votes
How long should I wait to plug in my refrigerator after unplugging it?
Wait until the motor stops running. Unplug it. Keep it upright while moving it - it's o.k. to tip it slightly to put a rug or towel under to slide it along the floor. Or just slide anyway. Plug back ...
- 2,690
15
votes
Refrigerator won't cool if it's warm in the house
If basic cleaning doesn't help, your next call is to the local utility, and local government.
Because many of them have rebate programs to subsidize, or even entirely pay for replacement of a fridge....
14
votes
Accepted
Why would a GFCI trip on refrigerator circuit?
Residential Kitchen
In a dwelling unit (residential), GFCI protection is only required for kitchen receptacles that serve the countertop surfaces. There's no requirement to GFCI protect receptacles ...
- 128k
13
votes
Accepted
What are recommended ways to connect fridge ice maker?
Something like this? (Brass Quick Tee Adapter)
Do not use a saddle valve. In many places they are illegal...for good reason
- 3,914
13
votes
Accepted
How can I get the hinge pin out of the refrigerator door?
As the hinge pin appears to be flush with the plastic bushing, the first attack would be to pry at the edges of the bushing. If you can wiggle it out, the pin becomes more exposed, allowing for more ...
- 9,293
12
votes
Going to be away for 4 months, should we turn off the refrigerator or leave it on with water inside?
You’re going to save at most $20 by turning it off ($60/3). You’ll go through effort and time to empty it and so on, plus incurring extra electric energy to re-cool it when you get back. I’d recommend ...
- 3,791
12
votes
Should I put tiles on refrigerator to protect against nearby heat?
Don't do it.
Ceramic is a poor thermal insulator. It's dense. It'll absorb a lot of heat, then it'll hold that heat. Against your refrigerator. Which will cause more problems than you originally had.
...
- 105k
11
votes
Accepted
Can a GFCI circuit ruin a refrigerator compressor?
GFCIs don't kill refrigerators. A certain percentage of refrigerators will develop leakage currents over time whether they are plugged into a GFCI protected circuit or not.
All of the refrigerators ...
- 3,019
10
votes
Going to be away for 4 months, should we turn off the refrigerator or leave it on with water inside?
Usual recommendation is to turn it off and prop the door open so it airs out and doesn't give mold a chance to grow.
- 16k
10
votes
Why does my freezer get a little warmer every 14 hours?
The other answers are correct that you are seeing the normal defrost cycle of your freezer. I'd just like to add two additional observations:
1) There are commonly two kinds of defrost timers: ...
- 201
10
votes
Accepted
What is this plastic basin on the back of my fridge, and does it require any special care?
That is almost certainly the drip pan, and it is intended to catch condensation flowing from the condensation/defrost drains in the fridge/freezer.
This water should just evaporate into the ...
- 5,076
10
votes
Is it damaging to turn off a small fridge for two days every week?
A fridge keeps a steady temperature by turning the compressor on and off. The only difference is that you exchange a few on/off cycles with one longer on-cycle when you get back. I would say that does ...
- 593
10
votes
How can I remove the pin from my fridge door bracket for reversal?
Based on this reddit post, you're not the only one to have this issue. The OP as well as a few commenters say they have had a stuck pin.
The general advice is to try some kind of penetrant, but that'...
- 26.6k
9
votes
Going to be away for 4 months, should we turn off the refrigerator or leave it on with water inside?
Another reason to turn it off: if it's on, but you have a long power cut (something trips your breaker for example) it could be sitting there wet for a long time, which is just what you're trying to ...
- 3,824
9
votes
Accepted
Why did Home Depot (.ca) try to sell me "Door Swings" with my fridge? What are they?
It is not a hardware item it is a service. It is placed in the list of options needed or not, you simple decline. As you see there are two items listed as optional installation some are needed some ...
- 1,058
9
votes
Meausure the temperature of a fridge
There are special thermometers for refrigerator & freezer use.
I have a Rubbermaid thermometer (amazon link) in my garage fridge compartment and another in its freezer. This showed me my freezer ...
- 3,088
8
votes
Can a GFCI circuit ruin a refrigerator compressor?
He's right about the GFCI ruining it only if they trip often and you reset it without pause; it could re-start a hot compressor, which is bad for it. The same as with a window AC unit it says "...
- 1,800
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