fridge/freezer blowing warm?

stef92

Hi all, i recently got a second hand zannuzi half & half fridge freezer, on plugging in & leaving to chill for 24hours, i opened the doors to feel warm air rather than the cold i expected. Its almost like i have hit a defrost button, but there is no such switch on the unit, is the answer to re-gas? It would probably be cheaper/more cost effective to buy a complete new fridge, i have no idea how much the re-gas is, Thanks to any future helpers.

stef92

Thanks for your reply fwor, unit was transported one year ago upright and stood for that time till switch on. It seem`s to be making all the right noise`s, but only emits warm air from vents. Is it scrap?

thechippy

They're not the same as a car system, these are fully hermetic and the amount of time left standing is irrelevant.

If the compressor is running but there is no refrigeration effect, either the compressor valves have failed or there is a refrigerant leak and the system is empty.

They can be recharged, an engineer will use a special access valve.
However, you would probably pay around £35 callout charge and £35 per hour for an engineer to attend.

The leaks are "generally" but not always on these domestic fridges, in the evaporator coil. These are not normally repairable and will require replacement.

So basically - yes, it's scrap. Not worth the cost of repair...;)

stef92

Thanks Thechippy for your very informative post, you obviously know your onoins and it looks like my fridge will be very soon joining the white goods scrap heap.

Mr_Ted

stef92 wrote: »

Thanks for your reply fwor, unit was transported one year ago upright and stood for that time till switch on. It seem`s to be making all the right noise`s, but only emits warm air from vents. Is it scrap?

You will get warm air from the external vents as the mechanics of refridgeration require the removal of heat from internal fridge freezer space and the heat has to be dispersed externally as well as the fact that motors get hot and also have to be cooled by free air and vented!

There is a trick you can try before going further particularly as the item seems to have been standing uinused for a long period.
Turn the whole unit through 360 degrees, ie, onto it side, then top, other side, and back onto it normal position, leave for an hour and try again.
This basically redistributes all the gases and fluids internally and they will re-find there natural and required levels internally!

If it dont work you aint lost anything in trying?

thechippy

Mr_Ted wrote: »

You will get warm air from the external vents as the mechanics of refridgeration require the removal of heat from internal fridge freezer space and the heat has to be dispersed externally as well as the fact that motors get hot and also have to be cooled by free air and vented!

There is a trick you can try before going further particularly as the item seems to have been standing uinused for a long period.
Turn the whole unit through 360 degrees, ie, onto it side, then top, other side, and back onto it normal position, leave for an hour and try again.
This basically redistributes all the gases and fluids internally and they will re-find there natural and required levels internally!

If it dont work you aint lost anything in trying?

You're talking about an absorption system which this isn't...;)

thechippy

stef92 wrote: »

Thanks Thechippy for your very informative post, you obviously know your onoins and it looks like my fridge will be very soon joining the white goods scrap heap.

Thanks,

My "main" job for many years was senior tech support for refrigeration and air conditioning.

I now just manage the engineers out there doing it....:D