How to tell when a fridge-freezer is nearing the end of its life

ilesmark

Hi all

I have a Candy fridge-freezer which I have had since 1998, when I bought it new.

It's got a thermostat which goes from 0 to 5 and I have it on setting 3.5.

The top shelf never seems to get that cold, although the lower shelves and the freezer compartment are OK.

Maybe it's just my imagination, but I have begun to notice that whenever I have walked past it over the last 6 months or a year, the motor seems more spending more and more time running and less and less time not running. At this time of year I would have thought the opposite would be happening, although apart from that it's not displaying any other signs of distress.

Is this an indication that its end is nigh?

Thanks in advance

Mark

aerostar

When did you last defrost it, if you have a build up of ice, that will lower the efficiency of the unit,

But yourself a cheap thermometer and check the temps.

Every time you open the door the cold air falls out and warm air enters, so the unit has to work to lower the temperature of that warm air which has just entered.

The current Uk temperatures are quite mild, and if your unit is in a warm kitchen then it will have to work harder.

Fridges and freezers work for many many years.

PlutoinCapricorn

Mine started making 'helicopter noises' one morning. I ignored it, but a few weeks later there was the same noise, followed by a knocking noise that sounded like someone trying to get out. Then there was a strange, chemical smell.

The FF was 14 years old and not energy efficient, so I decided not to try to get it repaired.

rmg1

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

Mine started making 'helicopter noises' one morning. I ignored it, but a few weeks later there was the same noise, followed by a knocking noise that sounded like someone trying to get out. Then there was a strange, chemical smell.

The FF was 14 years old and not energy efficient, so I decided not to try to get it repaired.

That was probably:-
1) the compressor on its way out and
2) the refridgerant (sp?) escaping.



As for the OP, aerostar's advice is good (my current record for a FF is around 25 years (and that was 3rd-hand)).

Btw, should I be defrosting mine with hammer and chisel??? :eek:

Enterprise_1701C

ilesmark wrote: »

Hi all

I have a Candy fridge-freezer which I have had since 1998, when I bought it new.

It's got a thermostat which goes from 0 to 5 and I have it on setting 3.5.

The top shelf never seems to get that cold, although the lower shelves and the freezer compartment are OK.

Maybe it's just my imagination, but I have begun to notice that whenever I have walked past it over the last 6 months or a year, the motor seems more spending more and more time running and less and less time not running. At this time of year I would have thought the opposite would be happening, although apart from that it's not displaying any other signs of distress.

Is this an indication that its end is nigh?

Thanks in advance

Mark

We had that problem with a fridge, and after a while it was really struggling to keep the temperature down to a reasonable level. We replaced it and the one we have now hardly ever seems to be running, so if you take the contrast into account we have to assume our old one was at least seriously ill!

One thing that persuaded us to go for a new one was that it must have been using an awful lot of electricity! If your fridge/freezer is a good one it might be worth getting it looked at, our old fridge was a very cheap one anyway, and we replaced it with an A+ rated Beko that is now on very nearly the lowest setting we can get it onto (as in highest temperature!)

paddyrg

Just in case...NEVER brute force ice from a freezer to defrost it - too many vulnerable pipes etc!! Bowl of warm water and plenty of newspaper, or you can shep a bit by splashing some salt around.

As for the OP's question, if the compressor is working more than it used to, it is because it is working harder to dump the heat from inside the fridge/keep temperature. As well as defrosting, you could take a duster to the fins at the back, which since 1998 have become home to lots of dust and cobwebs, affecting their ability to dump heat. Also you might like to try fillinf empty freezer drawers with bubblewrap or similar - so when you open the freezer door, the cold air doesn't just vent over the floor, but stay inside the freezer!

rmg1

paddyrg wrote: »

Just in case...NEVER brute force ice from a freezer to defrost it - too many vulnerable pipes etc!! Bowl of warm water and plenty of newspaper, or you can shep a bit by splashing some salt around.

Oh dear :eek:

Suppose it's only a matter of time before mine goes then.
I'm gentler with the freezer than I am with the fridge (which accumulates a surprising amount of ice on the back.

Fifer

We have a hand held steam cleaner. I switch that on, place the wand in the freezer then jam the door as near to closed as posible. It makes very short work of defrosting.

John_Gray

In terms of sheer (avoidance of) hassle alone, it might be worth considering a frost-free fridge-freezer.

rmg1

John_Gray wrote: »

In terms of sheer (avoidance of) hassle alone, it might be worth considering a frost-free fridge-freezer.

My fridge and freezer (separates) are supposed to be frost-free.

Don't think anyone told them though. :rotfl::p

Dave_C_2

We replaced our FF after noticing that the insulation on the outside was a solid sheet of ice and marking the kitchen floor as it melted. The insulation on the lower compartment was icy foam, not dry warm-feeling foam.

Defrosting

1. Switch off and open freezer door.
2. Remove drawers* and place in blankets to keep cold (or outdoors in the shed if it's winter)
3. Tray on floor to catch excess water
4. Cup of tea and watch TV for an hour
5. Hair dryer on tripod for the stubborn bits

Very little scraping required


Dave


* from the fridge:)