Fridge is not cold - freezer is fine.

QrizB

ChrisJJ said:

Have looked at the back of the fridge but have no idea what I'm looking at! What does a vent look like?? and a cooling fins?? Sorry for the stupid questions.

Traditionally the back of a fridge would look a bit like this (this is a very small fridge):

The compressor is the black cylinder at the bottom, and the condenser tubes & fins are the lattice-like thing above.

A lot of recent fridges hide all these features behind a panel and you can't see them.

Slinky

Looking at the image of that fridge, you can see copper piping, and other types of pipework.  My Dad was once told that where you can see the join where the copper pipe is joined to the other type of metal, that is where it's weakest and most likely to fail. He was advised to apply silicon grease liberally around the brazed joint to keep the air off, which makes it much less likely to corrode. We've always done this with our fridges and freezers and it seems to work.

ChrisJJ

QrizB said:

ChrisJJ said:

Have looked at the back of the fridge but have no idea what I'm looking at! What does a vent look like?? and a cooling fins?? Sorry for the stupid questions.

Traditionally the back of a fridge would look a bit like this (this is a very small fridge):

The compressor is the black cylinder at the bottom, and the condenser tubes & fins are the lattice-like thing above.

A lot of recent fridges hide all these features behind a panel and you can't see them.

Oh yes, that does look similar to the back of my fridge. Have had a look at it and it's not overly dusty (although the floor underneath is filthy!!) and that compressor is bloody hot. 

ChrisJJ

Slinky said:

Looking at the image of that fridge, you can see copper piping, and other types of pipework.  My Dad was once told that where you can see the join where the copper pipe is joined to the other type of metal, that is where it's weakest and most likely to fail. He was advised to apply silicon grease liberally around the brazed joint to keep the air off, which makes it much less likely to corrode. We've always done this with our fridges and freezers and it seems to work.

That's interesting, thank you, will have a look tonight when home. For the moment, I'm putting some items in the freezer as at least it's still cold! Not cold enough to freeze ice cream but cold enough to keep things from going off.

Ayr_Rage

Is the compressor ever cutting out?

Sure sounds like it has lost some gas.

ChrisJJ

Ayr_Rage said:

Is the compressor ever cutting out?

Sure sounds like it has lost some gas.

How would I be able to tell if the compressor was cutting out? The fridge is making all the usual rumbling noises. Or at least I haven't noticed a difference (though I'm not in the kitchen all the time, obviously)

QrizB

ChrisJJ said:

Ayr_Rage said:

Is the compressor ever cutting out?

Sure sounds like it has lost some gas.

How would I be able to tell if the compressor was cutting out? The fridge is making all the usual rumbling noises. Or at least I haven't noticed a difference (though I'm not in the kitchen all the time, obviously)

So the compressor should run for a few minutes, then stop. Then stay off for a few minutes before restarting.

If it's running continuously, it would suggest that it's lost gas. This would also make it hotter than expected.

Losing gas usually means a leak in the refrigerant circuit. Finding a leak, sealing it and regassing is a specialist job. While it is possible to get a fridge repaired and regassed, its probably going to be easier (& possibly cheaper) to replace it.

Ayr_Rage

Rumbling noises are a bit of a worry.

A fridge freezer with good door seals should only be running between 20% and 80% of the time (from Mr Google) so the compressor should be cycling on and off, mine runs for about 10 minutes at a time then off for at least that.

vacheron

ChrisJJ said:

Ayr_Rage said:

Is the compressor ever cutting out?

Sure sounds like it has lost some gas.

How would I be able to tell if the compressor was cutting out? The fridge is making all the usual rumbling noises. Or at least I haven't noticed a difference (though I'm not in the kitchen all the time, obviously)

In the picture showing the rear of the fridge about 6 posts up, the big black tank at the bottom middle is the compressor.

When this is running it will make a noticeable humming noise and you may feel small amount of vibration when you touch the fridge. 

if you have access to the rear of the fridge and you can see the compressor, you can put your hand directly on it and you will immediately feel it vibrating if it is running,  it should also feel warm. 

Ayr_Rage

vacheron said:

ChrisJJ said:

Ayr_Rage said:

Is the compressor ever cutting out?

Sure sounds like it has lost some gas.

How would I be able to tell if the compressor was cutting out? The fridge is making all the usual rumbling noises. Or at least I haven't noticed a difference (though I'm not in the kitchen all the time, obviously)

In the picture showing the rear of the fridge about 6 posts up, the big black tank at the bottom middle is the compressor.

When this is running it will make a noticeable humming noise and you may feel small amount of vibration when you touch the fridge. 

if you have access to the rear of the fridge and you can see the compressor, you can put your hand directly on it and you will immediately feel it vibrating if it is running,  it should also feel warm. 

vacheron said:

ChrisJJ said:

Ayr_Rage said:

Is the compressor ever cutting out?

Sure sounds like it has lost some gas.

How would I be able to tell if the compressor was cutting out? The fridge is making all the usual rumbling noises. Or at least I haven't noticed a difference (though I'm not in the kitchen all the time, obviously)

In the picture showing the rear of the fridge about 6 posts up, the big black tank at the bottom middle is the compressor.

When this is running it will make a noticeable humming noise and you may feel small amount of vibration when you touch the fridge. 

if you have access to the rear of the fridge and you can see the compressor, you can put your hand directly on it and you will immediately feel it vibrating if it is running,  it should also feel warm. 

Did you miss the OP's post at 4:02 pm, the compressor is running "bloody hot"