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Post by Seven on Sept 25, 2023 11:06:45 GMT -6
It's been a while since I've posted here (or anywhere else for that matter) due to work and family issues (in-law separation) but ya'll have been my go-to since the days of the green board. I'm having an issue with my converted chest freezer and I think I know what the outcome will be but I wanted to check in with the experts on here.
The freezer is +/- 20 years old and is running on a Johnson controls thermo. Recently, I noticed some ice build-up on the interior combined with an inability to maintain temps below 43 without constantly running. I removed the ice but the issue persists. Is this the sign of low freon or perhaps a shot compressor? The unit has been in my 50-60 degree basement for years so it really doesn't have to work all that hard. That said, 20 years is still a long time. In terms of maintenance, I've literlaly done nothing to the unit since I got it. Someone I know suggested that I clean off the coils...could this also be the issue?
Thanks! I hope to not be a stranger but brewing has become less frequent while cooking & cleaning for others has become too frequent.
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Post by Leftympfrmde on Sept 25, 2023 16:12:38 GMT -6
Cleaning the coil and around the compressor is a good start. I also wonder if your starter relay for the compressor is on the way out, if your compressor is running none-stop. its a easy swap out if you can find the matching part. if not, there's after market ones like the Supco 3-in-1. it may eek out a few more years of service.
Id try those solutions before buying a new one, IMO.
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Post by Ken on Sept 26, 2023 8:36:55 GMT -6
Hi Seven: Is the door closed tightly? I feel like anytime a door is even mildly "loose", you can get air and then ice inside which causes some problems. I have one serving fridge like this and my solution was to use a rubber bungee cord and two small fasteners that I [carefully] sunk into the each side of the fridge. It straps across and keeps the door shut and it works. I thought I would need a new fridge. Also, sometimes just unplugging the fridge for 24 hours (letting the ice melt, etc) and plugging it back in helps. The serving fridges I use are Danby products and where I live now, they're in the garage. When it's REALLY warm, they must have an automatic "reset" where they allow any ice inside to melt (and drain onto the garage floor) and then they kick back in. Good luck .. I hope you don't need something new.
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Post by Seven on Sept 28, 2023 8:10:59 GMT -6
Thanks, Lefty. I'll pull it away from the wall and see if I can locate the coils. We have 2 cats (down from 3) so I wouldn't be surprised if there was a plethora of cat hair around the coils. I'm not opposed to getting a new one but I'd like to do it on my own terms, not out of necessity. Ken, a friend of mine suggested the same about the door. I'll take a closer look but I believe that the gasket is still closing flat and sealing tight. The ice build up is only in a certain section so maybe you're on to something there? The Johnson controls reads the same as the thermo on the inside so I'm pretty confident that it's not the thermo. Will update if I can figure it out! But those shiny 6-tap kegerators from MoreBeer look pretty nice  |
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Post by Ken on Sept 28, 2023 12:07:05 GMT -6
I bought one Danby 4.5cf fridge and then pulled the molded plastic piece off the door to use the fridge as a kegerator. At that time, Danby made and sold a "plastic, flat door liner" for this. Take out the can chutes and egg holders, replace it with a flat door liner, attach the gasket to that and wash your hands. When I got a second fridge, Danby stopped selling the flat door liner so I bought a sheet of plastic at HD and cut it to shape. It's fine but it's not as good so the gasket doesn't seat quite as well. That's when I used the bungie to keep the door tightly closed and that's been good since. Clearly the fridge was working harder than it needed to which is bad in the first place. Positive vibes in your direction, Seven .. I hope you get it working.
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Post by Leftympfrmde on Sept 28, 2023 16:44:16 GMT -6
Thanks, Lefty. I'll pull it away from the wall and see if I can locate the coils. We have 2 cats (down from 3) so I wouldn't be surprised if there was a plethora of cat hair around the coils. I'm not opposed to getting a new one but I'd like to do it on my own terms, not out of necessity. Ken, a friend of mine suggested the same about the door. I'll take a closer look but I believe that the gasket is still closing flat and sealing tight. The ice build up is only in a certain section so maybe you're on to something there? The Johnson controls reads the same as the thermo on the inside so I'm pretty confident that it's not the thermo. Will update if I can figure it out! But those shiny 6-tap kegerators from MoreBeer look pretty nice I've been eyeing up those same purpose built kegerators! My keezer is around 11 years old- Lowes store brand special. Around last year, started to save up for a new kegerator. So if it decides to crap out, oh darn- there's an earmark in the budget for a new one. |
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Post by Seven on Oct 4, 2023 10:14:01 GMT -6
Quick update. I tried to find the coils to see how dirty they are. Unable to locate. It appears as if the entire exterior "skin" needs to be lifted off to access the coils. Based on this, I'm assuming that they aren't dirty.
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