About a year ago we started experiencing problems with our freezer. We originally thought that the kids weren't shutting the drawer properly. One time we came home and everything was defrosted. We threw everything out and it appeared to be working fine as long as the drawer was closed properly.

Several months went by and we would have this problem. Then it stopped making ice. Just when I would give up hope, it would produce ice.

Eventually, we stopped using it altogether. The refridgerator was working fine up to this point. We cleaned the cooling coils several times (but they are extremely difficult to access).

After we gave up on the freezer we started having issues with the fridge. It would be cold sometimes and our food began to spoil more quickly.

When I check, I can feel cool air blowing from the fan. I don't have a thermometer but I know it is above 40. I have cleaned the seal and made sure that this is not the problem. I did notice that the door does not "suck" closed like it used to. In fact, it used to be that if you closed the door and immediately tried to open it, you would not be able to because the suction was so strong.

Throughout this process, we have had excessive electric bills. I have been suspicious that the fridge is the culprit.

We had to have a MAJOR service call a few years ago and we had difficulty finding someone who was willing to work on it without removing it from our house, which is not feasible when you consider where we live. My husband has repaired most of our appliances in the past with the help of your repair forum. Hoping we can fix this ourselves.

Your specific questions:

Also have you checked the freezer and fresh food temperatures with a thermometer? No, I don't have one but I know they are too warm
Is the problem consistent or intermittent? started as intermittent and becoming consistent
Have you tried a colder freezer setting? Yes, doesnt seem to make a difference.
If yes, did it have any effect? It did at the beginning but slowly has gotten worse
If yes what were the readings? n/a
Is it always too warm? yes (it started as intermittent)
Are the compressor, condenser/compressor fan and evaporator/freezer fan running? I think so. I can feel air from the fan and I can hear the unit running
Also are they on all the time or do they cycle? I don't really know. I suspect that they are running all the time (hence the issue with the electric bill)
Have you checked/cleaned the condenser coils? Yes, several times. They are difficult to access and I feel that I haven't done a good job. I did notice a slight improvement when I did.

Bobbi Jo

We have taken a look at the refridgerator and it has opened up a whole new set of questions. We don't have a thermometer (we can't find it anyway) so we don't know the exact temperature of the unit:

1) Where are the coils located that would be frozen?. We looked at the coils on the top of the unit and there is no frost anywhere. The coils are room temperature or hot. The brass coils on top are hot and have melted the installation in some places.

2) The compressor is VERY hot, you would not be able to hold it in your hand.

3) We found a knob on the top of the unit (right behind where the cover comes off in the center) that was broken off. My husband was able to turn the knob (which we now know is the defrost timer). After it sat overnight, the fridge is somewhat cooler. We still don't have any significant cooling in the freezer.

4) The suction we used to have when we would open the door used to be so strong, that you could not open the fridge right after you closed it. That has been gone for some time. Today, when the fridge was a bit cooler, I noticed that some of the suction was back (not the way it used to be)

We found a schematic/manual of sorts inside the fridge.

Any additional information you could offer would be great. Let me know if I can provide any to you. We have everything pulled out of the wall so the sooner the better.

Thank you again.

Bobbi Jo

Last thing, the evaporation pan had very old water in it. I appears that it has not been used or needed for some time.

After sitting for a full day, the fridge is cold again (I don't know the actual temperature, but it seems to be normal). The suction has also returned (this seems to be a very good sign).

The freezer is the same temperature as the refridgerator.

I will have my husband remove the back of the fridge/freezer to see what we can find. At this point, we have found coils on the top of the unit and nothing else. This unit has the compressor and coils on the top with the main unit in the middle and freezer drawer on the bottom.

Will let you know what we find today.

See the attachment for the wiring diagram.

Kitchen Aid is made by Whirlpool.