My freezer has a temperature in the mid 20s and the fridge has one in the 50s. I've cleaned the condensor coil throrougly and the fan is working fine. The evaporator coil behind the panel in the freezer had no ice buildup, only a few drops of water here and there. The appliance cycles on and off, as it always has, but when it comes back on there seems to be a louder click than there used to be. From what I have read at this site and other places, it sounds like I need a defrost thermostat and a defrost timer. I know the thermostat is on the evaporator coil in the freezer, but is it hard to change? Can someone tell me exactly how to do that? I have not been able to locate the timer, so I will need someone to tell me where that is located. It seems like an easy piece to install, as it just plugs in from what I can tell. Can I get some help on that, too?

I am assuming that those two parts are the only ones causing my problems. If there are other parts that are possibly failing, please let me know. I am fairly handy and can fix most things, but need some instructions for installing the parts mentioned above.

Please get back with your answers and comments. Thank you.

Gene:

Thanks for getting back with your reply on my problem. You say that it is probably a fridge low on freon or a weak compressor. Either of those, which require a technician's service plus parts, would probably not make sense for a 22-year-old appliance. But I just wanted to mention a few other things, in case they make you think of a possible other solution.

I mentioned in my original message that the fridge makes a clicking sound when it comes back on during its normal cycling. It does, but it is a very slight one. The louder noise is when it shuts off. Do either of these noises mean anything?

I first noticed the problem of poor cooling a few months ago and then read up on possible causes. The first thing I did was clean thoroughly under the fridge where the condenser coil is located. Although I had cleaned somewhat under the fridge for years, I never realized that one could remove the kick plate in front and then get a broom and vacuum cleaner under there. I removed a ton of clotted dust, and then revisited the area last week and, with a special duster, got the coil and other parts completely clean. The fridge subsequently lets off much less warm air from the back, although the cooling problems remain in the fridge and freezer. Is the lack of past cleaning a reason why the compressor might be weak? Does cleaning it throughly as I did present the possibility that things may improve as time goes on?

Finally, the last and probably most important point is this one. When the fridge first began failing and I noticed the high temperature inside it last winter (mid 40s), I read the original refrigerator manual that came with it. One line in bold print said that the refrigerator may malfunction if the outside air in the room goes below 60 degrees. Well, it just so happened that I had my heat pump thermostat set at 60 degrees, but it might have gotten colder than that on occasion within the house. (I use other sources of heat to warm the house when it gets too cold, but it does drop to 60 or below in the winter, especially at night.) Assuming that the low winter temperature might be the cause of my present problem, what part would that have affected? Would it be the fridge thermostat? If so, can that be reset? Or do I have to get a new one? Or would the problem be something else? Let me know if you think the low room temperature in winter might have caused my present problems.

Also, although the fridge was in the 40s when the room temperature was around 60 in winter, now in the summer, with the room temperature set to 80 degrees, the temperature in the fridge is up in the mid 50s (although the freezer does keep things frozen). To me, it sounds like a problem that started with the room temperature in winter causing the fridge to malfunction. I may be wrong, but just wanted to inform you of these other things before I give up on this appliance completely. Your diagnosis may well be correct, that the problem is either a freon leak or a weak compressor, but I just wanted to mention these other things.

By the way, isn't a freon leak dangerous? Would it still be leaking? Am I in any danger breathing that stuff in?

Please get back with your answers and comments when you have a chance. Thanks for your help.

RMattson