Have you decided to finish yesterday’s borscht and realized that it has gone sour? The unit is turned on, the freezer is normal, but the upper compartment of the refrigerator does not work. It's time to take urgent action!
I hasten to calm you down. If the upper chamber of a two-chamber refrigerator does not work, the reason may be the most unexpected. And often the problem turns out to be not as serious as it seems. Let's look at all the options and then decide how to deal with them.
But first, let’s remember how a household appliance works. This will help you understand the cause of the breakdown and choose the best way to fix it.
Refrigerator device
It is not that complicated: a running compressor creates pressure and pumps refrigerant into the condenser unit. There the freon becomes liquid. The process generates heat, which is dissipated through the rear panel.
Liquefied gas is supplied to the capillary system. There it becomes gaseous again and then boils in the evaporation unit, taking heat from the refrigerator. In the condenser, the gas is cooled and returned to the liquid phase. After this, the cycle repeats.
Double-chamber refrigerators sometimes have 2 compressors. They do the work independently of each other. One ensures the operation of the freezer, and the other cools the top.
How to troubleshoot problems yourself?
Dryer clogged
Call a specialist, as you will need professional equipment. Specialists will pump out the freon and then remove the clot. You will have to pay 2-3 thousand rubles for the work.
Compressor broke
Some craftsmen solder the compressor themselves, but if you do not know how to use a burner, then it is better to give the job to a professional. He will cut out the old compressor and then solder in a new one. About 5 thousand will have to be paid along with a new compressor and work.
The seal has deteriorated
Try making a hot soapy solution and then using a sponge to smooth it out. This method works in most cases, since the jammed seal straightens under the influence of temperature.
Freon leak
In the event of a leak, you definitely cannot do without the help of specialists. They will first look for the leak, then seal it, and then pump in new refrigerant. Such work will cost 3500–4000 rubles.
What to do if the freezer works but the refrigerator compartment does not - action plan
Before calling the service center, look for the cause of the problem yourself.
First of all, make sure that the refrigerator is properly connected and that the cable and socket are working. A common cause of the problem is a prolonged absence of defrosting or a door that is not closed tightly.
If you decide that the upper chamber of the refrigerator is broken, measure the temperature inside. Take a regular thermometer and place it on a dry plate. After 10 minutes, take readings. Inside the refrigerator compartment, the thermometer should show 2–12 oC above zero.
Check to see if the refrigerator is installed correctly. Are there any heat sources nearby - electric heating devices, central heating radiators? The permissible distance between the side surface and the wall (furniture) is at least 5-10 cm.
After that do the following:
- Check the thermostat. Maybe you accidentally set it to a high value.
- Inspect the back wall for rust.
- Make sure you don't accidentally turn on the defrost mode.
- Move the refrigerator away from the wall and assess the condition of the motor. If it gets hot, the thermal protection may have activated.
- Make sure the door closes freely and is not obstructed.
- Check the condition of the sealing rubber.
Make sure the body is intact. Its damage causes destruction of the thermal insulation layer and a shift in temperature conditions.
Refrigerator diagnostics
After completing all the steps, proceed to self-diagnosis:
- Listen to the engine for any unusual noise or clicking noises.
- Remember if there was a sudden loading of a large number of products at the same time. In this case, the refrigerator simply did not have time to cool them.
- Make sure there is no burning smell. If it appears, quickly disconnect the equipment from the network.
- Check the cable and contacts. For this you will need a multimeter.
- Check to see if ice has accumulated on the back wall.
- Turn off the power and inspect the insulator layer on the patch cables.
Diagnosis is easy. To do this, you need to know where the main parts are located, and then check their functionality. In case of complex breakdowns, I advise you to contact specialists.
I have collected in a table the main malfunctions of two-chamber refrigerators and how to fix them. Use it as a cheat sheet.
| Defect | Repair |
| Thermostat in low cooling position | Adjust manually |
| The distance from the wall to the back wall is too small | Move 15-20 cm |
| The refrigerator is located close to a gas or electric stove | Provide a gap of at least 20 cm |
| The body is exposed to direct sunlight | Eliminate |
| Refrigerant leak | Find and eliminate the cause, upload |
| Clogged capillary tube | Clean |
| Thermostat is faulty | Put a new one |
| The start protection relay is broken | Replace |
| Dryer cartridge clogged | Change, fill with freon |
| The settings of the control nodes are lost | Reconfigure |
Important: carry out all manipulations with the device disconnected from the electrical network!
Fix it yourself or call a professional?
Minor repairs include replacing a light bulb, adjusting a handle or replacing the rubber seal on the door. If you have the skills, disassemble and replace individual parts. But it’s better not to mess with serious faults.
You should start by measuring the voltage in the network. It must strictly correspond to 220 V. Other values will lead to failure of the refrigerator.
Call a specialist if:
- there is a freon leak;
- the unit emits a smell of burnt plastic;
- the refrigerator jerks and periodically turns off;
- The compressor, thermostat or start-up relay is broken.
If the problem is electrical or mechanical, it is easy to fix. To replace complex elements, you will have to call a specialist.
If the No Frost system is installed
Almost all of the difficulties described above also apply to models with the No Frost system.
Among them:
- Freon leak.
- Compressor failure.
- Failure of the thermostat.
- Heating element malfunction.
- Fan freezing.
- Incorrect operation of the control unit.
To avoid damaging anything else, it is advisable to contact a specialist. Self-repair should only be attempted if you have at least basic knowledge in this area.
The upper chamber of a two-chamber refrigerator does not work - simple problems
There are many reasons that can be easily corrected. Not all of them cause an increase in internal temperature. But they can disrupt the serviceability of the unit, so we eliminate them first.
With prolonged use, the sealing rubber becomes unusable. It dries out (if the refrigerator is turned off for a long time), cracks, and breaks. Sometimes the seal comes off the door as a result of contamination, or mold forms on it.
This is unlikely to cause a significant increase in temperature. But warm air from the room penetrates inside, and this needs to be dealt with:
What to do:
- Remove the rubber.
- Soak in hot water.
- Wash and dry.
- Reinstall.
Sometimes a gap forms in some place. This happens when the refrigerator is installed incorrectly. Then you need to rehang the door. And if this is not possible, then glue it with silicone or fill it with inserts.
Power problems
This is especially true for refrigerators older than 5 years. Over time, the wiring wears out and no longer ensures normal operation of the refrigerator. As a result, the chamber does not cool and the food spoils.
To check the power to the compressor, locate the terminals and make sure there is voltage. To do this, use an indicator screwdriver.
Checking the power supply to the temperature sensor:
- Find where it is located using the instruction manual.
- Remove the housing and test with an indicator screwdriver.
It is more difficult to examine the thermostat, since it is located behind the temperature controller.
Mechanical damage to the refrigerator
More often they occur due to improper transportation. If the upper compartment of the refrigerator does not work, it may be due to holes and cracks. They let warm air in.
To correct the situation, turn off the refrigerator, defrost it completely, and then dry and insulate the problem area. This is possible if the crack is small.
Oxidation of metal tubes
If water gets into the system, the walls of metal parts may begin to collapse due to corrosion. This leads to the formation of microholes through which freon is lost. As a result of the leak, the refrigerator stops cooling.
The problem can be eliminated by resoldering or, if there are few corrosion spots, by treating with table vinegar (9%).
Important: green deposits are not related to corrosion. Such deposits cannot be cleaned off.
Drain hole clogged
At the bottom of the inner wall there is a hole for condensate drainage. Remember to clean it regularly to prevent liquid from accumulating inside. Most likely, the upper chamber of the refrigerator is faulty for another reason, but the defect should be excluded.
Hot food
When you put a pot of hot soup into the refrigerator, the air in it heats up. It takes time for the compartment to cool to the specified values. In addition, the load on the motor increases and the likelihood of breakdown increases.
Place cold or lukewarm food in the refrigerator - and you will be happy
