Another refrigerator puzzler

[Heel n Toe]

A few months ago I thought about the fact it had been a long time since I cleaned the dust off the coils (or whatever they're called) in the area below our side-by-side fridge. So I pulled that cover off and it was solid dust and dog hair.

Got it all cleaned out, then started checking temps inside fridge and freezer. After a bit of adjusting the knobs inside the fridge and checking, the temps went to where they need to be and stayed there.

Lately, we noticed that the face of that divider between the two compartments is fairly warm... along with the rubber seals that close up against it. There's even a "warm rubber" smell at times.

All temps are spot on. Is this a concern or is that normal? Fridge (GE) is probably about 20 years old.

[RNajarian]

The refrigerator wouldn’t happen to be a GE Monogram? My 20 year old Monogram (built in 42 inch) would get warm at the center divider too, but we didn’t get the rubber smell.

After 20 years the Freezer couldn’t keep ice cream frozen. Temperatures fluctuated from 14 degrees F to 25F. The rubber seal probably needed to be replaced after 2 decades. They would get warm too but no smell.

[wdfifteen]

Normal. There are heaters in the walls of the fridge where the seals contact the case to keep condensation down. Without the heaters leakage of cool air past the seals will allow warm, moist air in the room to condense on the exterior of the 'fridge near the seals. Some refrigerators have a switch that allow you to turn the case heaters off.

[HobieMarty]

Here's mine, Kenmore made in October of 2000!!! I've recently changed the defrost thermostat and added just a tiny bit of freon. The freezer maintains -10°F. This is a fridge we have in our laundry room for extra stuff and beer!!!

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[HobieMarty]

Oops forgot the pic!!!

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[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by RNajarian

The refrigerator wouldn’t happen to be a GE Monogram? My 20 year old Monogram (built in 42 inch) would get warm at the center divider too, but we didn’t get the rubber smell.

After 20 years the Freezer couldn’t keep ice cream frozen. Temperatures fluctuated from 14 degrees F to 25F. The rubber seal probably needed to be replaced after 2 decades. They would get warm too but no smell.

If you still have the fridge, you can add a little freon to it pretty easily.

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[HobieMarty]

https://youtu.be/jd8KZNnhTEs

This tell you how to add freon to a fridge. You use a piercing valve. If you do this, make sure the valve you order has the little gasket already fitted on the valve. I ordered one and it had a gasket that you had to put on yourself and I didn't like that so I found the exact one that is in this video.

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[wdfifteen]

There is no need to add freon or do anything at all. It is perfectly normal for those areas to feel warm. They are supposed to be warm.

[Tobra]

I think the thermostat went out on my fridge. It is 18 years old, so maybe it is just tired

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

There is no need to add freon or do anything at all. It is perfectly normal for those areas to feel warm. They are supposed to be warm.

Suggested adding freon because of the extreme temperature fluctuation.

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[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by Tobra

I think the thermostat went out on my fridge. It is 18 years old, so maybe it is just tired

Side by side? Take everything out of the freezer and remove the inside back panel. If you see ice build up on the coils then it is freezing up. Just like if your home a/c freezes up, the system cannot move the cool air through the coils, therefore, it won't properly cool. If there is ice on the coils, turn the fridge off, get a blow dryer, not a heat gun, and melt the ice. There will be a small round part with 2 wires coming out of it on top of the coils, this is the defrost thermostat. If it looks like it has split open then it has failed and needs to be replaced. They cost around 15 bucks. Hope this helps.

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[Tobra]

The freezer is cold, the fridge is not cold enough. Coils on back not that warm, accumulator tank, or whatever it is called, is quite warm, maybe compressor?

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by Tobra

The freezer is cold, the fridge is not cold enough. Coils on back not that warm, accumulator tank, or whatever it is called, is quite warm, maybe compressor?

The fridge gets the coldness from the freezer so it sounds to me like there is something blocking airflow somewhere. Some refrigerators have doors that open and close depending on the needs/temps of the fridge.

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[HobieMarty]

Found a few reasons as to what would cause the problem.

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[Heel n Toe]

Thanks for all the input. I did consider that it might be normal for that area to be warm, but I wondered why we hadn't noticed it until now because I figure we touch the seals fairly often when opening the doors.
The PP Brain Trust comes through again!