Help with wacky temperatures in 21-year-old fridge?

14 years ago

Our 21-year-old Hotpoint side-by-side refrigerator (Model #CSX22D) is no longer maintaining proper temperatures. Only the very lowest shelves on each side are reaching appropriate levels. Here are the temperatures, as measured by a fridge/freezer thermometer, in degrees F.

FREEZER: 64, 30, 16, 8, 4

FRIDGE: 57, 57, 52, 46, 40, 38

The repairman will charge $85 for a diagnostic visit, which would be applied to the cost of a repair. Can anyone tell us what we might be facing here--what the problem might be, how complicated it might be to repair, whether a repair would be worth it? This is a second refrigerator, but it is still much-needed. Replacing it with a simple but functional frost-free refrigerator would cost $1,000 or more.

Thanks for your help!

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Comments (6)

cuffs054
14 years ago
Is the evaporator fan running? This is the one that is usually in the freezer and has ducts that run to refrig side. If you push in on door light switch you can usually hear it run. Look for plastic panal near top of compartment, the fan shoulb be behind there.
maydl
Original Author
14 years ago
Yes, we can hear a fan running.
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cuffs054
14 years ago
Are you sure it's the evap fan and not the condenser fan? The condenser fan is located outside (usually) bottom of back of unit. If it is the evap fan that is running you may have defrost cycle problems. If the unit isn't defrosting regulary it will build up ice, blocking the normal air flow. If you can get to the area where the evap coil is (I think it's near the bottom of freezer on this unit(?)) look to see if there is ice build up. Since you seem to be getting cold temps but not even temps I would suspect air flow issues.
brickeyee
14 years ago
At 21 years it is not worth spending anything on a repair.

Buy a new unit.
maryland_irisman
14 years ago
Check to make sure the condenser fan is running (outside the unit) and the evaporator fan is running (inside the unit). You may want to vacuum underneath the unit and make sure the condensing coils are clean and free of dust. At first guess, the thermostat could be bad. You may also have a bad defrost heater or a bad defrost timer. Without doing any actual testing and going by your description, I would suspect it is icing up. This would point to a timer or heater. You could turn it off and give the the ice time to melt. Keep an eye on the drain pan because it can fill up and overflow quickly if this is the problem. You can speed the melting process by putting your freezer items in an insulated container and then use a blow dryer in the freezer section. This is a typical problem for GE/Hotpoint side-by-sides of the age of yours. If money is an issue, you can keep using it and use the above process from time to time...you'll find yourself doing it more in summer than in winter.

Refrigerator repairs, if done right, can be time consuming especially if it's a bad defrost heater. The heater may cost 30 bucks and the labor to replace it can be 300 bucks or more.

BTW...85 bucks isn't that bad for a diagnostics visit that will be applied to the repair. Keep in mind, a new refrigerator will save you at least 50 bucks or more a year just in energy costs....You'll have to let your pocket book decide on repair or replace....I would lean to replace if the cost to repair will be over 200 bucks.
maydl
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks to all for your responses. I'll print them out and give them to DH so that he may start tinkering.

Because of the temperature problems, we haven't been using the fridge for anything that can spoil. So, no problems trying out the ideas you've suggested.

Help with wacky temperatures in 21-year-old fridge?

Comments (6)

cuffs054

maydl
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Help with wacky temperatures in 21-year-old fridge?

Comments (6)

cuffs054

maydlOriginal Author

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cuffs054

brickeyee

maryland_irisman

maydlOriginal Author

COMPANY

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GET HELP

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maydl
Original Author

maydl
Original Author