And not just a little warm to the touch, but noticeably hot. Why Is My Fridge Freezer Getting Hot On The Outside. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. The hot refrigerant helps control cabinet humidity to prevent the cabinet from sweating. If your fridge feels warmer than it should, it may be the spacing between your fridge and its surroundings. Refrigerator Frame HOT to the Touch! -DIY Daddy - Duration: 3:22. This arrangement gives maximum surface area for heat dissipation, without the need to have exposed coil, and fin condensers, that need to be cleaned fairly often if you wish to obtain maximum energy efficiency. So what causes this? If the coils are located near the bottom front of the unit, remove the base grille that covers the coils. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. That being said, there are a number of reasons for why an iPhone or iPad might get hot. Your help is very appreciated Refrigerator stopped cooling completely. As a result, the exterior walls may sometimes feel hot to the touch. Get fast, quality repairs backed by industry-leading warranties. In the insulated walls of the refrigerator there is a heat exchanger coil. The refrigerator heat exhaust is that vent under your fridge where the warm air is coming from. If you suspect a faulty thermistor, call in the fridge repair expert as this is a bit technical problem. I was schooled to think that if the compressor is that HOT, and has been running like that for a while; that it’s NO GOOD. If the coils are located on the back of the unit, move the appliance away from the wall to ensure a safe and comfortable working area. Clean the coils using a refrigerator coil brush or a vacuum hose with a soft brush. Some older top freezer and bottom freezer models have a switch in the refrigerator compartment marked Energy Saver or Power Saver. ( Log Out /  This is caused by the heat dissipated from the refrigeration process and is normal. How it Works: If the refrigerator is not cold enough, the start relay may be defective. The back of the fridge feels hot The back of a refrigerator should feel warmer than the front because that’s where the motor is located, but if it feels hot to the touch… This will produce heat. If you feel cold air leaking out of your freezer anywhere around the doorframe, the seal likely needs replacing. Keep your freezer clean and running strong so it doesn’t have to work overtime. The reason is, as I was told, that the high temp breaks down the oils, etc in the compressor. I have a Kenmore side-by-side refrigerator-freezer. Rest assured, this is often a normal part of the refrigeration process and shouldn’t be cause for alarm. If it is getting this hot its due to too long of run times. Our local professionals have the training, tools, and know-how to take complete care of your appliances. To clean the condenser coils, unplug the appliance. Is it an easy fix? If the walls get extremely hot, the condenser fan could be malfunctioning. DIY Daddy 82,662 views. GE Appliances Factory Service remains open at this time to provide the essential repair services you need while doing our part to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Our chat service hours are Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST. Your freezer’s door seal (also called a gasket) is a protective seal that keeps cold air in and warm air out. However, unlike a laptop or desktop, it doesn't have a fan to cool it down when it gets hot. If the seal is cracked or damaged, warm air can seep into the freezer, causing the compressor to work overtime to keep the freezer cold. As debris builds up on the coils, the refrigerator becomes less efficient, causing the refrigerator to work harder to cool down. At times, you may notice that the outside of your freezer feels warm or hot to the touch. A common issue with side-by-side refrigerators, especially older models, is that the portion between the two compartment doors gets hot. Excessively hot freezer walls could also be a sign that the condenser fan is malfunctioning. It should not get this hot. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! I came online, typed in "refrigerator hot to touch" and found this forum and these directions. Hello, thank you for sharing your experience. Dirty condenser coils can contribute to hotter-than-normal freezer walls. I performed the following steps and below are my observations: If the fan fails to run when activated, the temperature of the refrigerant will rise and the outside walls may feel extremely hot to the touch. Get shopping advice from experts, friends and the community! Why are the sides of my refrigerator or freezer sometimes hot to the touch? Your freezer’s compressor moves refrigerant through the appliance, generating heat as it runs. It leaves the condenser and returns to the condenser. So we’re breaking down a few of the most common causes including problems with: Before attempting to troubleshoot your refrigerator yourself, always make sure to disconnect it from its power source first to avoid risk of injury. On newer models this has usually been replaced by the hot condenser tubing to save energy. Most newer refrigerators have a refrigerant line running through this mullion instead of an electrical heater. And what can you do about it? Refrigerator Frame HOT to the Touch! Both the compressor and hard start were hot. Learn how your comment data is processed. previously owned) fridge, the … Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. No longer will cooking be a sweaty, hot, and dangerous task it once used to be. If you’ve already checked the condenser coils and motor and are still having this issue, we’d recommend contacting a trained service technician and having them check it over. A compressor can run hot for a variety of reasons, including lack of refrigerant in the appliance or a refrigerator thermostat that is set too low, thus causing the compressor to work too hard. If you notice that you no longer hear the fan running, the first thing you’ll want to check is that the fan blade is intact and clear of any blockages. When they’re clogged up like this it’s much harder for them to do that, so the heat stays stored up in your fridge often causing that center panel to get hot. The compressor is the part of the fridge that compresses and pushes refrigerant vapor into the coils outside of the fridge. At GE Appliances Factory Service, we know GE Appliances inside and out. If the fan fails to run when activated, the temperature of the refrigerant will rise and the outside walls may feel extremely hot to the touch. If it seems to be working normally, you’ll need to test that the motor isn’t damaged, and replace if needed. Thank you for your inquiry. The condenser fan motor is located underneath the refrigerator near the back. Before answering the question I would like to explain working cycle behind the refrigerators, the so called VCR (vapour compression refrigeration ) cycle. I copy and pasted the post below because I am having the same problem, however I had a serviceman check it and the first time the fan had gotten disconnected during installation, that was fixed. As your refrigerator cycles on and off to maintain the appropriate temperature, the outside walls may feel warmer or cooler at different times. Click here to learn more. It wasn't turning at all. When your condensor coils are clogged up, the heat gets trapped. It is a model number 106.54582400. We’ve all heard it time & time again that refrigerator condensor coils need to be cleaned every few months, but most of us don’t usually do it as often as we should (…or at all). The condenser fan motor draws air over the condenser coils to cool them. Copyright 2020 GE Appliances, a Haier company. While the residual heat button displays hot, you can use this heat to melt certain foods or keep food warm over the heating element. Please tell me if you can determine the root cause based on the below. my side by side refrigerator is very hot around the seal of the doors it is almost to hot to touch could this be fixed or should i get a new one … read more John This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This is caused by the heat dissipated from the refrigeration process and is normal. To compensate for this, your condenser fan will often work overtime to try and remove the heat. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. The condenser fan circulates air across the condenser coils, helping cool hot refrigerant coming from the compressor. The longer your refrigerator runs the warmer the sides and top will get. We hope you found this helpful! Pull the refrigerator out from the wall and remove the access panel to access it. Certain older models were designed with a heater system running through the center panel to prevent condensation and rust. The front edge of the refrigerator cabinet and the mullion between the doors will always be warm, possibly slightly more so if the fridge just initially getting down to temperature. Steps to Verify Issue: It is normal for the area around the door, drawer, face frame, gasket, or grille of a Sub-Zero to feel warm. Start Relay. Dust, lint, and other debris can build up in the coils over time and block efficient airflow, preventing your freezer from cooling properly. This extended use can also lead to damage to the fan blade itself like warping or breaks. Follow our freezer maintenance tips to ensure your freezer is performing at its best. The light is on when the door is open and I can hear the fan in the freezer running. This configuration is also why you might notice excess heat coming from the back of your fridge as well. If this is the case, the condenser fan will need to be replaced. It’s the job of the condensor coils to help remove heat from the fridge. Thanks for A2A. The heat button switches off indicating that cooktop is now safe to touch even above element where the cooking took place. However, the sides shouldn't get extremely hot. Address any error codes (EC) or service messages, such as Vacuum Condenser or Service Flashing, first. It's normal if the sides get hot. I have moved out of the house and rented it to my daughter and she is now having the same problem. DC Appliance Repair 12,938 views. Your condenser fan isn’t meant to run constantly. My customer had another freezer ( chest type ) and it was also NOT freezing. Leave them for us in the comments below & we’ll be sure to check them out. Check your refrigerator thermostat to be sure it is set at an appropriate temperature. ( Log Out /  GE is a trademark of the General Electric Company. Unplug the fridge, set the multimeter to test continuity, touch one probe to the "hot" blade on the plug, and the other to the ground pin. Let’s explore the causes of a hot freezer exterior—and when you may need to take action. This area will always be warmer (sometimes hot) when the compressor has to run longer than usual. 3:21. Here’s a look at why this happens, what you can do to fix it, and when it may be time to visit an … This is a normal and necessary function of your appliance. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. An iPhone is essentially a pocket-sized computer, and like any computer, it will generate heat when in use. When the center panel gets hot like this but the compartments are still cooling normally, it’s typically a sign that something in your refrigerator isn’t working the way it should. Change ). These heaters span the length of the panel, leaving it feeling warm, but not hot. However, an excessively or continuously hot freezer exterior may be a sign that maintenance or repairs are in order. Other reasons your fridge is not cooling include blocked vents in case boxes of food prevent air from circulating through the refrigerator. Seeing as your refrigerator is meant to keep things cool, it can be a bit of a shock when part of it is suddenly burning hot. Well if you haven’t cleaned your coils in a while and take a look under your fridge, you’ll likely see that they’re gunked up with dirt, dust, and anything else that may have found it’s way under there…. The pushing and pressure creates heat, forming hot gas that later cools and absorbs heat from the freezer and fridge. This heat dissipates to the sides of the freezer, helping prevent moisture from forming on the outside of the appliance. If you did be sure to like this post & share it with a friend. But if you let it go too far, you can potentially cause an issue with our next source: the condensor fan. If the refrigerator is still cooling, and the mullion is hot to the touch: Condenser coils may be clogged / dirty. The condensing coils in some refrigerators is under the skin of the unit. Recently we noticed that the gaskets on both the refrigerator and freezer doors were hot to the touch. Often cleaning off the condenser coils and improving air flow around the refrigerator will relieve this problem. If you hear a beep or get a reading, you have a fault. Have a question or another tip, or maybe an idea for our next post? Why are the walls in my refrigerator to hot to touch? ( Log Out /  The harder the fridge is working the warmer to hot depending on how hard the system is working or trying to cool the interior food space. What Does a Power Outage Do to Your Appliances? Acid Stains On Your Stainless Steel? To correct the overheated mullion: Turn unit off and unplug the cord. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Refrigerator Heat Exhaust. A compressor that’s working twice as hard could be the reason the outside of your freezer is always feeling hot. The heat is transferred to the living space. It's normal for the outer walls of the freezer to get warm or hot when the compressor is running; refrigerant lines inside the cabinet walls remove heat from the compressed refrigerant. If either of those areas are getting "hot", the fridge condenser fan motor (at the rear by the compressor) may not be operating properly or if an older (ie. This is the end of a short duct from the coils which are cold inside the fridge and hot outside the fridge. If the thermistor is defective, the refrigerator won’t cool as usual. Follow 1st Source Servall Blog on WordPress.com, why is the space between the doors on my refrigerator getting hot. I have moved out of the house and rented it to my daughter and she is now having the same problem. We thought this might be to eliminate condensation on the exterior of the unit but that has never been a problem and … | Remove It Now! If the condenser coils are dirty, they won’t dissipate the heat effectively. They dissipate heat as refrigerant passes through them. To Our Valued Owners. GE is a trademark of the General Electric Company.Manufactured under trademark license. Here is the description of my problem. When it does, it can damage or even burn out the motor after too long. The manufactures stopped using the electric heaters and started running a pass of the hot condenser tubing on the edges of the cabinet where the electric heaters use to be. View 1stSourceServall’s profile on Facebook, View 1stSourceServal’s profile on Twitter, View 1stsourceservall’s profile on Instagram, View 1stSourceServal’s profile on Pinterest, View 1st Source Servall’s profile on Google+, Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Why Does My Stove Keep Clicking? [ 1 Answers ] I copy and pasted the post below because I am having the same problem, however I had a serviceman check it and the first time the fan had gotten disconnected during installation, that was fixed. So what happens? How To Fix Refrigerator That Is Hot Between The Doors - Duration: 1:14. We fix all GE Appliances brands: GE, Profile, Café, Monogram, Hotpoint, Haier, and Adora. ( Log Out /  Refrigerator Compressor. | Troubleshooting a Gas Stove Ignitor. 3:22. Many refrigerators, and most freezers have their condenser coils located inside of their sheet metal shell. Don’t forget to check out 1stSourceServall.com for any of your appliance part needs! A common issue with side-by-side refrigerators, especially older models, is that the portion between the two compartment doors gets hot. The condenser coils are usually located under the refrigerator. If these components are excessively warm or hot to the touch, Clean the Condenser. Because of the heater's placement along the edge of the refrigerator cabinet, it sometimes made the refrigerator door slightly hot to the touch when the heater was switched on. - Duration: 3:21. Repeat the test for the "neutral" and ground, in a modern fridge with a 3 wire cord neutral and ground should not be bonded in the fridge. 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