Refrig warm / Freezer awesome

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WALSHIE

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On my norcold DE-461, the freezer works great. However, the refrigerator works but is fairly warm. Is there something I can do? I had a crazy idea of putting a small vent from the freezer to the refrig. I have a home fridge that has this pass-through to make a section of the refrigerator colder.

I checked the seal on the refrigerator door. Is there anything else I can look into?
 
Is the unit properly defrosted? I think they use the same compressor?
Strange...
Bill
 
Hmm, actually the freezer does have alot of frost build-up. Would that explain it? If so, why?

Would it be because the frost build-up keeps the freezer temp colder so the compressor does not cool down the freezer/fridge as much?
Meaning, while the freezer is good, the fridge does not get enough cold air generated?
 
It might also block off some passegways for the cold air to get to the frig section? I'm really not sure but defrosting it is worth a try.
Bill
 
Defrost for sure and revisit. ITs going to leak everywhere.. USe a hair drier only!!! no sharp instruments. Empty top shelf or more in refrig. lay a towel on the top shelf and a pot or something to catch the water as u defrost. Ull see what im getting at as u do it .

Im not a fan of just leaving it off to defrost as the amount of water will quickly over flow the pan and just make a mess for u when u return back to the boat.

Rob
 
x3 : defrost completely and I bet you will have much better results.
 
I will try defrosting, but I don't think that's it.
Rob, the refrigerator has a tray underneath to catch defrosted water so that helps.
Talking out loud, I wonder if that tray is the problem! It covers the whole top of the fridge area...any air that circulates down is probably stopped by the tray.

Is there such thing as a "defrosting tray" that I should remove when the fridge is running?
Lets google that...lol
 
Defrost because air circulation is the key. If the freezer is cold and the fridge is not, the flow of air is blocked. The warm air from the fridge has to rise up to the cold plate in the freezer. Too much food in the fridge blocking air flow could also be an issue. I also bought a small battery operated circulation fan from a RV store that makes a huge difference.
Jim
 
+1 on using a hair dryer to move the defrosting process along. I think the freezer plate through air circulation does affect the temp of the frig.
It's worth a try.
Bill
 
Freezer air absolutely travels to the refrig. Same as in a frost free model. All the air starts in the freezer.

the refrigeration plate is I recall is right above the refrigerator section. The pan will not hold all the water. U can keep it in place and empty as it fills if u do the hair drier thing.

Rob
 
This is good information, thanks guys. I never knew the freezer receives all the cooling and provides cool air to the refridgerator section but it makes sense. I'm going to defrost, look for the air flow areas and remove the large solid tray that collects water when I defrost...it must be stopping air circulation flow....stay tuned! My quest for cold beer is not over yet.
 
Chris ,
If your using the hair drier , u might want to leave the pan in place and empty it as u defrost. Might make less of a mess. Also remember once its defrosted , it will take a bit to get real cold again. usually 24 hrs for proper temperature.

Rob
 
FWIW - removing the tray as you suggested might not be a good idea as you could cause things to freeze in the refrig section near the top. Been there, done that!
 
Much more than a half inch or so of frost on the cooling element degrades a fridge's operation. Periodic, regular defrosting is routine maintenance.

V/R
 
quote:
Originally posted by 32carv

Defrost because air circulation is the key. If the freezer is cold and the fridge is not, the flow of air is blocked. The warm air from the fridge has to rise up to the cold plate in the freezer. Too much food in the fridge blocking air flow could also be an issue. I also bought a small battery operated circulation fan from a RV store that makes a huge difference.
Jim

Click to expand...


I inquired about one of these fans on here a long time ago and was advised that it made no difference, which I thought was odd. You're telling me otherwise. If that's the case then a 12V computer fan tied into the system would work wonders.
 
I bring a teakettle to a boil, put it in the freezer (off) and walk away for 30 minutes. Beats fighting with a hair dryer. A PLASTIC spatula works well on what's left.
 
The little fan is worth 3 to 5 degrees in my fridge. Don't know if more is better.
Jim
 
Boiling water and cheap plastic equals disaster.... In a small freezer very bad idea. The steam can quickly deform the cheap plastic in a freezer/ refrigerator.

Boat comfort . Bad condenser fan = no refrigeration = no ice on coils. He stated he has LOTS of ice .

Rob

Rob
 
We normally have to defrost ours 2 or 3 times a season, yes, even in the Winter. The ice on the bottom of the cooling element gets about an inch thick. Pull out the tray, empty the top shelf and pull out the drawers. Put a laundry towel in over the top shelf, and place another in the drawer cavity.
With the freezer empty as well use a hair dryer to loosen up the sheet of ice. It extends up the back after curving up behind the back of the evaporator. Eventually it will loosen up and you can pop it out in big chunks.
Make sure you are careful around the door operated light the ice gets into the fixture etc.. This is also the case in the back on the left side of the ice tray where the tubing and sensor for the freezer is.
 
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