How To Repair A Refrigerator When The Freezer Is Getting Too Cold
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Air Damper or Freezer Control
The air damper, sometimes called the freezer control on some model refrigerators, determines how much cold air is sent to the freezer. Your freezer may be too cold because a defective air damper means too much cold air is staying in the freezer. Then the compressor would have to run more frequently to replace the cold air that ought to be in the fridge but is now in the freezer. Check for obstructions or binding on the damper, unplugging the fridge and removing the damper cover first, and make sure the control is running the damper. If there is an automatic temperature-sensing bulb attached, ensure it’s positioned correctly to measure the temperature inside the fridge and do its job adjusting the control.
Temperature Sensor or Thermistor
If your fridge has an electronic control board, its temperatures are being controlled via a temperature sensor or thermistor. This is normally located near the air inlet and it is usually a capsule, enclosed in plastic, with two wires attached. The information from the sensor’s resistance to temperature will control the operation of the fans, compressor, and maybe even the damper. So a damaged or malfunctioning sensor could be at fault for a too-cold freezer, since it wouldn’t be signaling to the control board to turn the motors off. Check your owner’s manual or manufacturer’s website to decode the fault code, if you have one, or to find a diagnostic procedure for isolating problems in the temperature sensors.
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