Your whirlpool fridge freezing food is an annoying problem. However, it is one that can be easily fixed.
All you need to fix it is to know the possible reasons and how to fix them. This we will discuss extensively in this article.
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How to Stop Whirlpool Fridge from Freezing Food
To stop your Whirlpool fridge from freezing food, you need to first diagnose the possible problems. And then fix the problem after identifying it.
The following are these possible reasons, and how to solve them.
1. Dirty Condenser Coils
If your fridge’s condenser coils are dirty, the compressor will be forced to work overtime. This will result in the fridge getting too cold.
To fix this problem, you simply have to clean the coils. You may use a vacuum or a damp soft cloth to do this.
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To ensure safety, make sure the fridge is turned off while you clean the coils. The coils are located behind the fridge so adjust the fridge to a position that makes the coils accessible.
2. Blocked Vents
There are vents in the fridge through which cold air is supplied from the freezer to the fridge. Places where the vents are located are typically colder than the other parts of the fridge.
If your food is placed in the path of the airflow, then it may begin to freeze up.
Also, because the vents are blocked, there will be decreased airflow. To make up for this decrease in airflow, the fridge will begin to overwork. And become too cold.
These vents are at various locations in your fridge depending on your model. To resolve and prevent this issue, locate the vents in your fridge, and keep food away from them.
3. Fridge Temperature is Set Too Low
The fridge may freeze food if the temperature of the fridge is set too low.
The lowest temperature your fridge should be at is 38°F. Anything below this may cause your food to freeze.
To fix this, you have to increase the temperature of your fridge. However, do not exceed 40°F as this is the ideal maximum temperature for a fridge.
4. Faulty Temperature Control Thermostat
The air temperature of the fridge is regulated by the control thermostat. It does this by turning the refrigerant system off and on from time to time.
If the control thermostat is faulty, it may cause the compressor and evaporator fans to work overtime. The fridge will in turn get too cool and may start to freeze food.
To test the control thermostat, do the following:
i. Ensure the fridge and compressor are running.
ii. Turn the temperature dial from the lowest level to the highest.
iii. While you do this, listen closely for a click sound. The click indicates when the refrigerant system shuts down.
iv. If you hear a click, then your control thermostat is okay. If there is no click sound, then the thermostat is likely faulty and should be replaced.
How to Replace a Whirlpool Fridge Thermostat Control
To replace a Whirlpool fridge faulty thermostat control, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Remove the shelving and screws; then take out the damper covers and conduit.
Step 2: Remove the sensor of the thermostat from the damper and take out the control panel.
Step 3: Remove all the wires connected to the thermostat
Step 4: Take out the old control thermostat from its housing and insert the new one.
Step 4: Place the insulation of the old control thermostat on the new one.
Step 5: Put back the control panel, plug back all the wires and screws.
Step 6: Replace the damper covers and conduit in position and tighten the screws back on.
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5. Defective Damper Control assembly
The damper helps to control the amount of cold air that goes into the fridge. The damper does this by opening and closing periodically.
A defective damper may stay open and this will allow too much cold air to enter the fridge. The fridge will then become too cold and start to freeze food.
To solve this problem, you have to take out the damper control assembly from the fridge. And then inspect the damper, if defective then the damper needs to be replaced.
Watch this video for how to replace your fridge’s damper.
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6. Malfunctioning Thermistor
Some models have a thermistor that reads the air temperature in the fridge. The reading is then sent to the control board and is used to regulate the refrigerant system.
A malfunctioning thermistor may have a wrong reading of the air temperature. And when the refrigerant system is regulated by this inaccurate reading, it may operate for longer.
Diagnosing the thermistor is not complex. The steps below will show you how to.
How to Diagnose a Whirlpool Fridge Thermistor
To diagnose the thermistor of your Whirlpool fridge, do the following:
Step 1: To ensure safety, switch off the fridge and unplug it from the power socket.
Step 2: Open the fridge and locate the control board. Drop it down to access the thermistor.
Step 3: Take out the thermistor. And get a multimeter.
Step 4: Either let the thermistor warm to room temperature or put the thermistor in a glass of ice water.
Step 5: Use the multimeter to measure the thermistor’s resistance.
Step 6: Get the tech sheet for your fridge. This sheet contains a temperature resistance chart.
Step 7: Using this chart, determine if you have the proper reading of resistance for both the room and cold temperature.
Step 8: If the readings you get do not match what you have on the chart, then the thermistor needs to be replaced.
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7. Malfunctioning Temperature Control/Main Control Board
The temperature control board directs voltage to the evaporator fans and compressor. And the main control board regulates the entire unit.
A malfunctioning temperature control or main control board may cause the refrigerant system to overwork.
If the other solutions do not solve the problem, then these may be the problem. We recommend that you call a repair technician as these parts are difficult to DIY.
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