Refrigerator fan does not work - fan motor diagnostics

The role of the fan in the No Frost refrigerator

In the cooling chamber located behind the inner wall of the refrigerator or freezer, the process of removing heat and moisture from the cooling zones occurs. An evaporator, with a defrosting element and a fan are placed in a compact space. At the moment of rotation, the fan blades create a vacuum and draw in gas.

Warm air from the refrigerator enters the chamber, is directed by a fan through the gaps between the evaporator tubes under pressure, cools, and leaves moisture on the radiator tubes. The gas is blown back through the chamber slits. Circulation occurs.

Manufacturers choose different flow directions. Cold air can be supplied from the ceiling, from the sides, to each shelf. A special case is two independent convection cooling circuits with 2 fans, thermostats for the refrigerator and freezer compartments.

While the evaporator is cooled by freon supplied by the compressor, the wind blower rotates, and the products are cooled. The propeller stops, the automation turns on the heating element, the ice thaws and goes through the drainage hole into a special tray. If the fan stops abnormally, the evaporator will be cold, but the chambers will become warm, and the compressor will work in vain.

Fans in the refrigerator are used not only with No Frost. A refrigerator with regular freezing and manual ice removal, which has an accelerated cooling function, also has a fan. It works for a short time, pumping cold to quickly cool a new portion of food. There are fans for cooling the refrigerator, cooling compressors and condensers in large cabinets. They have one purpose - to reduce the temperature in the unit.

Fan maintenance and repair

Independent work on replacing, repairing or servicing fans and other components of the No Frost system requires knowledge of electrical engineering, the principle of operation of the refrigerator and the availability of special tools.
The best solution would be to call a specialist, because independent maintenance can lead to loss of warranty. If this doesn’t bother you, you first need to gain access to the evaporator chamber. It is usually located just under the back wall and is easy to get to. Make sure the refrigerator is unplugged. If the fan in the refrigerator does not work, conduct an external inspection. Look for signs of mechanical failure or melted sections of wiring. You can remove the impeller by unscrewing the fastening bolts. Since you're so close, renew the lubricant.

If the cause of the breakdown is in the motor itself, carefully remove it and find a replacement.
It will cost less than repairing the old one. Assembly is carried out in reverse order. Wire connection diagrams must be sketched out so as not to confuse anything. Author: Vladimir Bystrov

How to check a refrigerator fan

The fan is a unit consisting of a motor and a propeller with a common shaft. The device is included in the general electrical circuit through a fuse, has electronic control, and operates on a defrost timer command.

Like any mechanism, a wind blower creates noise during operation with rotating blades and a motor. The operating volume of the device is about 40 dB. The fan works simultaneously with the compressor, transferring the cold from the evaporator to the refrigerator. If the radiator is not completely defrosted in a timely manner, ice builds up and the propeller begins to make cracking and squeaking noises. The increased noise attracts attention. You can check whether the fan is working by placing your palm under the air shower while the compressor is running. The system uses axial and radial fans.

Consider the Indesit refrigerator fan with the No Frost system. The two-compressor refrigerator has 2 convection systems operating from the lower evaporator. Problems with the fan are displayed on the display with an error code. Most often, failures occur in the control system. The repair is carried out by a specialist. In search of a fault, he rings the contacts, replaces faulty elements, and eliminates the break.

Varieties of No Frost technology

On the modern market there are refrigerators with two types of auto-defrost:

Frost Free . The air circulation system is combined, common to all compartments of the refrigerator. Consequently, both chambers operate from a common compressor. Usually the freezer is located at the bottom of the unit and is equipped with an auto-defrost. The operating principle of the refrigeration chamber is based on drip technology for getting rid of ice.
Full No Frost . Devices with this technology are very powerful and energy efficient. The cameras in them are two independent devices in a common housing. Each compartment has its own separate closed circuit in conjunction with a fan, compressor and evaporator. Air moves continuously between both chambers.

Refrigerator fan won't turn off

If the refrigerator fan does not turn off and runs continuously, there are few reasons. The appliance does not stop because the compressor is running. This will happen if there is no command to stop or the chamber is warm. There are several reasons:

the thermostat or air sensor has deteriorated;
there is a freon leak or the capillary tube is clogged;
the connection of the door to the circuit is broken.

However, the fan can contribute to malfunctions - the blades are frozen and rotate poorly, performance and pressure are reduced.

Basic problems

There is a certain number of most common questions when contacting service centers, here are some of them:

The refrigerator does not turn on after being turned off;
The upper chamber does not freeze;
Humming and vibration during operation;
A large amount of snow/ice on the chamber walls
Temperature not low enough;
Constantly running compressor;
The device periodically turns off and then starts working again.

Most of them can be prevented if you follow the operating rules or can be eliminated without any problems by carrying out repairs yourself.

Refrigerator fan hums

If the fan rattles, hums, or crackles, there may be several reasons. At times, the system requires not only defrosting, but also the motor bearings need to be lubricated. When it dries out, an unpleasant grinding and humming noise is heard. It is not the fan itself that is humming, but the entire refrigerator due to vibrations. It is necessary to inspect the shock absorbers of the unit and reduce contact with the cabinet wall.

Another reason for increased noise is due to poor defrosting or a clogged drain hole. Ice accumulates on the radiator in the cooling chamber. The cracks between the tubes gradually become overgrown with frost, the block grows and pinches the blades. The motor hums before burning out under heavy load. I urgently need to defrost the refrigerator. After turning on the device, you need to make sure that the compressor is working correctly, the defrost is turned on, and the fan blades are spinning.

When you can solve the problem yourself

The lack of fan rotation without any breakdown in the No Frost refrigerator can be caused by the following reasons.

The refrigerator door is not closed. When the door is open, the refrigerator turns off the fan, since cold air will escape from the chambers, and there will be no point in cooling. The door must be closed for the fan to turn on.
One-time failure of the control board . Sometimes the control unit may freeze. To overload it, unplug the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes. If, after turning on, the fan starts working normally, there was a malfunction, which you successfully dealt with. There is no need to contact the workshop.

Refrigerator fan replacement

It happens that a supposedly working fan creates noise that is incompatible with further operation. Experts consider replacing the fan to be the best and not very expensive repair.

It happens that the motor is running, but the plastic wings are frayed, cracked, one blade has crumbled, disrupting the alignment. The manufacturer reduces the cost of production by using low-quality plastic.

Perhaps, as a result of increased load or due to power surges, the motor broke down. All these circumstances require repair or replacement of the refrigerator fan. A professional should diagnose and fix problems.

Rules for caring for the No Frost refrigerator

When using any equipment, caring for it is important.

Considering that the main purpose of a refrigerator is to store food, it is not surprising that odors, stains and bacteria appear. Therefore, it is recommended to wash and defrost the unit at least once a year.

Here are some care tips:

Defrosting in hot weather is undesirable due to the high load on the compressor.
First you need to know the cooling system. In a single-circuit unit, the unit is completely turned off; in a double-circuit unit, one chamber is defrosted.
If necessary, you can speed up the defrosting process with a hairdryer. Warm, directed air will quickly remove excess water.
The entire defrosting takes on average 2 hours.
When washing, you should not forget about the back wall, a lot of dust accumulates there.
To avoid damaging the inner wall, do not use sharp objects such as a knife when removing frost.
At least 12 hours must pass between turning off and turning on the equipment, since when quickly turned on again, there is a sharp rise in pressure in the condenser, which can lead to breakdown.
It is prohibited to use household chemicals when washing equipment. For the outside, you can use non-abrasive products.
The refrigerator itself should be located at a distance from walls and radiators, in a place where the sun's rays will not fall on it.
To avoid chapping, before putting food away, it is advisable to pack it in cling film or a container.
Do not place hot foods to avoid temperature changes.

The cleaning process itself takes place in the following order:

Unplug, get groceries.
Clean the ventilation holes with cotton swabs. The panels cannot be removed as this will void the warranty.
Wash drawers and shelves.
Treat seals.
Wipe inside with a damp cloth.
To ventilate the chamber, it is advisable to leave the door open for a while.
Lay out the products, connect to the network.

Refrigerator Fan Motor

Different models of refrigerators have fan motors with a voltage of about 12 V, a propeller rotation speed of up to 2000 rpm, and a power of 1.5 W. When selecting a new fan, you need to compare the current parameters on the motor housing and in the electrical circuit of the refrigerator. A fuse is installed in the fan supply. The engine is started by an electronic control unit or a starting relay, simultaneously with the compressor. The replacement of the responsible unit is carried out by specialists.

Start relay broken

The starting relay is an element responsible for turning off the starting winding of the engine when it reaches 80% of the rated speed. When the start relay on the refrigerator breaks, the temperature in it begins to rise, which, of course, is a big problem for the owner. The relay on the refrigerator starts the compressor, which in turn regulates the circulation of freon.

A breakdown of the refrigerator relay may be a consequence of the appearance of carbon deposits on the terminals of the electric motor contacts. In such a situation, it is worth removing the relay to check the connectors for moisture and correct connections. The latter can lead to a short circuit and subsequently even fire of the element.

Several other reasons for relay failure are loss of elasticity of the bimetallic plate and breakage of contacts.

A breakdown can be detected by the following signs:

The compressor motor is not working or is operating intermittently;
The engine continues to operate when the desired temperature has already been reached.

If these signs occur, the relay must be replaced , since this part should never be left broken, as this can lead to the failure of the entire device.

IMPORTANT! Replacing the relay must be carried out by a specialist, since in the process an inexperienced person can touch other important parts and disrupt their operation

The compressor housing is loose or loose

What should you do if the refrigerator makes noise or extraneous sounds constantly, but all of the above methods do not help? Check that the compressor is securely in place.

Elimination: In older models, the compressor is suspended on springs - their weakening or displacement to the side can cause noise from the contact of the engine housing with the metal of other parts. The pipeline from the refrigerator to the radiator is a good sound resonator. The refrigerator hums very loudly if the rubber gaskets under the compressor housing are leaky - they are crushed or burst. Springs or gaskets need to be replaced.

Where does freon disappear?

Freons are mixtures of colorless gases that circulate in the refrigerator, cooling the chambers, evaporating and condensing back into liquid. Unexpectedly, detecting a freon leak is quite difficult; the gas has neither color nor odor. Most often, users pay attention to constant problems. They can be signaled by:

Frost inside on the refrigerator;
The upper chamber does not freeze;
The back wall of the freezer is swollen;
Intermittent operation of the compressor;

The two-chamber version of the refrigerator from Indesit is much more common than the single-chamber one, so these features are mostly characteristic of this type. To be more precise, a refrigerator-freezer with a bottom freezer most often fails just like this when there is a freon leak. The essence lies in its design: the cameras are connected to each other by a heat pipe. Freon moves along it between compartments and ends up in the refrigerator and freezer . Due to the appearance of vapors, corrosion forms on the pipe, which leads to gas leakage.

IMPORTANT! It is impossible to notice a freon leak by smell or color, but do not worry, because it is absolutely harmless to humans.

Incorrect installation of the refrigerator

The situation is simple and common - you purchased a new refrigerator, installed it in the kitchen, but the noise from it is like the old one. What's the matter? The reason is simple: you might not have checked the horizontal and vertical position of the refrigerator body. Due to the misalignment, the compressor may make noise when the housing comes into contact with the pipeline or metal parts of other components. Or it may be that one of the adjustable legs of the refrigerator, due to skew, simply hangs in the air, and due to insufficient support, the body of the unit vibrates and makes unpleasant noises.

Remedy: How to reduce noise in this case? The position of the refrigerator is set using a regular spirit level (building level). If it is not there, use a plumb line, which can be made from any thread and a weight weighing 20-50 grams. But even with a strictly vertical/horizontal position of the body, check the points where the legs touch the floor. Perhaps the floor is uneven, and the leg that hangs in the air will have to be adjusted - for this purpose the legs are equipped with threads.

Defrosting heating element does not work

Various problems with this part are indicated by the “F07” signal or three LEDs light up at once. It is worth warning users that not all error codes that appear on the display correspond to a real equipment failure - the command apparatus is just as prone to making mistakes as people. It is best to assume that the error code is just a suggestion that the defrost heating element is faulty, so everything needs to be checked.

First, we measure the resistance in the circuit, then we find out the state of the fuses, maybe one of them has blown. If everything is normal, you need to change the heating element; it is better to entrust this operation to a technician from the service center, because he will check everything carefully and diagnose the exact cause.

How much does the repair cost?

Node recovery depends on factors:

Refrigerator type.
Design, location of the fan, difficulty of access.
Price for components.
Installation of an original part or an analogue.

If the appliance is built-in, the estimate additionally includes dismantling/installation of the device from the kitchen unit. You can ask the specialist by phone for more details.

Why should you contact us?

Our workshop carries out repairs of refrigeration equipment of any complexity at the client’s home or office. We work with all well-known brands, including Liebherr, Bosch, Atlant, Beko, Indesit, Ariston, Samsung, Whirlpool. By contacting us, you receive benefits such as:

Departure of highly specialized employees with work experience.
Use of professional tools and devices.
We maintain our own spare parts warehouse. All parts are in stock.
You personally see the progress of diagnostics and recovery.
We issue a guarantee and provide a receipt.

We repair household appliances on-site throughout Moscow. By prior arrangement, it is possible to visit customers in the region. You can place an order by phone or online.