Kenmore upright freezer runs constantly. If you have a Kenmore freezer that’s running all the time, your problem may be with the temperature control thermostat.
This thermostat monitors the temperature of the freezer, and when it reaches a pre-set number, it sends signals to switches that turn on cooling coils, fan motors, and other units when they’re needed.
If this thermostat is malfunctioning, it could be causing your freezer to run indefinitely. Here are some of the most common problems you’re likely to encounter with a Kenmore upright freezer, plus steps you can take to help prevent them in the first place.
Kenmore upright freezer runs constantly
This article will discuss some of the common causes and possible solutions to fix a Kenmore upright freezer that runs constantly.
Defective Defrost Thermostat
If your refrigerator runs too much, the defrost thermostat could be to blame. Several times a day the defrost heater turns on for a few minutes in order to melt any accumulated frost.
This is necessary for cold air circulation: the coils are refrigerated when their temperature is below 32 F, and that’s how your refrigerator effectively cools items placed inside of it.
First, let’s check if the capacity of the thermostat has been exceeded, as we’re going to move along with more specific troubleshooting only if it has been determined that there’s no need for parts replacement or repair.
Dirty Condenser Coils
If you see coils or vents under the refrigerator, then it probably has a condenser coil which is used to dissipate heat from the refrigerator as refrigerant passes through them.
If there’s debris built up on the refrigerator condenser coils, then the fridge will have to work harder to remove the heat by running more frequently in an effort to maintain its temperature.
You should clean your fridge’s condenser coils every six months to keep it working at its best.
Faulty Defrost Heater Assembly
The defrost heater, which turns on several times throughout the day to melt away any frost that may have accumulated on the evaporator coils, is responsible for the fact that this brand of the refrigerator doesn’t require defrosting.
If the defrost heater is defective, no heat is produced and frost will continue to build upon the evaporator coils. The extra work involved in pounding out all that extra frost keeps your refrigerator constantly running in an effort to cool things down.
To detect whether or not the defrost heater is faulty, test it for continuity with a multi-meter or digital volt-ohm meter (DVOM). If it doesn’t have continuity at any point, replace the defrost heater.
Replace Door Gasket
If the refrigerator door is open for long periods of time or it’s bumped around a lot, the door gasket may become torn or bent, allowing warm air inside.
This warm air passes through the opening in the gasket and makes its way into the refrigeration system, causing moisture to condense on the cold evaporator coils.
When this happens, frost and ice begin to form on the coils and build up quickly because frozen water has a very high melting point. As a result, a defrost cycle might not be able to clear away all of the ice that forms because it will occur too slowly.
Condenser Fan Motor Fault
If the refrigerator runs constantly, something might be blocking the condenser fan, or there may be a problem with the condenser coils. The condenser fan draws outside air over the coils to cool them back down to a temperature where they can make ice again.
The condenser fan is located underneath the refrigerator unit directly behind it. To remove the back access panel, pull out the refrigerator from its underside and set it on its side on the floor.
Evaporator Fan Motor Issue
If the refrigerator runs constantly, the evaporator fan motor might have failed. Every refrigerator has a set of coils called an evaporator. The refrigerator may have one or more evaporator fan motors that help circulate air in and out of the compartment.
If only one has failed, it’s possible the coils are still working to bring in cool air and distribute warmed air through the fins via your home’s heating system throughout the power cycle, but it won’t be as cold as before due to a lack of circulation.
Problem with Main Control Board
If the refrigerator is running nonstop, it could be a sign of a faulty control board. The control board is responsible for automatically turning on and off various components within the machine to regulate temperatures throughout.
A malfunction in this system would mean the refrigerator would never switch into defrost mode and continue to run until someone came to turn it off, no matter how much frost collected!
Defrost Timer doesn’t work
If your freezer hasn’t defrosted in a long time, perhaps the defrost timer is defective and stuck or bad.
Two or three times a day, the timer is supposed to advance by one step and start turning on the defrost heater for about 15 minutes to melt any frost that may have accumulated on the freezer evaporator coils.
If there is no heat, then call an appliance repair service because either it needs to be replaced or repaired.
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