Adjusting the Speed of a Refrigerator Evaporator Fan

The speed for your refrigerator evaporator fan is pre-set at the factory for optimum performance. It should cycle automatically in response to internal temperature changes. If the fan is not running properly, it could be a symptom of another problem.

1. Check the refrigerator’s temperature setting. Reset it and wait 24 hours for the temperature to stabilize.

2. Determine how often the refrigerator door is opened. Frequent visits to the fridge can affect the sensors and cause the fan to work too hard. Try to limit the time the refrigerator door is open.

3. If you’ve reset the temperature and waited 24 hours, as in step 1, yet the fridge’s interior temperature is still too warm, you may have a defective door switch. If the light stays on inside the refrigerator, the heat from the bulb will bring the temperature up. Remember, too, that food items absorb cold and help keep each other at the right temperature. When the contents of the refrigerator or freezer are sparse, the appliance has to work harder. Don’t fill the fridge or freezer too full, or you risk blocking the sensors. For the same reason, be careful when stowing especially large items, like bags of ice or family-size frozen entrees.

4. Check the coils, which are located either underneath the refrigerator or behind it, depending on the make and model. The fan may be working hard to compensate for dirty coils and could be sluggish or running hot. Unplug the refrigerator! Use a household vacuum to clean away pet hair, dirt and dust and then plug back in.

5. If you’re still dissatisfied with the way the fan runs, it’s time to take a look at it. The fan is located in the back of the freezer. Remove and test it by following these steps:

• Take out any food and put it in a cooler while you work. If you have an ice maker, disconnect the water supply and remove the ice maker.
• Remove the small panel inside your freezer by loosening a couple of screws. There may be plastic retainer clips, which can be gently popped off with a screwdriver. You may need to remove the entire rear panel of the freezer to access the fan.
• Depending on the make, the fan will have either two or three wires attached to it. With a pair of needle-nose pliers, pull on the plastic connectors to remove the wires. Don’t pull on the wires themselves.
• Take the fan unit out of the freezer and put it on a clean, flat workspace. If there are no signs of corrosion on the wires or terminals, and the fan blades spin freely, use a multitester (available at any hardware store for around $20).
• Set the multitester it to read ohms. Touch each probe to a fan terminal. If you get any reading other than “zero ohms,” your evaporator fan must be replaced.