I own a Kenmore side by side refrigerator - model 106.52552100 - that is acting up. The food on the refrigerator side has been freezing and ice crystals are forming on the items in the top of the freezer side. There is also a frozen puddle of water in the bottom of the freezer (that I just found). The compressor seems to be running almost non-stop too, even if I turn the freezer and the refrigerator to the lowest setting.

I did some research and it seems like for this model I am either looking at a bad control board or something is wrong with the damper, or both.

I would like to know if anyone has experience with these symptoms or any suggestions as to what they may be indicative of.

Thanks!

 

The first place I'd start is to check the cold coil to see if it's iced up.
A puddle frozen in the bottom of the freezer could mean a clogged drain.
Your defrost is controlled by the same board that regulates temps.

Put the food outside. Check the coil. Allow the unit to unthaw if frozen.

 

Thanks PJ. Am I mistaken that the coil is under the fridge? I wasn't sure if you were saying I had to remove the food to check the coil, or was that only if the coil was iced up?

 

I think I figured out what you meant.

Here is the evaporator. Not a lot of ice build up on it. There is a lot in the bottom of the freezer tho.

 

I ran the diagnostics and the thermistors, fans and compressor are all okay. The air baffle seems to open and close fine too. Working on testing the defrost function.

 

Diagnostic routine.... good thinking.

While you have everything open....make sure the drain line is clear to the drip pan underneath the fridge.

 

Used a heat gun to clear the drain. There was nothing blocking it except ice.

As for testing the defroster - I have a multimeter but I don't have a lot of experience using it.

Could anyone walk me through how to test the defrost cycle?

 

The heating element needs to show continuity when checked with an ohmmeter. It's a Calrod type element with a wire on each end. Usually there are crimp caps used to connect it and you can get your meter probes into the fittings. I'll usually cut one crimp and then replace it when done. You don't have to remove the element from the freezer to check it.



A helpful video.you tube/watch?v=311BiD76iYg

There is a second part that goes bad more often. It's the defrost thermostat. It cycles to keep the element from melting the freezer. It's at the top of the coil and has a pink and brown wire on it. Here's the problem. The thermostat is open at room temperature. It only closes below 40 degrees or so. That means it can only be checked when cold. It also gets checked with an ohmmeter.

You could put the unit back into service until freezer gets cold and then put it in diagnostic defrost. You would then reach in and carefully feel if the element got warm/hot.

 

Thanks for all the advice PJ!

I ended up putting the freezer back together last night.

It seems to be running fine now.

Could the frozen drain have been the cause of all the problems?

 

If the line had been blocked.... that could have caused the excessive ice and water left behind.

 

Can it account for the fridge side freezing?

My working theory is that with the defroster functioning but the drain frozen it was putting extra moisture into the fridge air which caused the ice to form at the top of the freezer and on the damper so it might not have been working thus the fridge side was too cold.

I think the drain might have froze due to the sub zero temps we had here. The wall behind the fridge is recessed to make it counter depth and is uninsulated - with a non heated porch on the other side.

 

Back Again. Same issues. The drain is frozen. Lots of moisture in the freezer. The Damper is freezing up and the fridge side is getting too cold. Suggestions on the cause? The weather here has been warmer so I don't think that is a factor.

 

What could change to make the drain all of a sudden start freezing up when it hasn't happened in the last 13 years? I inspected the both door seals and they seem fine. Anyone know what kind of plastic they are made of? Is there a way to get a better seal? I was thinking of applying some food grade lubricant on the corners.