More
refrigerators fail during the summer than any other time of the
year. It's a fact -- but why? Because,
just like humans, your household refrigerator can suffer a premature
death due to the heat and humidity. In hot humid conditions the
refrigerator has to run longer and can begin to struggle trying to
keep its interior cool.
Refrigerators
and heat
A
domestic refrigerator is designed to operate in a maximum ambient
temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Exceed this temperature and
the refrigerator begins struggling. Even below this limit strange
things can happen inside the refrigeration system that lead to its
demise.
It
may begin having trouble removing the heat generated inside
the refrigeration system itself. If the cooling components start
failing the operating pressures become erratic. Consequently, the
food compartment
temperature also becomes erratic, leaving
the food warmer than usual. Or the compressor may overheat because it can't dissipate
its own heat fast enough. When too hot the compressor shuts
itself off in the hope of avoiding destruction. This off
period, which can last minutes or hours, causes the machine to operate
very strangely. Early stages of a
refrigerators failure can result in the food defrosting, or
overcompensate by running too long and allowing the refrigerator
section to become so cold that foods such as vegetables begin to
freeze. If not serviced the refrigerator may become so hot that the
refrigerant gas passing through the compressor starts to decompose. This produces
acids that are carried throughout
the refrigeration system, eventually leading to a condition
known as, compressor burnout.
Your
refrigerator has heart valves
The
valves within your refrigerators compressor act much like your heart valves. They open and
close rapidly to pump the refrigerant around the system. If
the valves overheat they will warp and not close properly. When this happens
your refrigerator appears cold, but not cold enough to maintain the
frozen foods. Your food can alternately defrost and then refreeze again. Overall
your refrigerator will act lazy.
One of the most common
symptoms is that your milk goes sour within a few days of purchase.
These are the symptoms of an inefficient refrigerator.
I
use the analogy that since a refrigeration compressor works like a
heart, then an inefficient compressor is like a person with heart
disease. A heart that pumps, but is not efficiently enough to do
heavy work. They can walk along level
ground (refrigerator on a cool day), but ask them to walk up a
flight of stairs (refrigerator on a hot day) and they’ll
collapse. So if an inefficient refrigerator is left unserviced it
can result in your refrigerator having the equivalent to a heart attack.
The human factor
Compounding
the overworked refrigerator syndrome is the human factor. That is,
the
hotter the temperature the more frequently people will open the
refrigerator. Every
time the refrigerator is opened the cold air from inside falls out onto the
floor and is replaced by hot air from the room. The invading hot air makes it run more, resulting in additional
work for the compressor. Even
the automatic defrost system becomes fatigued in hot weather. The
extra moisture invading the refrigerator cabinet can overload the
defrost system and stress the defrosting components
to their limit.
Age
Lastly, age is a major factor in how much summer heat will
affect your refrigerators operation. As
refrigerators become
worn with age the gaskets don’t seal as well, compressor
valves get weak, insulation sags, and the electric motors that
circulate air begin to slow
down.
Any refrigerator more than 10 years old is at risk. Those
approaching 20 years are in imminent danger during a heat wave.
Be
aware
Your first line of defense against premature refrigerator death is
being aware of any changes in operation, an erratic behavior, or unusual
noises. If
caught early enough your appliance may only be inefficient because
of a component failure, rather
than a compressor burnt out. An inefficient refrigerator is something that can
give erratic refrigeration for many days before it
finally dies. Time enough to call the service company and seek
their help or advise. Getting your refrigerator help in time has saved many of them from a trip to the scrap yard.
By
Donald Grummett
Copyright © 2005
Donald Grummett. All rights reserved
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