1953 GE combination fridge defrost

[northwesty]

So here I am defrosting the fridge. I have had to do this -- well it has been a month or two.

Just wondering, the 55 upstairs I never have to do this to. I noticed this gets to get about 40 degrees inside, but after I clean it up it goes down to 38.

I think that perhaps sometimes the door gets left open all night abit and that does it in. It seems to cool okay and is working great. Just curious if there is anyone out there with any observations about the differences in these two years or this is just the going on with an 60+ year old appliance.

The door seal seems fine and I am happy with the performance so far. Thanks for looking. Brian

 

[rp2813]

You should not have to do that.  The serpentine coil should automatically defrost every time the compressor cycles off. 

 

I think there may be a heater involved in the process, but not much of one.  If so, that could be the problem.

 

[northwesty]

I

Don't think there is a heater or a fan in this one. Anyway it worked it now is back at 38. It takes me less than a half hour to do it. Another little chore I have to tend to to keep this vintage stuff.

 

[eronie]

Low on refrigerant. I'll bet freezer is way below zero. Compressor never shuts off.or condenser is very dirty.

 

[turbokinetic]

Hopefully John L can chime in. If I remember correctly, the design of this fridge has a cycle-defrost feature. The coil in the fridge should warm up to above the frost-melting temperature after the compressor shuts off each time.  The system depends on the compressor spending a certain amount of time "off" between cycles. The warmer temperature in the fresh food compartment melts the frost. I don't believe there is a heater involved.

 

This is where I am unsure and hope someone else can add. I believe the thermostat is responsible for this functionality, inits entirety. It could be that the thermostat is failing, incorrect for the application, or for some reason the system isn't cycling off.

 

[combo52]

GE combination refrigerator

The coil in the refrigerator should self defrost if it’s working properly.

I would need more information to even try to guess what’s wrong with it over the Internet.

Question one is the coil evenly frosted in the refrigerator or just frosted on one side?

Question two what is the temperature of the freezer?

Question three is how much of the time is this refrigerator running and what temperature room is it in.

John

 

[northwesty]

Hi

all and thanks for the interest

It does in fact keep at zero degrees in the freezer compartment all the time

It frosts up slightly across all the coils. After a month it seems to ice up but that is also across all the coils

When I first got this it would be off for about 15 minutes, then run 1-2 minutes, but it was about 55 degrees in the garage. It does run more often now. Seems to run 2-3 minutes and is off for about 6-7 minutes. It isn't too warm in back. it is about 60 degrees when I was timing it.

I replaced the plastic cover at the bottom. I wonder if I should caulk around that as it could be leaking cold out?

Thanks again. Brian

 

[northwesty]

I

thought I would give this a bump sorry I didn't get the information out there sooner

 

[turbokinetic]

Hi Brian. If the fridge has air leaks allowing moisture-laden air to constantly go into the cabinet, the result will be excess frost and too much running time. If there is any place where the cabinet isn't sealed properly, this will be the result. You mention replacing a panel at the bottom, so that could be an issue.