Whirlpool Fridge Sides get HOT

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wvkenmore

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Hey guys need some advice... I have a mid 90s Whirlpool freezer on top fridge that was a "designer" model( I dont have model # its in another state) . Well about 2 weeks ago my cousin called and said she was checking on house and getting some ice and noticed that the sided were real hot( mainly the part between fridge and freezer section). I asked hot enough to melt butter(lol), well she got a stick out of frezzer and it statred melting. She turned off the exterior moisture control and left. She came back in 4 hours and it was still hot and she said it burnt her hand . I wonder what is wrong and if it is safe to use. My cousin took all my stuff and put in a side by side in family room in basement and turned the other one off. She has just called and said the s.s has died and had to throw out everything . This fridge is in my Aunts estate in Nc and I am using the house about 4 months out of the year untill realestate market picks up and dont want to buy a fridge as this kitchen will be torn out by new owners. Any advice be great... chaz
 
sounds like the Mullion heater thermostat is stuck in the ON position.
Not a good thing. Very dangerous. Unplugging was good choice.

That needs to be replaced. Shouldn't be that much. But you can replace refrigs, NEW, for a couple hundred dollars these days.
Sad truth, depending on your perspective.

Pic of one folded up. If you got the part yourself and were handy, you could probably do it.

duet83++6-30-2010-22-14-51.jpg
 
Thanks for the suggestion , I will look into that. Guess I will be without a fridge as the house sits empty most of time and cant justify a fridge as The kitchen will be tore out as soon as the house sells.
 
If you don't mind my asking...

why do you feel so sure the kitchen will be torn out?
 
The house is in Charlotte Nc real close to south park mall and itwas built in 1968 and was not a good design. The kitchen is just wore out and every home in the neighboorhood has been gutted out by the young profesionals who want granite not laminate counters . The only thing good is a real maytag dishwasher from around 2001.
 
If you had your air-conditioning off or turned up in the house this is quite normal.
Now days to save energy the actual tubing for the hot discharge runs through the walls of the fridge before getting to the fan condenser part. This is to take care of condensation. This is more economical than power heated strips and such.
If I open and close my Samsung Side X Side the sides will get very hot. This also happens if I put hot items into the freezer or fridge side. My Kitchenaid Side X Side in the garage is the same thing but only hotter since the garage is very warm during the summer months.
Brent
 
Well, lucky you to have a house to sell. I hope the market turns soon for you.

If it doesn't, it might turn out that that kitchen, with a little spruce up, may suffice for more practical times. Don't give up on it, that's what I'm encouraging.

The reason I ask. A couple years back, during the "boom" years when companies were advocating complete gut jobs, you would see tv shows, sponsored by the manufacturers of cabinets and the like, HGTV or whatever. Not the Bob Vila stuff of the late 70s and 80s at all.

Anyway, often the before pics were better than the "finish" product. It got to a point where I was like, I'll record the first 5 to 10 minutes of the show. I don't need to see the rest. I know the awful ending. Its not nice like it was in the 80s.

The before shots are, in my opionion, more humble, down to earth, homey, creative, personal.... Real.

Something that is becoming almost outlawed in the US of late.

Personally, I wouldn't pay a dime for the sometimes radioactive granite countertops, particle board cabinets, or Stainless Steel (fill in the blank).

I'm rambling.

And good luck in selling. Fortunately, your not undertaking any of the remodeling headache that may follow the sale.



 
I wish it was that the air is off, but they have it set to 78, I had noticed the side was hot during the winter (heat set at64) but it was cool later in the day. Thanks for the suggestion...
 
Yeah the house needs some work but I dont mind it and be willing to keep as is. When my aunt passed the market was still good and had some intrest in it but by it was time to sell the market was dead.My cousin sells realestate and is a heir and we have toured every home for sale in subdivison and we are about the last ones with the org kitchen and baths
 
We had this happen to us

With our 99' Whirlpool side by side.
The frame of the refrigerator became very hot like you said.
The problem is that the compressor fan motor has gone out. The compressor is heating up the frame because it is overheating.
We had a service guy repair it. It was $425.00. The fan is not in a easy position to repair. It's under the center of the refrigerator. You have to lay on your back and stick your arms over your head and then put your arms almost all the way in there to reach the fan motor. It took the repair guy about 2 hours to repair it. When I saw all the contortions he had to go through to get the motor replaced, I knew the guy earned his money.
 

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