Why are my crisper drawers so cold?

[wendy]

Since I cleared a drain clog in my GE bottom-freezer model refrigerator, PDS18SBMALBS, the machine is holding a steady 40 degrees F in the fresh food compartment. That's good. But the crisper drawers now run 30 F at drawer bottom. That's bad. I never had reason to measure the temp before, but I can't imagine it should be that cold anywhere in the drawer. When I tested it with a bag of oranges, the ones on the bottom froze.

All I can think of is that in disassembling things in the freezer compartment to get to the drain and then putting it all back together I may have messed up something--possibly the large piece of insulating foam that covers the coils--so that somehow too much cold now escapes into the drawers. I find removing and replacing the bottom of the fresh food compartment so tough that I don't want to go through it again until I know what I'm looking for and what I hope to do in there.

In the parts diagram (https://www.geapplianceparts.com/store/parts/ModelSectionParts/PDS18SBMALBS/3/0/0/0/CABINET), is the big foam shield diagram number 15, the evaporator cover (part number WR02X11030)? If so, I don't find anyplace online that stocks it (I've tried all the usual suspects); apparently it's discontinued.

Does anyone have the proper piece for this model GE that you'd sell, or know where I might look? Or do you have an idea of what else could be causing the issue and how to fix it? Could it be something other than a deterioration of that annoying foam sheet?

 

[tomturbomatic]

Have you checked to see if there is a cold air vent behind the drawers that is maybe open too far? Our 1961 GE Spacemaker had a vent behind the meat keeper that, if opened, made vegetables in the drawer beside it freeze so we kept it closed. We did not keep fresh meat for any extended period of time anyway.

 

[combo52]

Crisper drawers, too cold

On an older 18 ft.³ GE bottom freezer refrigerator, hi Wendy, I’m sure you saw all that tape that was around the perimeter of that Styrofoam piece under the refrigerator floor. It’s very important that that tape all be in place and that the seams sealed completely otherwise the drawers get way too cold on this model. Also, the Styrofoam itself will deteriorate as the unit ages, it would be hard to find the Styrofoam and good condition probably.

If you don’t want to take it apart again, get a nice piece of flexible foam and cut it and cover the floor of the refrigerator underneath the drawers. I’ve done this successfully on a number of bottom, freezer models, this should help a great deal.

John L

 

[wendy]

Thanks a lot for this info, especially the suggestion of covering the area under the drawers with foam insulation. I think I'll try your suggestion and hope that does the trick. I just have to find some kind of flexible insulation that's appropriate. Reading that you've done this trick successfully is encouraging, so thanks again.