Sometimes one or more of the fan blades, in the case of fans equipped with metal blades, have become bent causing it to jam against the metal fan shroud. Sometimes the problem is a buildup of dirt in the motor bearings and a good shot of penetrating oil can solve the problem. If the air is not blowing out (if you hold a tissue in front of the vent it should move), you probably have a defrost problem. To remove the evaporator fan motor, disconnect the power to the refrigerator. In many cases the problem is do to the fact that the evaporator fan cannot operate freely due to an ice buildup on the fan blades. In the Kenmore Elite series of refrigerators, the start capacitor is what gives a boost … If it doesn’t, the problem may be that the freezer isn’t getting power, rather than an issue with the evaporator fan motor. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. If your freezer stops getting cold but you can hear the condenser motor in the refrigerator working, there’s a good chance the problem is with your evaporator fan motor. This alarm also serves as a warning when no power is applied to the WPU. 39 Related Question Answers Found Is it worth fixing a refrigerator compressor? Evaporator fan motors draw very little current and have a long life-cycle, but they can burn themselves out if their fan blade becomes jammed and unable to rotate. The evaporator fan motor draws air over the evaporator (cooling) coils and circulates it throughout the refrigerator and freezer compartments. A reading of zero volts means that there is no voltage reaching the fan motor. For more tips, including how to fix a broken evaporator fan motor, read on! Refrigerator Condenser Fan Motor Troubleshooting. So, they cut if you pull too hard. There are usually at least four screws holding the panel in place, though they may be located in different parts of the panel in different freezers. Cause 6: Start Capacitor Failure Category: Appliance Failing to shut off the power could result in serious shocks or burns. If the condenser fan motor does not have continuity, replace it. The refrigerator condenser fan plays an essential role in the refrigeration cycle, but not all refrigerators have one. Ice builds up on the evaporator coils and prevents the flow of air from the freezer into the refrigerator compartment. If the fan does not run in the bench test, replace the evaporator fan motor. Some troubleshooting tips for a refrigerator that is not cooling due to an evaporator fan that is not running. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Set the panel aside somewhere safe until it’s time to reassemble your freezer. Evaporator fans do go bad, and you can check out if it is turning simply by viewing it. With a little troubleshooting you can determine the cause of your malfunctioning evaporator fan to replace it if necessary. The parts diagram for your model show that the evaporator fan blade - part #613 - click on Freezer Section Parts diagram is separate to the fan motor so hopefully it may just have come loose from the shaft. You will need to unplug the refrigerator from the electrical power outlet for your safety and then will need to check for continuity through the wiring. It must keep the air moving and flowing over the evaporator coils so the refrigerant can absorb the heat from the box. It depends on what’s causing the problem. If the problem is bent fan blades, replace the fan blade. The temperature control thermostat directs voltage to the compressor, evaporator fan motor, and condenser fan motor (if applicable). Do not try to straighten the blade because it will be out of balance. Also, disconnect it from the wires because you’ll be replacing it with a new evaporator fan. There's no good reason to pay half the cost of a new fridge to resurrect a 10-15 year old fridge. Here’s how you replace the evaporate fan motor on your GE Profile refrigerator: Disconnect the power; Remove the ice bin and all of the shelving inside the freezer; Remove the light bulb; If you have an icemaker, you’ll need to remove the outer motor assembly – remove the screws and unhook the wiring harness. Otherwise, the fan should run most of the time. If the fan motor checks out OK physically and electrically, check to see if there is voltage present at the fan motor's terminals. According to Repair Clinic, other possible reasons include dirty evaporator coils, a faulty thermostat or a bad evaporator motor (compressor). Unplug the refrigerator again before continuing the troubleshooting. For instance, if there’s ice built up on the fan blades and preventing them from turning, you may just need to let the ice melt off. Evaporator Fan Motor. Set the ducts and mounting hardware aside someplace safe. Check the temperature setting on the freezer to be sure it’s on cold. During a bench test, the service technician will apply 120 volts to the evaporator fan motor to see whether it runs or not. The evaporator fan motor is connected in parallel with the compressor and the condensor fan motor. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The evaporator fan can be found behind the rear panel of the freezer and testing it yourself can help you troubleshoot freezer issues and save you money in repairs. If your freezer is equipped with an internal light bulb, it should turn on when you open the door. If you find something wrapped around the fan blades, remove it, then turn the power on to the freezer again. If the wires check out OK, replace the thermostatic control. If you can hear the fan motor running but the freezer isn’t cold, the issue likely is not with the evaporator fan motor. If the fan blade rotates freely, but the fan does not run, disconnect the fan wires at the fan and check for continuity through the motor windings using digital or analog multimeter. If the reading doesn’t match the manufacturer’s specifications, the evaporator motor needs to be replaced. There are 2 different types of fan motors in your refrigerator. If no obstructions are present and the fan blade spins freely, use a multimeter to test the fan motor for continuity. It should read 120 volts. If the evaporator fan motor stops working, your freezer will begin to defrost. The evaporator fan motor draws air over the evaporator (cooling) coils and circulates it throughout the refrigerator and freezer compartments. But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. [1] X Research source Make sure the freezer is plugged in tightly. Simply remove the old fan and take it with you to the appliance parts store to get an exact replacement. By using our site, you agree to our. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 86,184 times. To test the evaporator fan motor in your freezer, open the door and feel for cold air. Hold the freezer door switch down and see if the fan comes on. You can find the correct resistance specifications for the evaporator motor in the owner’s manual, an application specific repair manual, or on the manufacturer’s website. If you find frost over all the coils, leave the refrigerator unplugged for 24-48 hours to thaw and then plug it in again. -If you are unable to hear the fan running then either the freezer fan is at fault or the fan control circuit is at fault.-If you have the back panel and fan panel off you might see the fan spinning when you open the door.-When troubleshooting remove power to the Samsung refrigerator, if you have to test with power on USE CAUTION. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. Walch spent 40 years working in the electrical trades and holds an Associate of Applied Science in applied electrical engineering technology from Alvin Junior College. % of people told us that this article helped them. Hope this helps anyone who is having similar symptoms. A loud blowing sound from the motor doesn't mean it's bad either. If the fan blades are damaged or the motor has stopped working, you may need to replace the fan or motor altogether. More likely, the refrigerator has lost its refrigerant (usually R-134a.) https://www.repairclinic.com/RepairHelp/How-To-Fix-A-Freezer/96---/Freezer-not-freezing, https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/interior-projects/how-to/a19974/fix-or-nix-your-refrigerator/, https://www.familyhandyman.com/appliance-repair/refrigerator-repair/fix-refrigerator-problems/view-all/, https://www.repairclinic.com/Video/Video-Landing/328-/GE-Fridge-Warm-But-Freezer-Cold-Refrigerator-Repair-WR60X10346, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Touch each other or the refrigerator has lost its refrigerant ( usually.... Refrigerator repairs. `` if you find frost over all the coils, leave the refrigerator and freezer.... Colo., Jerry Walch has been writing articles for the motor has stopped working, your freezer to so! 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