Refrigerator cools too much and freezes in spite of lowest level - what to do?

• Function of a refrigerator
• Cost of a thermostat
• Change thermostat
• Other repairs

Refrigerators are the guarantee that always fresh and unspoiled food can be in the house. It is their merit that the general health of the population has increased so much. Their price has fallen further and further: Was the own fridge a few years ago a real financial challenge, you get today for less than 200 euros good equipment.

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A common defect on the refrigerator is expressed as follows: A device used only for cooling suddenly switches to maximum power. So it can happen that the refrigerator actually completely freezes the entire s. This has worse consequences for many foods: bottles can burst, tomatoes and lettuce become inedible and energy consumption increases dramatically. If you consult a repair service, a quick verdict is often made: The refrigerator is too old and needs to be replaced. But in this case, this is true in the fewest cases. A freezing refrigerator usually has a clear cause.

Function of a refrigerator

A refrigerator cools by condensing previously compressed gas in an evaporator. What you hear on a fridge is the compressor. This condenses the cooling gas into a liquid. The now liquid gas is passed through a narrow pipe system in a condensing chamber. There, the gas evaporates abruptly and thus generates the desired cooling effect. From the chamber, it is returned via a pipe system to the compressor, where it is compressed again. The cycle begins again.

In order to keep the refrigerator controllable, a thermostat is installed in its interior. This is a simple component that opens or closes an electrical contact via a bimetallic spring. If the temperature in the refrigerator gets too high, the spring expands - the refrigerator starts. When the temperature in the fridge reaches the desired level, the spring contracts again - the refrigerator goes out. This interplay happens completely automatically. The user only needs to set the desired temperature on the rotary knob, the rest is done by itself. However, exactly in this thermostat is the problem when the refrigerator freezes like crazy even at the lowest level.

The good news is that the thermostat is easy to change. In addition, a repair attempt is worthwhile without a screw having to be loosened: the refrigerator is simply allowed to defrost for one day. The thermostat can simply clamp, which can be solved by a thorough defrosting. If this repair attempt does not lead to the desired success, you can still swap it.

Cost of a thermostat

A new thermostat costs about 15 - 25 euros. It is not very difficult to install, and even a technically inexperienced user should be able to trust himself well. However, it does not always make sense to save an old fridge.

If the device is older than 10 years, a new refrigerator is usually more economical. The problem with every cooling unit is the cooling gas: it gradually diffuses out of the pipe system. The less cooling gas there is, the more frequently the compressor has to work - and that costs more and more electricity.

But if the device is only a few years old, the replacement of the thermostat can be worthwhile.

Change thermostat

The steps described here for changing a refrigerator thermostat are a general description and are not a repair instruction. We expressly point out that work on electrical equipment is reserved for qualified personnel only. We assume no liability for damage to equipment or health caused by following this general description.

Necessary tool:

• narrow screwdriver
• Screwdriver with exchangeable tip for device screws
• Abisolierzange
• flat-nosed pliers
• new thermostat
• Set of cable lugs

1. Switch off the refrigerator

Electrical appliances are disconnected from the mains before each repair. Simply pull the plug.

2. Remove the cover

The rotary knob of the thermostat is levered off with the flat, narrow screwdriver. Likewise, the covers of the housing screws are removed.

3. Release the thermostat

The thermostat is attached to the housing with a ring nut. This ring nut can be easily loosened with the flat-nose pliers and turned out by hand. The new thermostat has usually installed its own, new ring nut.

4. Remove housing

The housing of the thermostat is removed by loosening the screws and can be removed.

5. Remove and install thermostat

The only challenge when changing a thermostat is the wiring. This can be done with a simple trick so that no mistakes happen. Prerequisite is that the thermostats are only connected with cable lugs to the electrical system of the refrigerator.

You take both thermostats, the new and the old, in your right hand. The electrical connections point both towards the user and it shows the same side up. Now, one cable lug after the other is removed from the old thermostat and plugged into the same place on the new thermostat. The flat-nose pliers can also help here if the cable lugs are particularly tight.

6. Assembly

The new thermostat is re-attached to the housing in the refrigerator - the repair is ready. The device is immediately ready for use again.

When it gets harder

When installing the new thermostat, things can go wrong. Tearing cable lugs are a common case. But that's no problem either: A wire stripper makes every connection cable quickly ready for a new cable lug. It is important to use professional tools. Otherwise, this work can quickly become frustrating.

Other repairs

If the thermostat is already changed, you can also check the whole refrigerator for weak spots. Above all, the rotating magnetic rubber seal is a weak point. If it empties, cold air constantly escapes from the closed space. This causes the compressor to work more again. The magnetic rubber can be easily removed and a new glue. This measure is also very useful for hygiene. In the cracks of the seal a lot of dirt settles, which is difficult to remove. With a change of the magnetic tape, the refrigerator is again hygienically flawless.

Glass shelves and brackets should be checked regularly. If cracks appear here, you should replace the components before they break. Even the glass of lighting can become brittle. These repairs are all very cheap and can significantly extend the life of the device.

A new refrigerator is not a broken leg

But if the engine is only running and the compressor does not stop humming, a replacement is necessary. However, a new refrigerator usually refinances itself within a year of the electricity savings.