Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Sir Tigger KC on 10 October 2020, 19:30:26

Title: Fridge Freezer
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 10 October 2020, 19:30:26
Well we haven't had a white goods thread for a while so I though it was time we did!  8)

My 16 year old Hotpoint Iced Diamond is running too cold.  It freezes salads and veggies in the bottom draws in the fridge and turns everything to bricks in the freezer compartment.  I have to use a jackhammer to get ice cream out of the tub!  :o  ;D

I defrosted it in case the airways had got frosted up and blocked, but that didn't work and then put a new thermostat in it but that hasn't changed anything either.  :-\

It's constantly running with the middle of the fridge at about minus 1 degrees C and the freezer about minus 35 degrees C.  :(

Any ideas chaps?  or should I accept it's had a good life and drop it at the tip on the way to Curries?  ::)
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: Varche on 10 October 2020, 21:14:47
We had a similar scenario with a 15 year old fridge. Local electrical shop said might be able to fix it but rest would still be 15 years old.

We bought another.
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 10 October 2020, 21:23:04
£400 over 16 years is a pretty reasonable return :y
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: dave the builder on 10 October 2020, 21:31:33
just stop eating salad and veg  ;D

you might want to gift the old fridge freezer on free cycle or similar saying "it gets too cold "
most local tips or council large collections charge 25 ish quid to take a fridge or freezer now  ::)
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 10 October 2020, 23:09:06
just stop eating salad and veg  ;D

you might want to gift the old fridge freezer on free cycle or similar saying "it gets too cold "
most local tips or council large collections charge 25 ish quid to take a fridge or freezer now  ::)

Hmm might have to bury it in the garden then!  :-\                                                                                                        ;D
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: BazaJT on 11 October 2020, 10:16:15
I don't know what they're like down your neck of the woods but here you can phone the council and they'll remove up to three large/heavy items per year free of charge.
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: Allenm on 11 October 2020, 10:17:27
Just had the same issue.  Bought a new Samsung fridge/freezer for £450 from AO.com, they took the old one for an extra £20.  Register for their marketing crap and they send you a voucher code, which in my case was worth £24, so disposal effectively free.

Mine was around 18 years old when it gave up the ghost, so happy with the return and the new one has a 10year warranty.
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 11 October 2020, 10:27:18
I don't know what they're like down your neck of the woods but here you can phone the council and they'll remove up to three large/heavy items per year free of charge.

My card has been marked at the local tip after I was caught trying to dispose of a bag of household waste into their non-recyclable skip, after missing the fortnightly collection twice in a row.  ::)

When ever I go there now the Little Hitler Jobsworth Recycling Centre Operative makes a beeline for me and demands what I have.  Last time amongst the junk was an old length of plastic gutter, 2 toilet pans and a cistern.  He wanted to charge me £4.50 for each item, so I took them home again and cut the gutter into small pieces which went into the bin.  The toilets will meet Sammy Sledge and will go much the same way at some point!  :)

I pay a ridiculous sum in Council Tax every year!  >:(
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: Kevin Wood on 11 October 2020, 12:44:21
Sounds to me like the thermostat has failed. Probably a quick and inexpensive diy fix without the need for the hassle of disposing of the old one. It was when ours failed in the same way.
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 11 October 2020, 13:22:03
Sounds to me like the thermostat has failed. Probably a quick and inexpensive diy fix without the need for the hassle of disposing of the old one. It was when ours failed in the same way.

Yes I thought that was the problem as well and have treated it to a new thermostat, but it didn't cure it.  :(
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: ronnyd on 11 October 2020, 14:52:26
just stop eating salad and veg  ;D

you might want to gift the old fridge freezer on free cycle or similar saying "it gets too cold "
most local tips or council large collections charge 25 ish quid to take a fridge or freezer now  ::)

Hmm might have to bury it in the garden then!  :-\                                                                                                        ;D
Shove it in the garage for car parts storage. Don't switch it on though. ;)
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: Raeturbo on 11 October 2020, 15:27:51
Sounds to me like the thermostat has failed. Probably a quick and inexpensive diy fix without the need for the hassle of disposing of the old one. It was when ours failed in the same way.

Yes I thought that was the problem as well and have treated it to a new thermostat, but it didn't cure it.  :(
.               Mm that’s all it can be, nothing else controls the temperature.
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: Raeturbo on 11 October 2020, 15:33:05
https://www.espares.co.uk/advice/symptom/my-fridge-freezer-is-over-freezing
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: TheBoy on 11 October 2020, 15:53:33
Ours is coming up to 20yrs old. Fortunately it still works, as every time we've considered a replacement we can't find anything suitable
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 12 October 2020, 07:47:59
Sounds to me like the thermostat has failed. Probably a quick and inexpensive diy fix without the need for the hassle of disposing of the old one. It was when ours failed in the same way.

Yes I thought that was the problem as well and have treated it to a new thermostat, but it didn't cure it.  :(

All installed ok with the thermocouple in the correct location.

It can only be the stat causing it.

What model is it?
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 12 October 2020, 10:03:58
Sounds to me like the thermostat has failed. Probably a quick and inexpensive diy fix without the need for the hassle of disposing of the old one. It was when ours failed in the same way.

Yes I thought that was the problem as well and have treated it to a new thermostat, but it didn't cure it.  :(

All installed ok with the thermocouple in the correct location.

It can only be the stat causing it.

What model is it?

Yes I think so, but I think I'll have another look.  Maybe the probe hasn't gone in far enough, although I pushed it in to the mark.  :-\

It's a Hotpoint Iced Diamond RFA52.
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: Enceladus on 12 October 2020, 11:27:16
Check that the heater element is working. If it isn't then ice builds up and counter intuitively the fridge freezer just keeps running and the ice gets worse.
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 12 October 2020, 17:17:23
Check that the heater element is working. If it isn't then ice builds up and counter intuitively the fridge freezer just keeps running and the ice gets worse.

Looks like spot on advice,  :y

The web suggests there is a defrost stat that fails, its attached to the cooling elements behind the panel at the back of the freezer
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: Kevin Wood on 12 October 2020, 17:30:43
Sounds to me like the thermostat has failed. Probably a quick and inexpensive diy fix without the need for the hassle of disposing of the old one. It was when ours failed in the same way.

Yes I thought that was the problem as well and have treated it to a new thermostat, but it didn't cure it.  :(

Should have read the OP. :-[
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: Raeturbo on 12 October 2020, 18:09:49
It’s all in the link I posted :y
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 12 October 2020, 19:41:55
Thanks for the link Rae!  :y

Mine's different though, as there's no back panel in the freezer compartment and all the cooling pipes are exposed, forming the shelves that the boxes sit on.  There's nothing resembling a heater element either.  :-\
Title: Re: Fridge Freezer
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 12 October 2020, 21:34:02
Just checked and its not actually a frost free fridge freezer