Freezer Not Cold Enough KRFC704FPS04

[matt_erOfFact]

Model Number

KRFC704FPS04

Brand

KitchenAid

Age

1-5 years

A few months after purchasing my fridge/freezer, the ice maker slowly stopped working. I had a repair tech out several times and he claimed everything was fine and that if I called them again, they would charge me for a service visit. Ever since things have gotten worse. the ice maker will only make 3 or 4 trays of ice per week and ice cream won't stay frozen. I've had a thermostat in the freezer for weeks and it reads between 10-25 degrees even though the temp is set at 0. From what I've read, a temperature below 15 is needed for the ice maker to produce ice. The fridge stopped working 2 months ago and now has a new control board and evaporator cover assembly in the fridge compartment ($750 total in parts only). The fridge is now holding a temperature of around 40 (set to 37). I'd love to get the freezer working so I can keep ice cream in the house and have some ice for my drinks, but I don't want to throw more money at this thing if it's a lost cause...

I can faintly hear the evaporator fan running when I open the freezer and the following service test are reporting:

01 RC Thermistor: 35
02 FC Thermistor: 18
03 RC Evaporator Thermistor: 29
04 First FC Evaporator Thermistor: 16
14 Door Ice Box Thermistor: 22
16 Door Ice Maker Tray Thermistor: 18
18 Second FC Evaporator Thermistor: 14
29 FC Average Temperatur: 18
34 FC Minimum Temperature: -18 (I don't believe this one as I've never seen the temperature below 10)

Any suggestions on what to check would be very much appreciated.

 

[matt_erOfFact]

The freezer evaporator looks pretty normal to me. There was a good amount of water dripping off after I was able to access it and a little ice in the middle... Fan tests all ran fine as well.

 

[Jake]

Your freezer evaporator coil doesn't look normal to me, Look at the very bottom photo where it says NORMAL FROST PATTERN. Seems you may have a sealed system problem because the freezer should be getting down to 0 degrees F and staying there. Check your owners manual warranty, most have a 5 year parts and labor warranty on the sealed system.

 

[matt_erOfFact]

I'll give them a call. Thank you. Just curious. This isn't something I can fix myself is it? The warranty would only cover parts and not the service call and I'm so tired of dealing with the service tech in my area... he's been out so many times already.

 

[Jake]

This isn't something I can fix myself is it?

Unfortunately not.

Compressor/sealed system work is not a repair a normal consumer can do. Doing compressor/sealed system work is very unique craft that you need to be trained in with lots of hands on experience.

Doing sealed system work requires you to have a turbo torch, acetylene for the torch, knowledge of how to use and weld with a turbo torch, also having a vacuum pump, and the proper amount of R-134a to use, changing the Filter Drier as well, solder, flux, silfloss, sandpaper, etc.

You need to be a certified Type 1 40 CFR part 82, subpart F. AHAM-NARDA Refrigerant Tech. to change Compressors or do any sealed system work involving Freon(Refrigerant Gas). I got certified on 11-17-1994 when i worked for Montgomery Ward Service Dept.

You'd have to have a licensed refrigeration tech come out and do it for you.

 

[matt_erOfFact]

Gotcha. Thanks for the info. I'm enrolling in the certification course today...

Kidding, but I am very grateful for the info.

 

[Jake]

I'm enrolling in the certification course today...

Kidding,

LOL, I was about to say its a long road ahead for that.

but I am very grateful for the info.

Glad to help.

Jake