FIXED KRMF606ESS Freezer not cold enough, Ice Maker not working, questionable whether fridge is getting cold enough

[SMY]

Update. SS Tech finally out to replace compressor and RC evaporator. Mentioned he saw good frost pattern on the evaporator and pressure was holding. Keep an eye on it for a week and if all still good we should be out of the woods. It has been 18 hours and Ice Maker functioning again, Freezer freezing but refrigerator still only cooled down to 39F when set to 34F. Will give some more time, but concerned fridge still isn't fully cooling. we aren't using the fridge so door isn't being open/closed. Thermometer used has been calibrated to my Beverage Center fridge and reads 34F when bev center is set at 34F. Have glass of water in fridge and Thermopop also reads water temp as 39F. Still on watch.

 

[Jake]

Sounds good, fingers crossed.

Yes, give it some more time.

Jake

 

[SMY]

Update: Tech replaced compressor and RC Evaporator 2 weeks ago. Everything has been functioning (Freezer, Ice Maker, refrigerator). However, the fridge is set at 33F but monitoring actual temp at back of bottom shelf seems to be 36F min and ranges up to 40F. Whirlpool says it is functioning within spec but I would expect a more consistently cooler temp range when set to 33F instead of the Whirlpool recommended setting 37F. My wife is concerned the dairy isn't reaching/maintaining safe temperatures under 40F. I don't want to purchase another $3-$4K refrigerator due to wife's lack of confidence so I purchased a temperature data logger and will monitor the temperature of a glass of water over extended period of time logging the temp every 5 mins.

Also was surprised what I learned from this CNET article --> Your Fridge Just Wants to be Understood

 

[Jake]

It sounds like its doing fine, you really don't want the refrigerator section at 33 degrees anyways, that's too close to freezing.

What is the temperature in the freezer right now?

Mine is always set at 37 degrees, and the milk and dairy is always COLD and fresh.

Jake

 

[SMY]

Agree that we don't want the fridge temp to be 33, the concern is that it is at it's lowest setting but just barely cooling to 40F. This may be the way the fridge performs, which would suggest to me that setting the fridge on anything but 33F would not provide adequate cooling. I would not think they design them to perform that way, but who's to say.

 

[Jake]

Is the compressor and fans running at all times when its not getting colder that 36 degrees F. ?

Jake

 

[SMY]

The compressor does not appear to be running at all times. Agree we are past whether the refrigerator is adequately cooling and I am now curiously investigating how it performs and whether it is performing as well as it should or used to. I suppose this experience has me over invested in how my machine works and also need to deal with a wife who is hyper-vigilant about food safety . The 33F setting used to be too cold and would freeze foods in certain locations, which is the performance I would expect at that setting.

Below are my temperature data log results. Measurements every 5 mins for 2 days 15 hours. Sensor in a glass of water placed at the center back of the bottom shelf. Unit has a calibration certificate good for 2 years and accuracy +/- 0.5F. Results show the fridge operating within spec when set at the lowest setting (33F). Avg Temp for the logging period is 37.5F, Min was 35.9F and Max was 39.9F. I would have expected lower temps at 33F setting, but understand that the location in the RC is also going to matter. This is also measuring the change in the cooled water temp, which suggests much higher fluctuations in the RC air temp but for me is a better view on whether the contents are being adequately cooled. I believe the only location in my unit that is cooler than where I am monitoring is the Pantry drawer with the UI setting at coldest setting of Meat/Fish. This may be how it works now and as long as it doesn't degrade it's probably fine.

 

[Jake]

I would have expected lower temps at 33F setting, but understand that the location in the RC is also going to matter.

Location of your refrigerator? Is it not in your kitchen? Or location of your thermometer in the refrigerator compartment? Normal would be middle.

Use your freezer thermometer and monitor the freezer temp too please, that needs to be at about 0 degrees F. average at all times. If not, that can effect the refrigerator temperature not going down lower than 35.9 F.

Jake

 

[SMY]

Fridge is in the kitchen and the temp logger was in the middle back of the bottom shelf. Ambient house temp is 74F. Just started the Freezer temp log and will report back in a couple days.

Here is a log from glass of water placed toward the back of the left drawer at the bottom of the RC (not the Pantry door/drawer, but the drawer inside the main RC). I believe this is the 3rd coldest spot in the refrigerator (first being the Pantry Drawer set on Meat/Fish, and second being back of the bottom shelf which I previously logged). 3 days of logging every 5 mins. Avg temp = 39.4F; Max = 40.8F and Min = 38.1F.

With accuracy of +/- 0.5F this is just within the FDA recommended safe operating zone for food temps. Again, expecting better performance when the fridge temperature setting is 33F. Interesting that the temp rises in the early morning hours when nobody is opening the refrigerator.

The ambient house temp probably rises 2-3 degrees in the kitchen around midnight when the HVAC thermostat program turns up the 1st floor AC unit for the night (but that's not really a significant temp differential).

Will come back with Freezer log.

 

[Jake]

I think you missed what I said here:

Use your freezer thermometer and monitor the freezer temp too please, that needs to be at about 0 degrees F. average at all times. If not, that can effect the refrigerator temperature not going down lower than 35.9 F.

Jake

 

[SMY]

Hi Jake, didn't miss it, here it is.

Thermometer placed at toward back of middle freezer drawer. Average = 0.5F, Max = 22.9F, Min = -4.7F. Would I be correct to assume the rises above 20F are likely associated with a FC Evaporator defrost cycle?

 

[Jake]

Would I be correct to assume the rises above 20F are likely associated with a FC Evaporator defrost cycle?

Yes, during the defrost cycle the temp can rise as much as 20-25 degrees F but only for a very short time.

So the average at 0 degrees F is good, so I'm puzzled as well to why the refrigerator section is not getting colder, I really don't know what else to suggest.

Its best to contact KitchenAid to come out at 800-422-1230, then the KitchenAid tech can call the FACTORY HOTLINE from your house to investigate this problem.

Jake