Subzero 690 fridge freezer. There is about 10 inches of uninsulated suction line leading to the compressor. This frosts up and every few hours defrost

[Aalbie]

Model Number

690

Brand

Sub-Zero

Age

More than 10 years

I have a subzero 690 fridge freezer. There is about 10 inches of uninsulated suction line leading to the compressor. This frosts up and every few hours defrosts. The meltwater, about 1.5 oz finds its way mostly to the kitchen floor but also into the ice maker area and then on to the rest of the freezer compartment. The water supply from the house is off. Fridge is 36 freezer is 02. Gas levels are normal. Condenser is clean. Interior drain lines are clear.
Any ideas as to why i have this problem and what i can do to solve it?

 

[paulhl]

What are the gas levels and which compressor, left or right?

 

[Aalbie]

Hi, the subzero tech checked the levels on both sides last week. The compressor is the big one on the left, looking from the front of the unit.

this issue has been going on for months.

 

[paulhl]

1.5 oz is alot of frost. Did he tell you the levels? Frost is usually caused by an overcharge. Water leaking to the floor is usually caused by one of the plastic water lines springing a leak due the the heat up there. I'm actually replacing the one to the ice maker this AM.

 

[Aalbie]

He didn’t tell me the gas levels But i know he checked both sides and it took about 20 minutes.

the water to the unit is off and has been for weeks.

i can see the frost melting. The meltwater is gaining access through the holes used to conduct wires into the unit.

 

[paulhl]

So what was his solution, did he add freon to the freezer side? You might want to check the evap fan also.

 

[Aalbie]

The sub zero certified tech will return next week. The refrigerant is R-134a.

Temperatures here in Bermuda are about 81/73 with high humidity. This problem has been going on all through the fall and winter.

i defrosted the unit Thursday at 6am and turned it back on at noon. By 6pm temp was 36/02, frost was dripping from the suction line. Since then the temperatures have been constant but water is on the floor and a tiny bit of ice drops accumulating below the ice maker on the left side.

 

[paulhl]

That's exactly the problem that I went on this morning was minus the frost. It was a broken water line with water following the wiring into freezer. Why did you defrost it?

 

[Dan O.]

Frosting of the suction can occur when the capillary tube separates from the larger suction line of the heat exchanger. They must be in good contact for much of the length. The frost will melt every time the compressor cycles off.

If separated, the tubing can sometimes be cleaned up and securely wrapped together again using tape for much of the length. Good contact between them is necessary. Otherwise the heat exchange (if available separately) or the whole evaporator and heat exchanger, might need to be replaced.

It's a possibility to look into.

Dan O.

 

[paulhl]

The last 10" of the heat exchanger to compressor is bare tubing, cap tube coiled up and into dryer. If it were separated inside the insulated tubing do you think that could cause the frost before the compressor? If so, no way to wrap this puppy, replacement would be only solution.

 

[Dan O.]

If it were separated inside the insulated tubing do you think that could cause the frost before the compressor? If so, no way to wrap this puppy, replacement would be only solution.

It's possible it could cause frosting all the way back to the compressor. Frosting isn't usually restricted just to the separated areas. I don't know how you'd confirm it in this case though without removing it, which is a big job. A possibility to suggest to the tech though.

JMO

Dan O.

 

[Aalbie]

I defrosted the freezer to provide a baseline for my problem. There is very little food in the freezer and with the water supply line turned off there is nothing in the ice drawer or water from the dispenser. This is a 20 year old machine but i have had remarkably few problems with it. Initially the techs focused on the freezer compartment where the fan was making lots of noise as it hit an ice buildup. That problem is gone and dusted. The problem now is water dripping on to the floor and also entering the freezer compartment.

I’m not very tech oriented but i am quite happy to take off covers and have a go at seeing what might be obvious. Tech visits are quite expensive and as a retiree i need to save my pennies.

from what i can see the system is as it has been for years.

i am inclined to rig up a funnel and thin plastic hose to duct the meltwater down to the tray under the unit where it will be dealt with in the usual manner. Of course there could be a better solution which is why i have reached out to this board.

 

[Aalbie]

It's possible it could cause frosting all the way back to the compressor. Frosting isn't usually restricted just to the separated areas. I don't know how you'd confirm it in this case though without removing it, which is a big job. A possibility to suggest to the tech though.

JMO

Dan O.

Hey, sadly I’m not smart enough all i can do is report what i can see. The mostly insulated suction line wraps around the top of the compressor. It does show some sweating and a tiny frost spot (1 to 2 inches). I hope to sell my home at end of summer and just need to keep the unit running until the new owner takes possession and replaces the kitchen appliances which seems to be standard procedure.

 

[paulhl]

What exactly did the techs do on prior visit? If the evap fan was blocked by ice it could cause frost on suction line. Does it run now that you defrosted it? Is the ice maker shut off at the control panel?

 

[Aalbie]

The unit is functioning as normal. Ice maker is turned off at the control panel. Water supply is off and has been for weeks. There is no buildup of ice in the evaporator area and the fan is working as normal.

prior work was to replace the drain heater and terminators. The drain is clear.

water still seeping onto the floor. In a day or so i will start to see ice accumulating but its clear right now except for some tiny droplets on the left wall of the freezer compartment.

 

[paulhl]

There's only one terminator and that's a dog to replace since it's in between the rear wall and the evap. Could you mean thermistors. Where on the floor, L,R, or center? Possible to take pics?

 

[Newswartz]

The unit is functioning as normal. Ice maker is turned off at the control panel. Water supply is off and has been for weeks. There is no buildup of ice in the evaporator area and the fan is working as normal.

prior work was to replace the drain heater and terminators. The drain is clear.

water still seeping onto the floor. In a day or so i will start to see ice accumulating but its clear right now except for some tiny droplets on the left wall of the freezer compartment.

I have a SubZero 642 and have exactly the same problem that arised this week. Check the pressures they are fine. Checked the drains no clogs. Found an icy compressor line freezer side. It defrosts when the compressor turns off and I end up with water under the fridge freezer side. I took out all the shelves and everything was dry inside

 

[Aalbie]

The service guy came last week and saw the frosted line start to defrost with the drops ending on top of the freezer. He could see where it was entering the holes where the wires etc enter the freezer. He placed clay/putty? around the holes to try and stop the moisture getting in. It didn’t work. He doesn’t know what else to do. The amount of water on the floor is less but the freezer now has more ice forming.
my plan is to defrost the freezer, pull it out of its cabinetry, take the cowling off, try to fashion a way of catching the drips and then to run a small hose down the back of the unit to the drain pan at the bottom of the unit. Not an elegant solution but I can’t afford a new fridge/freezer.

 

[paulhl]

You both say pressures checked but no numbers, useless info.

 

[Newswartz]

You both say pressures checked but no numbers, useless info.

Freezer is around 3psi while operating. I charged it up to 5ish and same thing. So now my strategy is lowering it to around 1. Im also wondering if it’s possible there’s just to much crap in the freezer blocking airflow. Fridge side doesnt have this issue is around 10psi.