Think electrician has broken fridge freezer

CellophaneFlower · 2023-05-23T04:21:07+00:00

I had an EICR done yesterday. At one point the electrician turned the power off and on lots of times in quick succession (everything was clicking and bleeping). I have a Samsung American fridge freezer. I noticed in the evening that the freezer was at -23 and the fridge 9 (normally -18 and 3). I unplugged it for 5 minutes and turned it back on again, freezer went up to normal but fridge only made it to 8 and is clearly not very cold. Do I have any recourse here and should I let the electrician know? Obviously he didn't realise he'd done this but he didn't suggest I switch off appliances during his tests. It was working perfectly before. Just had a full Tesco shop delivered yesterday too 🙈

Choconutty · 23/05/2023 05:34

I have no idea legally, but have you double checked the temperature the different sides are set at? In case the flicking on and off reset something?

I would be tempted to turn it off for 10 minutes or so, then turn it back on to see if it just needs a quiet moment to think (or check the manual, there might be another way to 'reset' it)

Original poster

CellophaneFlower · 23/05/2023 05:59

Choconutty · 23/05/2023 05:34

I have no idea legally, but have you double checked the temperature the different sides are set at? In case the flicking on and off reset something?

I would be tempted to turn it off for 10 minutes or so, then turn it back on to see if it just needs a quiet moment to think (or check the manual, there might be another way to 'reset' it)

Thanks. Yeah, I've reset, switched off again for a while and changed the settings etc. Everything appears to be working fine, but the fridge just isn't cold enough.

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Ilovefishcakes201 · 23/05/2023 06:01

Most fridge freezers work by transferring cold freezing air from the freezer into the fridge.

If your freezer is getting cold but your fridge isn’t then it’s likely the fan to transfer the cold air into the fridge has been blown.

Open your fridge for a minute, if you shit it you should be able to hear a small fan running in the background.

Original poster

CellophaneFlower · 23/05/2023 06:10

Ilovefishcakes201 · 23/05/2023 06:01

Most fridge freezers work by transferring cold freezing air from the freezer into the fridge.

If your freezer is getting cold but your fridge isn’t then it’s likely the fan to transfer the cold air into the fridge has been blown.

Open your fridge for a minute, if you shit it you should be able to hear a small fan running in the background.

Thanks. I can just hear the motor going inside the fridge, all sounds normal. Everything at the bottom seems pretty cold, but the stuff at the top isn't. Obviously I know heat rises, but not sure if this means it's working a bit and can be repaired or if it's a lost cause.

If the fan is broken, do you know if it's worth fixing?

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Yummymummy2020 · 23/05/2023 06:18

Have you tried using an external thermometer in the fridge to confirm the temp reading is correct? Sometimes the fridge reading can be wrong because it’s own internal thermometer is broken! Just the fact you found the bottom stuff cold I’m wondering what the temp actually is and if it matches the reading!

Ilovefishcakes201 · 23/05/2023 06:23

If you can hear the fan maybe it’s broken or works intermittently.
Cold/almost frozen things at the bottom of the fridge is a sign of a broken fan.
Repairing: the fan in itself is around £40-£60.
The repair is pretty straightforward if you Google or YouTube the model of you fridge.

Youre probably looking at around £50 labour if you get someone to do it.

Original poster

CellophaneFlower · 23/05/2023 06:37

I'm not sure if it's the fan I can hear or just the compressor noise?

It's definitely coldish at bottom but noticeably warmer at top, so I'm guessing there is an issue with the actual temp, rather than a thermometer issue.

Thanks for everybody's help though. Am I unreasonable to let the electrician know and see what he says?

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Takeitonthechin · 23/05/2023 06:48

He was probably testing the RCD on different cycles and should've unplugged sensitive appliances. You are within your right to tell him this and he will have insurance to cover your fridge freezer.

Original poster

CellophaneFlower · 23/05/2023 06:53

Takeitonthechin · 23/05/2023 06:48

He was probably testing the RCD on different cycles and should've unplugged sensitive appliances. You are within your right to tell him this and he will have insurance to cover your fridge freezer.

Thank you. He did say he was sending me a "What to expect" document, but I didn't actually receive it. Wondering if it mentioned that in there 🤔 He didn't mention anything whilst here though.

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Original poster

CellophaneFlower · 23/05/2023 08:02

I texted the electrician. He said I wasn't supposed to unplug it and nothing he done would have damaged the fridge.

It's not a coincidence though is it? Whilst it was all clicking on and off, I even thought it didn't sound good but then he turned it all off totally so I left it.

Any ideas what to do next? So annoyed, as I was really keen for him to do my rewire, but annoyed now he's been so dismissive.

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Original poster

CellophaneFlower · 23/05/2023 09:45

@johnd2 Apologies if I've tagged the wrong poster, but I'm sure you have electrical expertise 🤔

Any idea if a fridge freezer can be damaged by excessively turning power on and off or tripping it, whilst testing fuse board? Thanks!

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johnd2 · 23/05/2023 10:31

Hello sorry to hear about your fridge issue, it sounds frustrating.
I'm not an expert but I think the only thing likely to be damaged would be the compressor if it's an old style fridge, but with modern inverter ones there should be no issue. To add to that, your issue is not with the inverter or compressor, it sounds like the air transfer between the freezer and fridge as mentioned above.
This is a common problem with Samsung fridge freezers (and probably others) and it's caused by one or both of

Ice buildup in the ducting (let it defrost for a day or so with all shelves removed, a big bowl of warm/hot water in the bottom, and check all the seals are ok in the doors also, as ice build-up comes from the moisture in the air)
Damper failure (there's a little motor and flap behind the panel at the back of the fridge depending on model) which cam either be repaired with suitable glue or replaced as it's only a 10-20 pound part and takes an hour to change.

It's less likely to be fan failure as the freezer would also not be cooling properly. The freezer is getting even colder as the fridge is not getting the air it should.

Good luck I hope you can solve it.

Original poster

CellophaneFlower · 23/05/2023 10:55

johnd2 · 23/05/2023 10:31

Hello sorry to hear about your fridge issue, it sounds frustrating.
I'm not an expert but I think the only thing likely to be damaged would be the compressor if it's an old style fridge, but with modern inverter ones there should be no issue. To add to that, your issue is not with the inverter or compressor, it sounds like the air transfer between the freezer and fridge as mentioned above.
This is a common problem with Samsung fridge freezers (and probably others) and it's caused by one or both of

Ice buildup in the ducting (let it defrost for a day or so with all shelves removed, a big bowl of warm/hot water in the bottom, and check all the seals are ok in the doors also, as ice build-up comes from the moisture in the air)
Damper failure (there's a little motor and flap behind the panel at the back of the fridge depending on model) which cam either be repaired with suitable glue or replaced as it's only a 10-20 pound part and takes an hour to change.

It's less likely to be fan failure as the freezer would also not be cooling properly. The freezer is getting even colder as the fridge is not getting the air it should.

Good luck I hope you can solve it.

Thanks so much!

I had actually wondered if something had got blocked when freezer was running ridiculously cold last night. So, fridge has been stuck at 8 all night and continuously running. It clicked off about 15 minutes ago and fridge has gone down to 4. Still feels warming at the top and bit worried it won't come back on, but I'm guessing there's hope? 🤞

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Original poster

CellophaneFlower · 23/05/2023 10:57

*warm!

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Ifailed · 23/05/2023 10:58

I'm no expert, but sounds like it's settled down now? I wonder if added to all the openings/closings of the fridge door to check temperatures, plus adding a full shop at room temp has given the fridge section a lot of work to do in the past 24 hours?

Original poster

CellophaneFlower · 23/05/2023 11:13

Ifailed · 23/05/2023 10:58

I'm no expert, but sounds like it's settled down now? I wonder if added to all the openings/closings of the fridge door to check temperatures, plus adding a full shop at room temp has given the fridge section a lot of work to do in the past 24 hours?

It probably hasn't helped, but shopping was in and all fine before he started switching everything off and on. I didn't even notice an issue until I saw the freezer was at -24. Fridge was at 9 then. So I switched off and played about. Freezer came back up to where it was supposed to be but fridge just went down 1 degree and stuck there.

Still at 4 now, but guessing it can only cool down so much when freezer isn't running. Just hoping it starts back up as reluctant to mess with it now in case whatever might be blocked hasn't thawed properly yet. Oh the drama 😂

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ohtowinthelottery · 23/05/2023 11:44

Clearly power going on and off can cause issues with appliances as last time we had a power outage the advice from our electricity supplier was to disconnect all appliances (including fridges and freezers) as they would not be liable for any damage done by a power surge when supply was returned. That said, we've had many power cuts and so far I've never suffered damage to any of our fridges or freezers (we've got 4) so the energy company are possibly just covering their backs.

Original poster

CellophaneFlower · 23/05/2023 12:10

ohtowinthelottery · 23/05/2023 11:44

Clearly power going on and off can cause issues with appliances as last time we had a power outage the advice from our electricity supplier was to disconnect all appliances (including fridges and freezers) as they would not be liable for any damage done by a power surge when supply was returned. That said, we've had many power cuts and so far I've never suffered damage to any of our fridges or freezers (we've got 4) so the energy company are possibly just covering their backs.

Yeah, I can't see how this is a coincidence since I've never had any issues before.

So fridge went back down to 3, all good. Started up again and temp has rapidly risen again. Going to try emptying the whole thing now and leaving to fully thaw out for a while.

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tothelefttotheleft · 23/05/2023 12:51

I had electrical work done and the electricity was turned off and on and my fridge freezer stopped working after this.

Original poster

CellophaneFlower · 23/05/2023 13:13

tothelefttotheleft · 23/05/2023 12:51

I had electrical work done and the electricity was turned off and on and my fridge freezer stopped working after this.

Thanks, did you query with electrician?

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tothelefttotheleft · 23/05/2023 23:30

@op

I did. He looked at it but didn't fix it. I had to buy a new one.

GasPanic · 24/05/2023 11:10

I work with electrical appliances as part of my job and yes, it's unlikely that this was a co-incidence.

However, it is also likely that it would have happened soon at some point in the future due to the fact that the device may well have been ready to break anyway and may well have died when you either next switched the power off or the mains supply next went off in a power cut.

It is also difficult to prove 100% that this was related to anything that may have been done by any electrician.

One thing you may want to try is switching it off (for five minutes) and then switching it on again. The reason for this is that sometimes it is possible for the digital side of an appliance (computer) to boot up in a scrambled state because it has some memory of what happened before because it never properly switched itself off. Waiting for a few minutes should ensure that the computers electrical supply is fully discharged before restarting and that should mean it restarts into its proper state.

Takeitonthechin · 26/05/2023 15:24

I would check to see if he is an approved electrician, check out NICEIC or NAPIT, if he is call whichever one he's certified with and ask them if what he did is correct?

Or does he work for a company, who are certified.

I would be claiming on his insurance if what he did is wrong.

Original poster

CellophaneFlower · 26/05/2023 17:15

Takeitonthechin · 26/05/2023 15:24

I would check to see if he is an approved electrician, check out NICEIC or NAPIT, if he is call whichever one he's certified with and ask them if what he did is correct?

Or does he work for a company, who are certified.

I would be claiming on his insurance if what he did is wrong.

Thanks for this. He's definitely NICEIC. I'll look into it.

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Ilovefishcakes201 · 27/05/2023 11:20

Unfortunately it seems like it was the fan. Unfortunately it does happen from time to time.
The repair won’t cost more that £100-£150 with a guarantee.
Or google your model and type broken fan and follow YouTube.