refrigerator temperature

19 years ago

Finally got new Amana ss bottom freezer up and running. Got a great deal on a floor model, but there was no refrigerant charge, it took 2 trips, first to trip to charge it then second service to flush system and change compressor. Service guy said it should now be better than new because of the detailing he did, freezer now is below zero. However I noted that refer temp was only 38-40 even on coldest settings. This seemed too warm as I like my drinks cooler and there could be some preservation issues with perishables. He researched it and these were factory specs but they could possibly be bypassed. As he said, all action is in the freezer baffles direct cold air from freezer to refer and these are factory set. Does that temp setting seem correct? My suspicion is that higher temp settings are used to meet energy specs. This serviceman was the best I have seen, totally professional, friendly, and followed up with me to see how repairs were working. I believe he likes solving these problems. He told me a trick to accurately determine refer temperature, put your thermometer in a glass of water and in the freezer use a glass of vodka. The air temp is too variable to get an accurate reading. He works out of Santa Rosa CA, and repairs all appliances. I anyone needs help in that area let me know. He was unfamiliar with my new Capital range but was impressed with its quality build, so far I am very happy with the Capital.

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Comments (3)

breezy_2
19 years ago
I would do some research. Its hard to believe the factory spec is 38-40 at its lowest setting or is this at a medium setting? I would have thought 32-34 s/b very achieveable. I had a nightmare of an experience with a fridge. The repair guy would come, look at it and say declare it working correctly. After several months and as many service calls, I finally told them food was spoiling (milk curdling well b4 expiration etc) and I had had enough. Same tech came back and really started digging into it and found that all of the vents except for the little pencil sized hole for the crisper were left blocked from the factory. Apparently they block them during construction and then remove the blocks only they forgot this time. Needless to say, the only cool air getting through to the fridge was through the crisper vent. Once unblocked, the fridge will freeze food, as it should, on its lowest setting and keeps drinks extremely cold (33-34 degrees)at moderate settings. So, after 4 months, a lot of spoiled food and arguably a few upset stomachs, the fridge cooled properly. That was but one of the issues with that lemon. Make??? Maytag. Manufacturer??? Whirlpool I believe. Manufacturer of Amana??? Again, Whirlpool.

Good news is that they did fix it.
weissman
19 years ago
breezy_2: Just to set the record straight, Whirlpool purchased Maytag (including Amana) sometime in 2006. I doubt that their manufacturing has been integrated at this point. Maytag has had a bad reputation for quite a while now. Whirlpool and KA make excellent fridges - my 26 year old Whirlpool is still going strong in the garage and my 5 year old KA is doing fine in the kitchen. It's a bit unfair at this point to blame Whirlpool for problems you've had with a Maytag fridge in the past.
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breezy_2
19 years ago
Yes, I am fully aware of that, but in my research of the issues when I had them, I learned that Whirlpool was making the fridges for Maytag. I bought the Maytag for the reputation...that is how they sold me on it.."Its a MAYTAG!". When I challenged that point with the retailer I was told that well, actually, a Whirlpool division actually made the unit...just to set the record straight. No doubt Whirlpool makes some decent products...no doubt this one was a miserable lemon.

My current KA TOL side by side has not been without problems either. Mainly ice maker problems which proved to be the main and fatal issue with the "Maytag" unit. And I recently learned when I was having ice maker probs that KA is a Whirlpool division as well. This time we are going SZ. Hey, the KA disposal unit kicks butt though!