[daddyjohn]

I have a Kenmore side-by-side refrigerator/freezer. I moved it back into the house tonight (it had been sitting on the patio for a couple of months while we had new floors put in). After putting the doors back on (had to take them off to fit through the door) and plugging the unit back in, the freezer gets cold, but the fridge side does not seem to cool. Here is what is really odd: The center wall (between the freezer and fridge) is noticeably warm to the touch. Whatever could exist in this part of the appliance that would generate heat? Did I damage something in moving the unit?

I would appreciate any advice. I hope I don't have to spend Sunday shopping for a new fridge.

-- daddyjohn

[fixxit]

my first impression is you have a condenser fan motor that has stopped. this could be from debris (possibly also a dead mouse ( ick i know)). the condenser fan is in the back at the bottom behind a cardboard panel. if no debris but the fan is not turning you may need to replace the condenser fan motor. good luck and post your results

[libertyappl]

Just a little addition of my two cents, if the condenser fan is working make sure the coils are clean. my first impression would be make sure the evaporator fan in the back of the freezer is working, if not it's not blowing cold air into the frig side. Depending on the exact model you have there also could be a damper which is closed.
For better opinions post your model number off the unit, normally there's a tag inside the frig.
Nat

[daddyjohn]

This still confounds me. But first, it is a Kenmore model 106.9555913.

The fridge is cold, the freezer is freezing. The condenser fan is running, and I have cleaned the coils. But the center wall -- that separates the fridge from the freezer -- is still warm, almost hot, to the touch. Right next to the icemaker. Something in the front of that center wall -- the forward section that contacts the doors when they close -- is generating heat. What could possibly be the heat source here?

I believe in science, and even took a course in Thermodynamics in college. There must be a reason for this!

-- daddyjohn

[libertyappl]

Your Kenmore refrigerator was made by Whirlpool, that's what to 106 tells us.(Kenmore doesn't make anything) the center divider is hot because there's a heater that is called a mullion heater inside there and it's normal for them to get hot, helps keep the moisture down from condensation between the 2 center wall liners.
Nat

[daddyjohn]

Nat,

That is fascinating. I'm going to google the mullion heater, and learn a little more. Is it normal for this to alway be heating? It seems like this would decrease the efficiency of the unit.

I appreciate the benefit of your insight!

-- daddyjohn

[libertyappl]

It does turns on & off kind of like the defrost timer. One thing that does seem to help is to make sure the coils underneath are cleaned regularly. I know it sounds weird but it helps. And it needs to be one at least once a year anyway.
Nat