[MikeKczyk]

I have a Kenmore upright self defrosting freezer.

model 253.9284214
serial wb04814431
manufactured 12-00

Approximately one time a year I will find the contents thawed or partially thawed. This has been happening for the past 3 years. It has just happened today for the 3rd time. Each time it happens I empty the freezer and unplug it. A few days later I plug it in and it performs great.(for another year) I have not tried to plug it back in yet this last time. I will tomorrow. But assuming it does the same thing this time, what would cause this?

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

[MikeKczyk]

Any takers on this?

[denman]

Here are your parts
Replacement parts for Kenmore 2539284214 | AppliancePartsPros.com

The unit is actually made by Frigidaire.

When it warms up is the compressor running?

It would have been easier to trouble shoot if you had left it plugged in.
There are 3 probable causes.

1. The main thermostat. If the compressor was off and you adjusted the thermostat up/down and the compressor fired up than I would replace the thermostat.

2. The evaporator/freezer fan. If the compressor was running but the fan was not then I would replace the fan. Usually a bad fan will result in partial thawing as it pulls air through the evaporator coils to cool it efficiently and to circulate air in the freezer. So if it does not start up you still get cooling in the freezer, just not enough. Also stuff at the top thaws more than stuff at the bottom due to no air circulation.

3. A defrost problem. For some reason the unit does not defrost so the evaporator coils ice/frost up to the point where the fan cannot pull air through them. Defrost has 3 components the defrost timer, thermostat and heater.
If the defrost timer is sticking in a defrost cycle it will give the same symptoms as a bad thermostat, fan and compressor will be off.

If the unit is not defrosting then the fan and compressor will be running.
Only real way to tell is to remove the evaporator cover and check the coils.
Could be either the timer or the defrost thermostat. The heater would be low on the list as they usually either work or do not.

Since your problem is very intermittent and I am guessing that the compressor and fan were off I would replace the main thermostat need replacing

[MikeKczyk]

Thanks you for the very informative post.

I plugged it back in after letting it sit overnight and it is running perfect. On coldest setting I am at -10F and all seems well but I am sketchy about using it.

I think I am going to replace all of the parts you mentioned.

Thanks again!