Customer Support 7 days a week

Welcome Guest! To enable all features please Login or Register.

Notification

Icon
Error

New Topic Post Reply
Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
ptmoy  
#1 Posted : Saturday, March 15, 2008 4:36:10 PM(UTC)
Quote
ptmoy

Rank: Member

Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/15/2008(UTC)
Posts: 2

Our basement was flooded last week with around 10 inches of water. Our 5-year old Kenmore refrigerator located in the basement stopped working afterwards. After I pumped out the flood water, I opened the bottom panel on the refrigerator and plugged it in. The fan next to the compressor came on without problem. At the time, I didn't check to see whether the compressor was on as well; I just assumed everything was fine since the fan worked. One day later, I noticed the fridge wasn't cooling. I opened the back bottom panel again and noticed the fan was no longer running. The compressor was also not running and felt warm to the touch.

Is my compressor shot, or could it be a damaged relay, capacitor, or something else? Are compressors sealed enough to survive a water submersion from floods?

Please help. Any suggestion on what I should do next will be appreciated. Thanks.

Addition info: I just found out that if I start the fan rotating by pushing with a stick, it continues to rotate by itself. The compressor hums, but I don't think it's running.
Sponsor
See inside of your appliance - diagrams and part photos for virtually every model.

powered by AppliancePartsPros.com
 
richappy  
#2 Posted : Sunday, March 16, 2008 3:43:26 PM(UTC)
Quote
richappy

Rank: Advanced Member

Groups: Senior Expert
Joined: 9/10/2007(UTC)
Posts: 9,586

Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 2 post(s)
Pull the cover off the side of the compressor and check the start device, if it's a coil type relay, it's probably bad.If it's a one piece unit, just order a new one, make sure you order the factory replacement part by clicking on your model # you put in the site.
ptmoy  
#3 Posted : Sunday, March 16, 2008 5:38:08 PM(UTC)
Quote
ptmoy

Rank: Member

Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/15/2008(UTC)
Posts: 2

Thanks for your reply. I've pulled the start device off the compressor. The start device is also connected to the run capacitor, which is sold as a separate item. Do you think I need to replace both? The compressor itself looks relatively well sealed against water penetration. Do you think my compressor is fine?

PS - The fan also plugs into the start device. Does the start device also control the fan somehow? I was wondering why the fan doesn't start running by itself when I plug in the electricity, but does run if I gave it a spin start.
richappy  
#4 Posted : Monday, March 17, 2008 12:27:15 PM(UTC)
Quote
richappy

Rank: Advanced Member

Groups: Senior Expert
Joined: 9/10/2007(UTC)
Posts: 9,586

Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 2 post(s)
The run capacitors never fail, but it seems like your condenser fan is bad.
Matt S  
#5 Posted : Monday, March 17, 2008 2:31:40 PM(UTC)
Quote
Matt S

Rank: Advanced Member

Groups: Senior Expert
Joined: 3/11/2008(UTC)
Posts: 66

Rich is right.

Odds are you need the compressor relay and the condensor fan motor.

That should get you up and running. :)

Matt
Quick Reply Show Quick Reply
Users browsing this topic
New Topic Post Reply
Forum Jump  
You can post new topics in this forum.
You can reply to topics in this forum.
You can delete your posts in this forum.
You can edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You can vote in polls in this forum.