Hey everyone! I've got a Kenmore chest freezer that I converted into a kegerator a while back. I installed an additional temperature controller to manage the power, and everything was running smoothly until recently. A few weeks ago, I unplugged it to clean it out because I had a keg leak that caused some mold buildup. After giving it a thorough clean, I plugged it back in, but now it's not cooling effectively. It takes hours to drop even one degree, and the compressor runs constantly. I've run some electrical tests and everything seems fine:
- The compressor shows continuity across its three pins.
- There's no short to the body of the compressor.
- The thermostat works as it should.
- The overload protector also shows continuity.
- The start relay and capacitor are reading as they should, with the capacitor slightly off spec but close enough.
The compressor gets pretty hot, and there are no visible coils that I can find. Does anyone think I might have a refrigerant leak, or is there something else I might be missing? I appreciate any advice you can offer!
1 Answer
Did you accidentally tip the freezer while cleaning it? Sometimes that can cause issues with the refrigerant. If it was tipped, it's best to wait a while before turning it back on—like at least a couple of hours, so everything can settle.
Nope, it stayed upright the whole time. It's been in the same spot for years!