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Can I repair a freezer that has ice build up on the condenser pipe?

Can I repair a freezer that has ice build up on the condenser pipe? I have a 5 year old floor to ceiling integrated Scholtes freezer (model RU3032NF). I noticed a puddle underneath the unit and have removed it. I tried a full defrost and re-connected after 2 days. I observe that the pipe coming out of the condenser develops a thick layer of ice over several hours then stops, melts completely and the cycle starts again. The freezer itself works well and everything stays cold. A new freezer will be around €800 so worth fixing this if it’s possible. Scholtes as a brand appears to have disappeared, it sounds like they were sold to Indesit / Whirlpool. Any advice would be much appreciated

Asked by: Guest | Views: 252
Total answers/comments: 1
mcgyver89 [Entry]

"Hi,

I may be wrong but it looks like the line to the evaporator unit inside the freezer is icing up not the line from the condenser unit (which is on the outside the freezer).

This could be caused by the evaporator unit inside the freezer (usually behind a panel) icing over caused by lack of air flow over the unit (perhaps a faulty evap fan inside freezer -can you hear the fan running inside the freezer after you’ve manually defrosted the freezer? - don't know your model but usually evap fans only run when the door(s) are closed and stop when doors are open - prevents cold air being blown out), or perhaps the evaporator unit is not being defrosted properly,

Does the freezer have an auto defrost function or does it seem that the unit runs continually? Usually with auto defrost the freezer is turned off (compressor stopped) approx once every 8-12 hours for approx 20 minutes (depends on maker) to allow the ice build up on the evap unit to melt and drain away. If it has this feature and it doesn’t turn off it could be a faulty defrost thermostat/timer. If it does turn off it could be a faulty defrost heater or still the defrost thermostat.

Other cause could be clogged air ducts inside the freezer or restricted air movement over the evaporator unit (dirty)"