Kitchen Aid Reefer hot exterior skin

[Steve Whitlock]

[FONT=Times New Roman]My Kitchen Aid refrig 8 yrs old been shut off for 4 mo. Turned it on and it began cooling in the freezer but the exterior surfaces of the skin on the front mullion between the side by side doors gets so hot it is burning the gasket. What is the problem? All the surface around the front of the freezer area is very hot too.[/FONT]

[esquire]

Hot gas can flow through door area( called a yoder loop) to elimanate condinsation on the doors. You should have a switch to turn this funtion off. Shut it off and see if this makes a difference

[Steve Whitlock]

[FONT=Times New Roman]thanks. My unit says on the inside front of the refrigerator side "Automatic Exterior Moisture Control" I assume this may be the function you refer to. Don't see any switch, though.[/FONT][QUOTE=esquire]Hot gas can flow through door area( called a yoder loop) to elimanate condinsation on the doors. You should have a switch to turn this funtion off. Shut it off and see if this makes a difference[/QUOTE]

[Steve Whitlock]

[FONT=Times New Roman]Took your advice and opened up the back. Well, the refrig in in the garage, and been off 4 months. A black widow spider had built a web between the compressor fan blades and the wall. Those webs are strong, strong enough to not let that low torque motor get started. This forum is great. Thanks![/FONT][QUOTE=Steve Whitlock][FONT=Times New Roman]thanks. My unit says on the inside front of the refrigerator side "Automatic Exterior Moisture Control" I assume this may be the function you refer to. Don't see any switch, though.[/FONT][/QUOTE]

[Sharon]

[QUOTE=Steve Whitlock][FONT=Times New Roman]My Kitchen Aid refrig 8 yrs old been shut off for 4 mo. Turned it on and it began cooling in the freezer but the exterior surfaces of the skin on the front mullion between the side by side doors gets so hot it is burning the gasket. What is the problem? All the surface around the front of the freezer area is very hot too.[/FONT][/QUOTE]

I'm having the same problem with my 8 year old Whirlpool fridge! What is the problem? Anybody know???

[woodchuck]

The center mullion divider (regardless of freezer/refrigerator configuration) always has some type of heating mechanism. It is not to stop condensation in the wall, it is to stop condensation on the surface that you can touch, usually color-coordinated with the unit's exterior. Some units have low-wattage electric elements behind the mullion cover, and will usually have a switch on the refrigerator control panel that speaks of energy consumption or humidity conditions. Other units have what is referred to as a "Yoder Loop". It is simply an extension of the condenser coil that warms the surface of the metal. In an MSD####*** refrigerator, it is a yoder loop. [COLOR=YellowGreen]When the surface of the metal gets so hot you can't touch it, it means one of two things has happened. Either the condenser coil has become obstructed and air isn't moving under the unit (which you can find at the left-rear corner behind the black cardboard cover), or the condenser fan motor that creates the air movement has stopped running.[/COLOR] Believe me, it is in no way shape or form a hazard to any occupant of the house, electrically or otherwise. Eventually, the compressor will get so hot, it will simply cease to function temporarily), and then you will lose all your food and ice. Better to deal with it sooner than later and fortunately this model uses a completely standard condenser fan motor, readily available at any appliance repair center."