John Lewis freezer - ice constantly forming

[MimiJane]

Hi,

We have a small John Lewis drawer freezer, which is about 2 1/2 years old. Just before the 2 year guarantee ran out we had the engineer out to fix it as we were hearing loud noises of ice dropping onto the base of the freezer. The engineer took the back off it, cleared a huge stack of ice that accumulated in the tray (using a hair-drier) and it was then OK for about 4 months, when exactly the same thing happened again. We fixed it ourselves this time, using the same technique, but 6 weeks later we're yet again hearing ice dropping!

Intermittently (and rarely), the alarm goes off when the freezer door has been opened briefly to remove food and also occasionally at night (so our neighbour tells us!) but, overall, the temperature doesn't really seem to have been affected much.

Is it worth paying to get an engineer out do you think? Is it an identifiable problem? Or are we best to buy another freezer? Obviously 2/ 1/2 years is not a long time for the life of a freezer, so we'd rather get it fixed if feasible - just don't want this problem to keep recurring.

Many thanks for any advice ...

[Rob White]

.

The thing is obviously working, it's just a defrost or
ice build up issue. If the thing is not defrosting,
it could be for a multitude of reason such as

Controller problem
probe fault
defrost heater issue
door seal issue

and others.

If it ices up over 6 to 8 weeks then I would say a trim heater
or a defrost heater is not working correctly. But as to why it is
not working correctly, obviously that I can't say.

How much is the thing worth new??

If it cost £500 or £600 then a £70 to £150 repair fee might be worth it.
If it cost £200 new is it worth spending £70 on it???

Regards

Rob

.

[MimiJane]

Thanks. Forgot to mention that it's an "automatic defrost" freezer - does this narrow down what could be wrong with it? Think it cost about £250 from memory.

[Rob White]

Thanks. Forgot to mention that it's an "automatic defrost" freezer - does this narrow down what could be wrong with it? Think it cost about £250 from memory.

Most domestics are auto defrost now and I assumed that
was the case so I still think it could be the controller, probe
or heater issue that is causing the problem.

£250 for it new????????? It's a hard call to say if it is worth
the repair or not.

You might spend £30 and all will be fine or it might run up to
£150 and then it it will be ok, but you will always have a freezer
that is 2 1/2 years old.

The only way you will find out is by biting the bullet and doing it,
get an engineer out and get a quote then you will know if it is
worth it or not.

I would be reluctant to use the same person who looked at it last
time because he only defrosted the problem, he did not look for the cause.

The trouble with new self defrosting freezers is they do freeze up and
eventually sometimes they need defrosting manually, but only once every
year or so.

If it is freezing up over 8 weeks there is an issue. Try contacting John Lewis
and explain that the fault you had while it was under warranty is still there
and as a courtesy to you they might repair it, especially if you remind them
that the thing needs to be fit for purpose and as it is, it is not!!

Regards

Rob

.

[MimiJane]

Many thanks for the excellent and comprehensive reply. I'll get on to John Lewis and see what they have to say about it first of all - didn't consider that at all!