Whirlpool Domestic Refrigerator, Icing

[daveca]

More of a general design quesiton.

The box runs warm, may be low on charge, but also has an evap icing problem.

The junction of the cap tube to the evap inlet is right beside the defrost thermostat and that line ices up, solid clear ice, so obviously the defrost thermostat wont open and it appears to be goign into an extended defrost cycle (or doesnt terminate). General lighter frost pattern all across the back of the evaporator, but not frozen solid. Thats restricting the evap fan airflow.

70s F, high RH, frequent door open in evening so lots of chance for moisture.

Question.

Would insulating or blocking that evap inlet tube (but not the evap itsel) prevent moist air from contacting it, thus stopping the icing?

It seems that anything that blocks moist air-flow to it would do so.

Q # 2

Defrost terminates both compressor and evap fan.

Would it make more sense to run the evap fan in defrost to defrost more quickly? The defrost element is mainly under the evaporator.

[seanf]

Sounds like you might have a leak or a slight choke of the capillary. Put a gauge on it.

Running the evap fan during defrost would blow warm air into the cooled space and potentially moisture, unless you have something like a damper system that allows air to only be circulated in the evap area. You get other defrost methods like off cycle, or just running the evap fan without the comp.

[daveca]

Good points, im leaning to restriction as its been several hours and not below +25F in the freezer.