Way OT - refrigeration question

buzd504

I know we have a few refrigeration experts on here, so maybe y'all can point me in the right direction. 

I have a Danby Silhouette under-counter beverage cooler that's about a year and a half old.  It's lowest setting is 39 degrees, which it used to be able to hit, or at least 40-41.  Now, it won't usually get below 47, and after I have a few (not quite ice-cold) beers, it's at about 50.

It's definitely cooling, but not like it was before.  Most of the web troubleshooting points to things where it isn't cooling at all, which isn't the case here.  (Some have mentioned a new humidity controller but I don't know).  I did try to empty stuff out so air would circulate better, but that didn't seem to help.

One thing - when we lose power the setting resets to about 54, and I have to turn it down again, but I can't see how that might be relevant.

My level of handiness is pretty much limited to screwdrivers and pliers (and the occasional drill and miter saw), so hopefully there is a simple solution?

Thanks for any input.

lousubcap

Paging @NPHuskerFL . The resident AC&R eggspert.  

BYS1981

I had the same thing happen to my cooler, but within days - I took mine back to costco.

buzd504

BYS1981 said:

I had the same thing happen to my cooler, but within days - I took mine back to costco.

Damn.  Should have bought it at Costco.

CtTOPGUN

 I will assume it is a compressor/refrigerant type system rather than a thermocouple solid state refrigerator. My question will be, "is the compressor running constantly trying to achieve the set temp?"

 If that answer is "yes" then you either have a poor flowing condenser or condenser fan innoperative. Or the worst case a lack of freon flow due to refrigerant leak or flow restriction.

 If the compressor cycles off at a temp higher than the set temp it can be thermostat related or the same dreaded freon flow issue but this time over cooling part of the evap and leaving the rest of the evap without any cooling. That can trick the tstat sensing bulb or thermister.

   Jim

SloppyJoe

Probably the fan

buzd504

CtTOPGUN said:

 I will assume it is a compressor/refrigerant type system rather than a thermocouple solid state refrigerator. My question will be, "is the compressor running constantly trying to achieve the set temp?"

 If that answer is "yes" then you either have a poor flowing condenser or condenser fan innoperative. Or the worst case a lack of freon flow due to refrigerant leak or flow restriction.

 If the compressor cycles off at a temp higher than the set temp it can be thermostat related or the same dreaded freon flow issue but this time over cooling part of the evap and leaving the rest of the evap without any cooling. That can trick the tstat sensing bulb or thermister.

   Jim

Thanks.  I have no idea how to fix that, but it's helpful.

SmokeyPitt

Their website shows a two year warranty.  You mentioned it is only 1.5 years old so I would look i to getting it repaired under warranty.

buzd504

SmokeyPitt said:

Their website shows a two year warranty.  You mentioned it is only 1.5 years old so I would look i to getting it repaired under warranty.

My next step was to call them anyway, although I didn't realize they have a two year warranty.

They are sending a repair guy out tomorrow. Woot!!

Thanks, y'all!!  Cheers!

BYS1981

Hopefully, they take good care of you!  

NPHuskerFL

It's the flux capacitor. Gotta be the flux capacitor.

buzd504

BYS1981 said:

Hopefully, they take good care of you!  

New one on the way!!

The main problem seemed to be that the door was somehow warped and the gasket wasn't sealing.