The discharge tube is the warm one; the other one contains vapor and should feel cool. If your fridge begins to work and your compressor isn’t overly hot, it was likely just the excessive dust causing the problem. Measuring the Temperature of the Discharge Line, Checking the Internal Temperature of the Compressor. The compressor can get to be as hot as 300 degrees Fahrenheit, but if it gets to be any warmer than that, it can degrade the life of the compressor. If your fridge is of the basic variety, without all the bells and whistles on it, you might be better off just getting a new fridge as opposed to getting the compressor replaced. The San Francisco area has long been a desirable place to live, frequently ranking high on lists of both the “Best Places to Live in California” and the “Best Places to Live.” The... What Does Your Refrigerator’s Compressor Do? A service tech should always look for this potential problem while servicing any refrigeration system. It's normal for this temperature to be as high as 300 degrees Fahrenheit, but it should never be higher. The tubing from the discharge line at that 6-inch difference will generally be somewhere between 50 and 75 degrees lower than the internal temperature of the compressor. 1. The bulk of the heat is generated at the compressor discharge port. A common cause of premature reciprocating compressor failure is overheating. Evaporation is an endothermic process, which means it draws heat from the surroundings. The compressor pumps the refrigerant into the coil on its forward stroke. It can be difficult to measure the exact temperature of the inside of the compressor. ), link to The Safest Neighborhoods In San Francisco: 2020’s Ultimate List. The discharge line is generally located about 6 inches from the compressor itself. The way that a compressor works, most of the heat gets generated at the discharge port of the compressor. Should the compressor’s temperature get to be more than 350 degrees, the lubricating oil that is inside of the compressor will begin a degradation process. Generally speaking, produce can survive in a fridge after a power outage for a couple of hours, but dairy should be watched carefully. What Temperature Does the Refrigerator Need to be? Should the temperature be higher than the outlined safe temperatures from above, the most likely cause is poor ventilation. Sometimes, as the gas refrigerant moves through the compressor, the back of a fridge can get extremely hot. When the condenser coils aren’t working as they should, it will be difficult to keep the fridge at the proper cool temperature. They can begin to taste or smell sour and should be discarded immediately. When food warms up to that temperature, the clock is ticking. The job of the compressor is to create and maintain this pressure. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, HVACR News: Reasons Behind Compressor Overheating, Parker: Compressor Overheating Is the Number-One Refrigeration Problem. Nothing happens. There are steps to identify these problems as they occur and, for the most part, can be remedied fairly easily. Is it Worth Replacing a Compressor on a Refrigerator? That said, you need to be able to determine the temperature of your fridge in the event of a malfunction with any of the various components. Your favorite TV show is due to start in a few minutes. As the piston retracts, there is a valve that prevents that refrigerant from flowing back to its original position. You can get a pretty good idea of what that temperature is by measuring the discharge line’s temperature. Dust and debris interfere with air circulation and amplify the heat generated by the compressor. It should never get higher than that, however. But it is important to know just how warm your fridge’s compressor should be. A little from the upper vent. Try pulling refrigerator a little farther from the wall, letting it run and checking the temperature again in 24 hours. However, the warmth shouldn't be excessive. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'upgradedhome_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_1',115,'0','0']));That cooling inside the freezer or the fridge is all a result of the evaporation of the fridge’s refrigerant that is inside of an array of coils. That indicates a possible problem with the compressor, and if so, you'll probably notice the temperature inside the refrigerator going up. When your refrigerator is working the way that it should, the internal temperature will be cold enough to keep your food at a safe temperature. For evaporation to happen correctly, the refrigerant has to be pressurized so that it turns into a liquid. If you think that the refrigerator is working abnormally, check on the temperatures every so often. It's common for compressors to work by reciprocating action. You will have roughly two hours to either cook it or return it to proper temperatures. Without a doubt, the hardest working part of the fridge is the condenser coils. Compressor overheating is refrigeration’s most serious field problem. Start by pulling the fridge away from the wall slightly to get a better look at the coil. The Safest Neighborhoods In San Francisco: 2020’s Ultimate List. The best way to determine the temperature in your refrigerator or freezer is to use an appliance thermometer. The Backside Of Your Refrigerator Is Running Extremely Hot This happens when your compressor is having to work a lot harder to keep the internal refrigerator temperature to a fixed value. The compressor started up fine last night. The compressor is a motor which compresses the refrigerant and circulates the refrigerant through the evaporator and condenser coils. Will Food Spoil if the Refrigerator is at 50 Degrees or More? (Find Out Now! If the unit has stopped cooling, check to see if the fan motor, if it has one, has stopped running. Compressor. You may even notice warmth coming from the compressor and that is totally normal. Ideally, your fridge should be kept at a temperature that is at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. For more modern, comprehensive fridges, the ones that have features like an ice or water dispenser, it is probably worth it to replace the compressor. Refrigerator Compressor Fan Stops.