Thread: Show us your bodgy DIY

Originally Posted by Edmond

Test. Capful of water placed in freezer at 13:53.

Will update levels of frozenness every hour.

Can't wait

Originally Posted by Edmond

refrigeratoral technician talk.

Mate, seriously. Just throw the fucker out get a new one you can afford it. It's not like you have to save up for a new one is it. Hell, sell some bitcoins and buy 2

That's my thinking.

If I can't get it sorted, fok having a somchai come over, declare it needs gas and different parts for 8k baht then 1 month later it's like the Sahara in there again. Then you go and buy a new one anyway.


Cheers LD, will have a sqizz at that post tomorrow, if me magical knob turning and gentle tapping hasn't solved it.

It's probably so humid over there that so many people opening and closing it multiple times every day has caused excessive humid air to deposit water which has built up and created ice in that passageway between freezer and main part.

Some people leave the door open for waaaay too long. At least defrost it for 24 hours with the door open. A fan blowing air in there at first wouldn't hurt either. I know it's frost-free, but they're not magic. Some intervention sometimes required.

The water in a small cup froze, but sauces etc in the freezer are slightly mushy and not frozen solid, water in the fridge is only slightly cold. There was a slight smell of burning 2-3 days ago but we thought it was from a nearby extension lead that was near it and didn't give it much attention. Gotta a mate coming over this morning to have a squiz at it.

Giving it the 24 hours unplugged test a la LD.

A Thai bloke came over, all looked okay, says it looks like a gas leak as everything else seems to be working okay.

Then said that with such a case, once a leak has been fixed it starts using lots and lots of power, so often it's just more economical to buy a new one. Sounds a bit odd, any takes on it?

I'd guess it obviously depends on the gas leak and which part is leaking and how easy it is to replace that part.


There's much to be said for having two fridges in every home.

Luckily it's the smaller everyday one and not the King Kong one that went.

Plugged into the wall at the same socket for years.

Got out the screwie and got into everything - all fans were running, all coils were clean, all copper pipes were unladen with rust or gunk.

Gave them all a good wiping down anyway for good lulu.


There are separate coils and fans for both the freezer and the fridge, and as the non-cooling issue effects both the fridge and the freezer, it's not likely to be related to them.

Will plug it in tomorrow morning after 24 hours of resting. Which better be enough, the lazy fookin' thing.

^ Had a similar issue with a fridge freezer fairly recently and I think the problem was the fan.

Cheers, I plug it in and the fans come on and spin around and everything.

^ Sounds ok then!

I remember that stuff in the lower fridge part went luke warm and bread etc in the upper freezer part became soft. It's an old unit and in the emergency I bought a replacement... and afterwards the gardener found a 'fridge' guy who fixed it.

We now have 3 fridge freezers, a chest freezer and 2 small fridges, and I think the gardener also has a fridge in his apartment.

Thinking about it, no wonder the electricity bill is so high.

Not to mention aircon usage lately.

Originally Posted by cyrille

Is this babytalk or david44 talk?

beeky chugga , far two whale spelt 4 cucktale our.

Originally Posted by Salsa dancer

It's probably so humid over there that so many people opening and closing it multiple times every day has caused excessive humid air to deposit water which has built up and created ice in that passageway between freezer and main part.

Some people leave the door open for waaaay too long. At least defrost it for 24 hours with the door open. A fan blowing air in there at first wouldn't hurt either. I know it's frost-free, but they're not magic. Some intervention sometimes required.

Do you mean valving it?

Originally Posted by Edmond

The water in a small cup froze, but sauces etc in the freezer are slightly mushy and not frozen solid, water in the fridge is only slightly cold

My old fridge shit itself at Crimbo. One of the symptoms was that both fridge and freezer cooling power was severely compromised. But they still cooled.

One of the symptoms in my case was that the compressor would start but only run for 30 seconds before shutting off and then rest for 3 minutes before running again for 30 seconds. That is not correct. The compressor should run for an extended period.

I deduced that maybe the start capacitor was working but the run capacitor had burned out.

Originally Posted by Edmond

There was a slight smell of burning 2-3 days ago

Capacitors can give off a burning smell when they cook themselves.

I bought a capacitor tester for $15 and confirmed that this was indeed exactly the case (start cap OK - run cap cooked). I then ordered a new run capacitor for $17 and fitted it. And hey presto... it was still completely fooked.

I would not throw too much time at a fridge that is acting up. Just put it out of its misery and go shopping. Manufacturing efficiencies simply make repairing stuff uneconomically viable these days.

Originally Posted by Looper

I then ordered a new run capacitor for $17 and fitted it. And hey presto... it was still completely fooked.

Just plugged it back in with a few bottles of water in the fridge section and miscellaneous food stuff of various consistencies in the freezer to see if they'll freeze solid overnight.

Will get to witness if my hard wiping, dusting and inquisitive prodding of various mechanical parts magically brought back it's freezing superpowers.

Originally Posted by Looper

Manufacturing efficiencies simply make repairing stuff uneconomically viable these days.

I'm afraid I have to agree with Looper, (though I myself would say "economically unviable")

[QUOTE=Salsa dancer;4593878)



I'd agree. They are just like other disposable appliances. Frigging around with re-gassing and checking for leaks is a pain. I myself just dump em and start again. Pity it ain't that old though.[/QUOTE]
You applied a similar philosophy in your ‘marriage implosion’ thread. That went well, according to you!

Results are in.

Results are in.

Fridge placed away from all walls, all knobs knobbed to maximum. Doors fully sealed. Interior lights are all full blast, no apparent power issue. All fans are spinning. All coils and copper wiring dust and gunk free.

After 12+ hours plugged in.

Fridge: Bottles of water are barely tepid.

Freezer: Container of coconut milk - frozen, but not as hard as a rock. Bottle of water: icy cold but no ice or even a hint of it.


Conclusion: 1 perfectly working 4-5 year old fridge available for collection before the middle of May, 228 liter. 6,500 thb or best offer. PM Dirk, Dill or Nev for address.

^ I had the same thing go wrong with my Haier. I'd only had it about 6 months over the 2 year warranty date.

I called the manufacturer who told me... tough shit... but put me onto Domestic and General who wanted either 170 quid to send an engineer out to repair it or pay them 20 quid a month and they'll still come out to fix it and replace it if they can't.

The engineer came out and reckoned it was circuit board or control panel and definitely not condenser or gas. 3 weeks we went without a bastard fridge before they told us they couldn't get the part.
They did replace it though and although maybe all of this info is of no use to you, feel free to climb in to a man-sized fridge, close the doors, be free of that 50 degree heat for a while and help yourself to a Tango.

^ so you overpaid for one of those stupid mercan side by side fridge freezers and now you are paying 20 quid a month in case it goes wrong.

I'd be more of a Ribena man, to be honest.


Can't believe Dill only has one fridge.

We have two in every property and have a combined weight of one of his arse cheeks.

Originally Posted by Salsa dancer

I'm afraid I have to agree with Looper, (though I myself would say "economically unviable")

What a pedantic little bitch you are karen.

I bought a Samsung fridge with a 20 year warranty on the compressor. I'd recommend it.

Originally Posted by BLD

What a pedantic little bitch you are karen.

Why do you sound so much like that narcissist / psychpath Ant Robertson ?