When you open up your refrigerator you expect it to be cold and for the freezer to be even colder. But how does it get that way and stay that way? In today’s Product Pick we’ll be talking about one of the components in the cooling process inside of your refrigerator: The Evaporator Fan Motor. We’ll go over what the Evaporator Fan does in your refrigerator and share a few common signs it may need to be troubleshooted or replaced.
How it Works
The Evaporator Fan Motor can be found in the freezer compartment of your refrigerator and helps to maintain temperature levels by circulating the air. The Evaporator Fan usually runs whenever the Compressor runs.
When your refrigerator or freezer reach certain temperatures, it signals the Compressor and Evaporator Fan to start up to cool things back down to the right temperature.
As it runs, it draws air in from the refrigerator and freezer compartments and blows it over the Coils. The refrigerant in the coils absorbs the heat from the air and the Evaporator Fan blows the now cooled air back into the refrigerator.
We say “usually” because the Evaporator Fan Motor runs without the Compressor during the defrost cycle. While defrosting, the Evaporator Fan blows warm air over the Coils to get rid of any excess ice build up.
Common Problems & Signs You May Need to Replace
When it comes to your refrigerator, there are a few common signs that the source of your problem might be your Evaporator Fan Motor.
- Your refrigerator and/or freezer is warm
- You can’t hear the Evaporator Fan running
- Your Compressor is running too long
- The Motor is louder than normal
All of these are signs that your Evaporator Fan Motor isn’t running right or at all. This could be due to the fact that there is ice build-up present, dust or dirt is blocking the fan, the fan blades are bent, or the motor simply has burnt out.
To be sure that your Evaporator Fan Motor is in fact the source of the problem, one easy test is to listen for it. Start by opening the door of your freezer. Because the Evaporator Fan Motor won’t run with the door open, you’ll have to manually press in the door switch(es) so your refrigerator still thinks the door is closed and listen for the fan motor.
If you don’t hear anything but still aren’t sure you’ll have to disconnect the appliance by unplugging it (and shutting off the water running to it if applicable) and access the motor. Once you’ve located the fan motor, make sure that the fan blade can rotate freely and check for any blockages.
If everything seems to be normal, you can use your multi-meter to test the motor for continuity. If you get a reading other than what is recommended by the manufacturer, it’s time to replace it. You can find the replacement for your refrigerator here.
*Some sources may suggest a voltage test, but we don’t recommend trying this yourself. Because this is a live circuit test it should only be performed by a trained professional.
We hope you liked this post! If you did be sure to give it a like and share it with a friend. If you need any of the parts mentioned in this post, you can find the replacement for your model on our website at 1stSourceServall.com. Please feel free to leave any questions, comments, or tips for us below!
Written by: Sarah Walker
1st Source Servall Blog 