On Dec 26 2011, 4:59*pm, Brooklyn1 <Gravesend1> wrote:
> Goomba wrote:
> >On 12/26/11 11:40 AM, KenK wrote:
> >> Last August I replaced my failing refrigerator with a new Kenmore. All
> >> the many years I had the old refrigerator the freezer temp was a bit
> >> below 0, until its last few weeks. The new Kenmore was also, the first
> >> three or four months. Then it suddenly changed to + 4 to + 7 or so with
> >> the analog freezer thermometer. I called warranty repair and the repair
> >> guy checked it out and said it was normal. I was doubtful. I bought an
> >> additional thermometer, a $10 digital freezer thermometer. Then, last
> >> Saturday, the temp suddenly went up to +17. It seemed to go up to 17 or
> >> so, then the cooling would come on and reduce it to around 0, then with
> >> the cooling function off it would go back to 17, slowly, over and over.. I
> >> think it is a defective freezer thermostat, or don't they work that way
> >> anymore? I called for service again Saturday, which will come this
> >> Wednesday. How can I convince this service person this time that I really
> >> have defective freezer function so it gets properly repaired? I'm afraid
> >> the next temperature change, or the one after, will be to above freezing.
> >> These Sears repair guys work on all the appliances and perhaps understand
> >> none of them really well.
>
> >> Or am I wrong and this is within normal freezer operation parameters?
> >> BTW. the non-freezer portion of the refrigerator has, according to an old
> >> analog thermometer, remained normal.
>
> >Was it going through an automatic defrost cycle? My understanding is
> >that rising temps (still low though) are how self defrosting freezers work.
>
> Sounds more like there is not enough mass in the freezer, an empty
> freezer won't maintain a constant temperature, especially as the
> seasons change along with the ambient temperature. *Also the controls
> between the fridge and freezer may not be set in an equilibrium for
> contents and how often opened. *If all there is in the freezer is one
> frozen pizza and the fridge is full of canned beer and he opens the
> fridge for another brewski every twenty minutes and leaves the fridge
> door open for five minutes while staring blankly into space the
> freezer temperature will fluctuate wildly.

So, is the better rule of thumb to keep the freezer filled vs. opening
fridge frequently? Or both, I bet.....
If he's opening ev. 20 for a brewski.....well, he's under the table
soon and won't be opening ANYthing. Ha.