Cheryl_B
USA
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Defrosted it yesterday and went to put the shelves back in. One of them wouldn't go in and I struggled and struggled and ended up poking one end into the wall of the fridge.
Now it's not cooling adequately to keep my food from spoiling. Am I screwed or do you think the problem might be something else? BTW, I didn't try to remove that wire that went through the wall, fearing I would make the hole much worse. I put duct tape over the hole as best as I could. Read that can be done on another forum.
I fear I am screwed.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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So you just poked a hole in the plastic liner with the end of a wire shelf?
Um, fill or cover the hole.....AFTER you remove the offending piece.
if this is just a small pencil sized hole, it is not the cause of your fridge not cooling well. However the fact that not only is it probably a 37 year old fridge, but that you warmed it up to room temp yesterday in the dead of summer, wherever you're at, could both be contributors.
But not the hole.
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wa8yxm
Davison Michigan (East of Flint)
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The "Works" in an RV fridge are all on the back wall. Encased in metal and you would find them hard to damage.
The side walls are just plastic sheeting over Styrofoam.. Just like the disposable coffee cup. Depending on the hole.. If it's just the plastic slap a square of Eternabond over it (They sell 11" by 11" patches) if it goes all the way through the foam insulation.. Well you might wish to fix that (no suggestions as to how)
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TenOC
On the road -- Full time
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Cheryl_B wrote:
Now it's not cooling adequately to keep my food from spoiling. ------ BTW, I didn't try to remove that wire that went through the wall, fearing I would make the hole much worse.
Is it not cooling now because of the HOT weather? A small hole should not effect the cooling. If you have damaged something serious the gas AMMONIA would have leak and you would HAVE SMELLED it.
Did you poke the hole at the same place as the wire? If so pull the wire out a little and see if the insulation is cut.
Picture of the hole and wire!!!!!
The big problem will be ice building up on the patch. A small amount of spray foam may work but be VERY careful and not get too much. You can trim the foam after it cures.
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opnspaces
San Diego Ca
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Is the hole in the back or the side? If in the side you did not damage the cooling. If in the back you possibly damaged the cooling but it's highly unlikely. Well that is unless you hit the rack with a hammer or something to get it to go in. The easy check is to open the outside panel of the refrigerator.
If you smell ammonia or see that everything is dusted with yellow powder you have a problem. If no smell and no powder you are probably okay.
If no smell or powder I would pull the wire out. Then get a tube of some caulking (whatever you have on hand) and squeeze it into the hole. Take a wet finger and smooth the caulking out so it is just neatly filling the hole but not making a big glob inside the refrigerator. Let the caulking dry and don't give it another thought.
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Cheryl_B
USA
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If it's not the hole (in the side, not the back), then why will it not get cold? I defrosted it because it was struggling to stay in the mid-low 40's, now it's almost 60 in there and I'm about to go up to the ice machine down the street and fill up a few coolers.
There is a thermister thing on one of the fins and I'm playing with that to see if that would help but it only continually gets warmer. I've tried propane over electric and nothing helps. Food is too expensive these days to lose a whole freezer full of meat.
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ferndaleflyer
everywhere
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Takes a long time to cool a warm frig. Like 24 hours
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Skibane
San Antonio, TX
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wa8yxm wrote:The side walls are just plastic sheeting over Styrofoam.. Just like the disposable coffee cup. Depending on the hole.. If it's just the plastic slap a square of Eternabond over it (They sell 11" by 11" patches) if it goes all the way through the foam insulation.. Well you might wish to fix that (no suggestions as to how)
A squirt of expanding urethane foam sealer ("Great Stuff" or similar) would probably come pretty close to matching the performance of the original insulation.
It expands a LOT as it cures, so use it sparingly.
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Great Stuff foam.
Eternabond patch
start fridge and wait 24 hours. Keep the doors closed!
Regards, Don
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Bobbo
Wherever I park
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I second the suggestion to turn on the fridge and wait 24 hours to see if it is cooling. It takes a long time to cool down.
Bobbo and Lin
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