Common Hotpoint refrigerator parts that need replacing
- Ice maker. The ice maker is a complete assembly that contains the ice mold and the control device. It plugs into a wire harness in the freezer or the ice compartment. The ice maker receives water from the inlet water valve and then holds the water in the ice mold until the water is frozen solid. It then automatically ejects the ice and refills to continue the process until the ice storage bucket is detected as full.
- Evaporator fan. The evaporator fan is mounted on the evaporator assembly. It moves air across the evaporator fins and through the refrigerator cabinet for cooling.
- Defrost timer. The defrost timer is an electro-mechanical timer that controls the intervals between automatic defrost cycles in the refrigerator. The defrost timer motor runs and moves the components in the device. When the contacts for the defrost cycle are engaged, the compressor stops and the defrost heater turns on briefly to melt frost from the evaporator fins. Removing the frost promotes a more efficient exchange of heat across that component. When the defrost cycle ends, the timer contacts disengage, allowing normal cooling in the refrigerator.
- Condenser fan. The condenser fan is in the machine compartment of the refrigerator next to the compressor. It moves air across the condenser coils to help cool the hot refrigerant coming out of the compressor.
- Compressor start relay. The compressor start relay starts the compressor and shuts off the compressor if the motor overheats. Replace the start relay if it's defective.
What to do when your Hotpoint side-by-side refrigerator isn't cooling
If you can’t hear your refrigerator running, first check for power. Open the refrigerator door and see if the light turns on. If the light doesn’t turn on, check the power cord and the outlet. Obviously, you’ll want to make sure that the refrigerator is plugged in and that the power cord isn’t damaged. Next, check to see whether the electrical outlet is working by plugging a lamp into the outlet. You know the outlet is good if the lamp lights up. If your outlet isn't working, you’ll need to have it repaired by a qualified electrician.
If your refrigerator is getting power and it's running, check for excessive frost built up on the evaporator, which can inhibit cooling. You may need to troubleshoot issues with the automatic defrost system if the evaporator is caked with frost. This video walks you through that process.
If there’s no excessive frost on the evaporator coils, check to see if the evaporator fan runs when the compressor is running. Replace the evaporator fan if it doesn't run when activated.
Failures such as a broken condenser fan or the refrigerator being low on Freon can also keep the refrigerator from cooling well. Replace the condenser fan if it doesn't run when activated. Have a service technician check refrigerant charge in your refrigerator if light frost doesn't appear on the evaporator when the compressor runs.
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