Faulty fridge freezer, what is wrong

[MassiveJim]

We have a 5 year old integrated lamona (Howdens own brand so probably a beko ) fridge/freezer.
The freezer is working fine (not checked temp but everything looks ok)
Fridge only gets to about 10oc on highest setting, but I've just emptied it and ice had built up on the back near the top on one side

I've pulled the unit out to have a look at the back
No fan, single condenser.
The condenser is red hot, can't touch it for more than a second, the coolant pipes all seem to be mildly warm to the touch, apart from the ones near the condenser unit. I can hear the condenser running, and occasionally can hear the sort of noise when you have air bubbles in a water cooling loop.

I can't feel any cold lines or see any condensation anywhere.


What is broken?
Is it fixable?
Is it worth fixing or should I just replace?

If it needs replacing I'm going to try and order one for delivery tomorrow.

 

[RJC]

Personally just replace, time you get some one to look at it and even repair you could have bought a new one.

Having a hot condenser is good - means the compressor is pumping - but how efficient it is pumping its hard to say without putting gauges on the system.

 

[mattyy]

SNIP -
No fan, single condenser.
The condenser is red hot, can't touch it for more than a second, the coolant pipes all seem to be mildly warm to the touch, apart from the ones near the condenser unit. I can hear the condenser running, and occasionally can hear the sort of noise when you have air bubbles in a water cooling loop.

-SNIP

I going to assume you're actually referring to the compressor when you put the condenser. If you do mean the compressor and it is hot then thats a sign of the system being short of refrigerant. A freezer will pull temperature first as it requires less duty than the fridge so if the system is slightly short of gas then the fridge will always struggle.

However, if you mean the condenser and that is hot then it would seem that your operating pressures are too high but I also wouldn't expect the freezer to be fine if this was the case.

Either way, it is often cheaper to just replace if it just a generic no-frills unit as parts and labor can soon mount up.

 

[MassiveJim]

Ok thanks lads.

Freezer was pretty iced up. So I emptied the freezer into our spare freezer, and left it unplugged for about 6 hours to defrost it.
Just switched it back on about 10 mins ago, will see where fridge temp is in the morning and order a new one of necessary.

I also have an Aircon unit that is on its last legs, think it was a £200ish unit, I guess that will suffer the same fate as well then.