Defy Refrigerator E4 error code

E4 error code on a Defy Refrigerator is a indication that there is something wrong with the air movement inside the freezer compartment. (Older defy models has a red light blinking)

REASON for code

The freezer has made too much ice and is now all frozen-up or
it could be that freezer system  is low on refrigerant (gas)

Possible Causes

1. The freezer door wasn't closed proberly - just closed enough to switch off "door open" alarm and open enough to let moister in - resulting in over condensation on condenser.

2. Abnormal high open and closing of freezer door. In our part of the world (Port Elizabeth) the over icing often happens during summer because we have more humunity in the air during summer and the freezer are opened more frequently for treats.

4. Defrosting Element not heating - therefore not melting the ice - buildup

5. Pc control panel has gone on the blink

6. Refrigerant tubs has rusted  causing a gas leak.

I hope the post has help you to make a more informed decision about your next step. Also read some of my previous post  

Cheers!

Pine

http://highpointappliances.blogspot.co.za/2016/02/frost-free-refrigerator-red-light.html

Refrigerator Regas or Not

Refrigerator Repairs

Refrigerator Re-gassing or Not!

That is the question!

This post is to help you make better informed decisions if you should regas your refrigerator or not.

Refrigerator sides and insulation removed 

Disclaimer:  I do not want to talk myself or any refrigerator-contractor out of business. I am all for helping any client with their refrigerator problem. Therefore with this post is to help you make better decisions about appliance repairs. 

Another reason for this post is to help you ask the correct questions, then weigh-up the pro and cons before re-gassing your refrigerator.

First step is for you to confirm your unit is low on refrigerant - if you haven't read my previous post on "Signs of low refrigerator gas" do it now! just click here.

General refrigerator principals

• Refrigerant (gas) doesn't get used-up by the fridge, it is recycled all the time.  if refrigerator needs gas; it has a Gas leak!
• It is normal for a industrial refrigerator to develop gas leaks (because of the powerful compressors and fans going On/off all the time) but its not normal for a domestic refrigerator to start leaking.

Questions to Ask

• Was the refrigerator moved recently;- sometime the movers pick the unit up by grabbing on the outside hose to get a firmer grip. Causing one of the back gas-tube-connections to spring a leak. (this is a easy repairs)
• Were the refrigerator wash and cleaned recently - pressing on the inside to clean could make the all ready rusted gas-tubes to crack causing the gas (refrigerant) to escape.

Refrigerator Gas pipes exposed

Why did the old refrigerator lasted longer

• Vintage fridges and freezers were build from better materials, the Appliance manufacturers used more coppers and aluminium inside the cooling-units. Fridges were so heavy, people didn't move them around all the time
• The older refrigerators where build to last because companies still believed in building Brand names and the honor that gets associated around them. Now they build fashion refrigerator that will enhance the kitchen decor and also the shareholders wants a turnover

Refrigerator must look good! 

• All the ugly gas tubes and motors must be hidden away - inside the unit
• In the Heydays manufactures made used of cold-plates (condensers), no galvanized  cold pipes were use to form ice. Tubing would come straight out the fridge and be sandwiched in-between the hot evaporator to make sure that no condensation (water) settles on the gas tubes 
• Manufactures construct modern refrigerator by letting galvanized gas-tubes run around the cabinet then they add insulation foam in between the sides. This is a sure recipe for a gas leak.

Do the maths! Galvanized gas tubing + Ice/H20 (water) @time = Rust # Gas-leak

Refrigerator rusted gas tubes exposed

Clients ask us everyday to regas or top their refrigerators with refrigerant(gas) and we always are very happy to oblige on condition they are aware the risk involved.

Re-gassing or topping a refrigerator  is a catch 22 situation; you have to do it to see if it is going to work. There is just no way of knowing if the compressor pump is circulating the gas or if the gas system has a blockage (preventing the gas from circulating).

 I do hope I have given you enough information to work with. Should you need more just drop me a line.

www.pinepienaar.info

Washing Machine filled with water

Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth

How Do you get Trapped laundry out of a washing machine

Whatever you do - Don't ever use physical force!
Two things will happen if the door are force-opened

1.  You are going to break the interlock door switch(safety switch) - Expensive mistake!
2.  Secondly you are going to flood the floor when the water comes gushing out.

The Door-safety-switch will not open while the washing machines inner-drum is still filled with water.

There are several reason why water gets trapped inside a washing machine;

• Kink or bend in outlet hose
• Drain-Filter is blocked
• Drain pump has failed

 But let me answer the important question first

 " How do I get my trapped laundry out of the washing machine?"

You know now that the washing machine door has a interlock switch (safety switch)behind the front panel that prevents the door from accidentally opening during a washing cycle. 

This switch is there because you do not want little children to opening it during a high speed spinning cycle or while it is still filled with water. So the big thing here is to get the water out

This brings me to the Next BIG question. . .

"How do I drain the water in the Washing Machine" 

1. Line up two buckets or water containers on the floor
2. Unhook the Washing Machines drain hose from the wall outlet
3. Drop  the washing machines drain-hose into the first bucket
4. Let it fill 3/4 with water and move the outlet hose to the second container
5. will the second containers is filling with water empty the first containers water
6. Keep rotating the container till all the water is drain from the washing machine
7. Once all the water is drained out of the washing machine the interlock-switch will release
8. Washing Machine Door should open like normal to release the laundry

Heads up! Some washing machine has a little drain hose hidden in the front cover, all you have to do is just open it. Let the water drain-out into the rotating bucket system.

If you lucky and the washing machine is standing close to a outside door - just drop the outlet hose and let the laundry-water run out.

Draining the laundry water with the bucket-system will tell you two thing

• If the water are draining slowly out of the washing machine, there must be a blockage somewhere in the draining system
• When the water are draining freely - it means no blockage in pipes and there must be a gremlins in the Electric-water-pump.

WHY does Electric water-pump fail

A water-pump normally goes on the blink when something ( hairpins, money) get lodge in the pump impeller - preventing it from turning. By the time you realize the washing machine is not drain, the water-pump has overheated and burned-out.

Most of the time you cannot even see the that the water-pump got damage and when you touch or move the pump impeller it works fine again for a short-time. Just when you really need to get important laundry done it will go on the blink again.

So just the right thing replace the old pump with a new water-pump.

Happy washing!

www.pinepienaar.info