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Em_Adespoton t1_j12aiaw wrote

Properly tuned and stocked fridges.

Fridges work by pumping a lot of heat out of an air stream that then goes into the freezing compartment. From there, it pumps air into the fridge as needed through a vent on the side or back.

There’s also a thermostat in the fridge, usually as far away from the air inflow as possible. It determines how much cold air goes into the fridge before the fan turns off, and how warm the fridge compartment can get before it turns on again.

If you block the air inflow, whatever you block it with is essentially in the freezer, and since all the energy is going into keeping it frozen, the fan stays on a long time before the thermostat gets cold enough to turn it off.

Likewise, if you block the thermostat with something warm, the entire fridge will freeze before the fan turns off.

Conversely, if you put something in the fridge to defrost and place it against the thermostat, that fan will stay off and the fridge will warm up and stuff may spoil. If you put something to defrost against the inflow, it’ll stay frozen for a long LONG time.

The more full the freezer is, the more it will keep itself cool, and the colder the air will be flowing into the fridge inflow vent.

This is why sometimes you need to adjust the climate control dials in the fridge from the default settings.

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emilio911 OP t1_j12ip4l wrote

With some fridges you can't win. They're stocked, they freeze, they're empty, they freeze, far from the vents, they freeze the front, close from the vents, they freeze the back.

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Em_Adespoton t1_j12ped3 wrote

Don’t get one with the freezer inside the fridge. Freezer below is best.

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ContemplatingFolly t1_j129jx5 wrote

I assume you tried to adjust the temperature up?

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emilio911 OP t1_j12ivmq wrote

How high can I go? I'm at 40 now.

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ContemplatingFolly t1_j138r5q wrote

However high you need until it stops freezing stuff! If stuff is freezing, then at least part of the fridge is at 32 or lower than 32.

If you turn the temperature up as far as it will go and its still freezing stuff, then it may need to have the thermostat replaced. Probably (although you never know nowadays) cheaper than a new fridge.

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-cat_attack- t1_j129zmg wrote

My Bosch 800 series (B36CT80SNB) typically doesn't freeze food, even with things right near the cold air vents. I keep my fridge at 33 degrees.

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Sathaea t1_j13d0gd wrote

Things sensitive to freezing likes drinks or eggs should go up front, things you don’t care about freezing a little like leftover pizza can go near the back or sides where it’s colder, that should help in the interim as you search for a new refrigerator. Perhaps look into getting it serviced instead of replacing it

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Lonely_Ad8327 t1_j12dk2o wrote

We switched to a side by side refrigerator because of the same thing. Adjusted the temps many times and still had the issue with the two French door refrigerators that we’ve had. It’s a common issue with those styles.

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emilio911 OP t1_j12ig0n wrote

Out of 3, one was french door (Electrolux), one was bottom freezer (Haier) and one was side by side (Ikea/Whirpool).

What's the brand/model of the one you have now?

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Stamboolie t1_j138gwv wrote

Is your fridge old? This is something that happens as they age, I forget the reason though.

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Whatarewegonnadonow t1_j140der wrote

I can guarantee if you get a Samsung fridge it won't freeze your food. Not that it will cool it either but just sayin'.

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EvilLittle t1_j17nmfr wrote

A small DC fan in the fridge to circulate air should solve this.

Granted, this is probably not the type of solution you want but if it works, it works.

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