Hotpoint Fridge-freezer model no,FF175 B,Future frost-free?

Dear Steve. I came across this thread while desperately trying to find out why my fridge had packed in. I followed your instructions and within two hours it was up and running again. Thank you so much! Just one point for anyone else reading this - the back panel for this model comes off in two stages. The first is the white plastic bit and the second is the bit behind with the fan in. Be careful when you remove that as the wire to the fan is still attached. You'll need to prop it up on something while you're defrosting. It actually very straightforward though.

Gill
July 2014

This is a common problem with this model due to it being a non frost version

Simply moisture inside the fridge/freezer needs to escape by way of a drain-hole at the back/bottom of the fridge (inside the freezer compartment), this water is then directed to the top of the condenser to evaporate. After time this 'hole' gets blocked, the water remains inside the freezer compartment, builds up and blocks the flow of air to the fridge

The big give-away for this is the bottom freezer draw is jammed (by the ice)

This easy to resolve, an engineer would only do the same (I did this recently) approx 4 hours and working again

Power off fridge/freezer from mains, remove content from freezer (as this is where all the works is done)

Remove freezer draws, bottom draw will/may be jammed

Use a hairdryer or whatever to free up the bottom drawer and ice build up

Using a Philips screwdriver, remove the back panel, whilst unplugging the connector block behind panel, do not force off due to ice holding as it will snap, ease off with hair-drier and gentle tugging

You will now see a sheet load of ice, that's why the fridge isn't cooling

Simple defrost ice with hair-drier

With a thin piece of wire or whatever, unplug the drain hole in an attempt to stop this again, albeit I've had to repeat the above 3 times now in 3 years

Good luck

Below is picture with back panel removed



http://stevemorgan.co.uk/linkfiles/fridge.jpg

Steve Morgan
May 2012