Kenmore Fridge Damper Is Not Opening

Refrigerator Cooling

• The entire refrigerator is cooled by the evaporator coils behind the freezer compartment. The evaporator transforms the refrigerator's coolant from a liquid to a gas, which absorbs a great deal of heat and cools the compartment. A fan above the evaporator coils circulates the cold air throughout the freezer compartment.

Damper Function

• The damper is installed in the fresh food compartment, on the wall between the fresh food compartment and the freezer. The damper is connected to the refrigerator's thermostat and relies on a thermistor to monitor the fresh food compartment's internal temperature. When the temperature rises above the user set temperature, the damper door opens, allowing air to move from the freezer compartment into the fresh food compartment. The damper door closes when the thermistor detects that the temperature inside of the fresh food compartment is equivalent to or below the temperature set by the user.

Damper Door

• The damper is a mechanical component, with a door that physically opens and closes. If the damper door is damaged or stuck, the door may not open. To determine if the door is damaged or stuck, remove the screws securing the damper cover and inspect the damper door. The door should move freely and easily. If it does not, replace the damper assembly.

Thermistor

• If the damper door is moving freely, the problem lies with the thermistor. The thermistor is installed either in the refrigerator wall or behind a thin plastic strip in the rear left corner of the refrigerator. To locate the thermistor, follow the thermistor wire connector. Remove the thermistor and install a new one to repair the damper system.