My Admiral Refrigerator Freezer Section Has Frost on the Bottom But Is Not Freezing

Temperature Controls

• Sometimes you need to reset the temperature controls on an Admiral, or any refrigerator, in order for the appliance to resume normal temperature maintenance. Locate the temperature controls in the refrigerator section and rotate the freezer temperature control to "Off." Wait a minute. Then slowly turn the freezer control knob to "4," which is the freezer set point recommended by Admiral. Allow at least 24 hours for the temperature to stabilize in the freezer compartment.

Defrost System

• Another possible source of your Admiral's freezer cooling problem is the defrosting system, which is supposed to run at regular intervals. If there is an issue with the defrost thermostat or timer, the defrost system won’t operate correctly and a result can be frost on the bottom of the refrigerator but a lack of cool air in the chamber. You can test this by taking all perishable food out of both the refrigerator and the freezer, then turning the temperature control to "Off" in both sections. Set the doors open and cover the floor with towels, then let the frost in the freezer melt completely. Then adjust the temperature controls back to "4" for both the freezer and the refrigerator. Check the freezer 24 hours later to see if the compartment is cold again. If not, call for service.

Condenser Coils

• The condenser system consists of a fan and coils located under and behind the Admiral refrigerator. This system helps keep the appliance cool and maintains the temperature in both freezer and refrigerator sections. When dust and other matter covers the coils, cooling can be affected and inconsistent temperatures may result. Disconnect the refrigerator power cord, then lift the base grille off the unit. Clean the condenser coils with a vacuum cleaner hose nozzle or the "sharpshooter" attachment, then replace the base grille and plug the refrigerator power cord back into the power outlet.

Condenser Fan

• If you have a brush attachment for the vacuum cleaner hose nozzle, place it on the nozzle and clean the condenser fan on the back of the refrigerator (with the refrigerator unplugged and the fan still). Allow 24 hours for the unit to regain proper cooling, but contact Whirlpool if the freezer still does not cool as expected. Professional service might be necessary.