Wine cooler stopped cooling

[mels95yj]

I noticed that my wine cooler was staying around 70°. I've checked it with 3 remote sensors and the front LCD display on the cooler and all are within 1° of each other. I unplugged it, let it sit until the temp climbed to around 73°. When I plugged the cooler back in, the compressor kicked on and it cooled, once again, down to 70°. Condensation still forms on the back plate. The compressor continually runs since it cannot get down to the 65° that I have it programmed for. I took it down to the basement and left it unplugged. It's staying around 66.5° in the basement.

Has this happened to anybody else's cooler? If so, what did you do? I noticed on the back that it takes 134a coolant, so I'm wondering if it's low on freon, and if so, if it's user-replaceable like cars are now. Anybody have any idea? I'm thinking it's either low coolant or bad compressor.

I can keep it in the basement, but it's so much nicer to just reach beside me to get a smoke instead of walking downstairs. Yes, I'm lazy.

Mel

[Silound]

Any kind of fridge, cooler or similar indoors device will usually need a trained technician and typically some special equipment to handle it.

Once coolant leaks out, air and moisture get into the coolant lines and can ruin the unit. It will have to have a vacuum drawn in the coolant system to remove air and moisture, then be recharged (if possible) with coolant and sealed back off. Basically an identical procedure to what happens to a car's AC system when it leaks out.

It can also be the compressor dying, which is a very common thing to have happen. That would mean total replacement of the compressor, which already amounts to a large portion of the price of the unit.

All said and done, it may be cheaper or simple more efficient to invest in a new cooler (thermoelectric one this time!) which will only be about 200 bucks for a moderate one.

[ssutton219]

if it isn't cooling it is cheaper ti invest in a new one!! In the AC field like all fields there is a HUGE markup and for what you pay to fix you can probably just replace with a new one.


Shawn

[mels95yj]

Thanks for your help! I figured as much with it. I'm monitoring the temps, while it's in the basement, to see how they go. For now, I'm content walking downstairs to get a stogie when I want one. I'll have to keep my eye out for another one though.

Mel

[MeNimbus]

I recommend SUMMIT Appliances. They have wonderful wine coolers. It's a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. I look at it as an investment.