Hotpoint FF200LP Fridge/Freezer keeps icing up

[oakleyjo]

Hi,

I went to this Hotpoint FF200LP fridge/freezer back at the start of September. Fridge not getting cold, freezer ok. Found the evaporator iced up, particularly near the bottom but it’s not build up from a blocked drain. Defrosted it thoroughly, made sure the drain is clear anyway, checked out the defrost heater and fans to make sure all was in order which it appeared to be.

Been back to it today for the same symptoms of Fridge not getting cold, freezer ok. Again the evaporator is all iced up. The defrost heater definitely works as I’ve witnessed it running. I’ve check the sensors at the control board but wasn’t sure which was which, but I got two reading around 24K and one reading around 16K. Not sure whether they should all be around the same?

Any ideas where to go next with this?

Thanks,
Jon

[maltheviking]

Re: Hotpoint FF200LP Fridge/Freezer keeps icing up

There has been a lot of the same problems with Hotpoint/indeshit FF’s over the years. Hotpoints answer was first lower the defrost heater, then they supplied a new heater kit.,sometimes it works but not always. Really they should have part of the heater inserted down into the drain hole. Basically they have produced another piece of S**t. Do a further search without out the model numbers

[oakleyjo]

Re: Hotpoint FF200LP Fridge/Freezer keeps icing up

Thanks. I must admit the general arrangement of the defrost heater did look a bit crap to me. I’ll search for other posts on the subject. If I don’t find anything useful i’ll probably just attach a bit of stiff copper wire to the heater pointing in the right direction and see if it helps keep it clear.

Cheers, Jon

[maltheviking]

Re: Hotpoint FF200LP Fridge/Freezer keeps icing up

oakleyjo wrote:Thanks. I must admit the general arrangement of the defrost heater did look a bit crap to me. I’ll search for other posts on the subject. If I don’t find anything useful i’ll probably just attach a bit of stiff copper wire to the heater pointing in the right direction and see if it helps keep it clear.

Cheers, Jon
Copper may oxidise, stainless would be better. I used to buy it from sea fishing tackle dealers,be carefull that it does not melt the freezer plastics, de-frost heaters do get hot

[EZappliances]

Re: Hotpoint FF200LP Fridge/Freezer keeps icing up

I’ve fixed about 20 of these now with the same icing fault. Its the evaporator thermistor that’s at fault. Its the one with the green sleeve on the cable. Problem is that Hotpoint don’t offer the thermistor as a spare part. Once the thermistor is out of tolerance due to moisture ingress the freezer carries out a very short defrost cycle of or no cycle at all. I have found a Thermistor of the same characteristics produced for a different manufacturer fridge freezer that works in that position. Ive had no bouncers in over a year on the FF200L with it fitted. Of course many people may not wish to fit an none approved part. For anybody that does then email me at dave@ezappliances.co.uk and I will tell you what it is and where to get it.

[maltheviking]

Re: Hotpoint FF200LP Fridge/Freezer keeps icing up

Would the green thermister from the Mistral be the same one?

[EZappliances]

Re: Hotpoint FF200LP Fridge/Freezer keeps icing up

No, the green one from the Mistral has a different temperature coefficient and wont work.
The operation of the heater can be tested manually on the FF200L by turning both temp controls to off then pressing the fast freezer button for about 4 seconds. The module will then make a beep and you will hear the fan in the freezer start up. For about 5 mins the heater will run then it will cancel itself. This test will prove that the heater and 1 shot devices are working but wont test the thermistor. If it passes this test but still ices up you either have an air leek around the door seals or the drip valve where the water exits the freezer is damaged or missing, or more likely the thermistor is defective. If you inspect thermistor you may well see that the nylon collar around the cable entry point has become displaced and is allowing moisture in. It will have to be replaced if this is the case. Not all of them use this type of thermistor but it is the most common, Hope that helps.

[oakleyjo]

Re: Hotpoint FF200LP Fridge/Freezer keeps icing up

That’s a great help, many thanks for the detailed info. The door seal seems ok to me. I’ve done the going round it with a piece of paper test to make sure it’s under tension when you pull it (if there’s a better way to test the door seal I’d be happy to hear about it?). It also passed the 5 minute heater test described. So, it looks like the thermistor. I’ll drop you an email about the alternate part.

Cheers,
Jon

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