How long should a refrigerator run without turning off?

Any owner of refrigeration equipment has noticed that his unit operates cyclically: switching on and off.
The period between switching on and switching off is called the duty cycle. At this time, the refrigerator compressor works to maintain the set temperature in the refrigerator. A special sensor signals an increase or decrease in the set temperature. And if you think that this cycle has taken too long or, on the contrary, is intermittent, a reasonable question arises: how long should the refrigerator operate?

In other words, what is its duty cycle? Knowing this is necessary in order to extend the life of the refrigerator. In addition, there are a number of other problems associated with the incorrect operation of the unit.

Refrigerator duty cycle

The heart of the refrigerator is the compressor. It turns on and off periodically, maintaining the desired temperature. It is measured by a sensor installed inside the main and freezer compartments.

When the temperature rises above the set temperature (the cold goes away), the sensor gives a signal and the compressor turns on. Gradually the chamber and the food in it cool down. When the temperature drops below the set temperature, the compressor stops.

A good example

You set the temperature in the refrigerator to +4 degrees. When it rises to +4.5, the compressor starts working. The refrigerator chamber cools down, the temperature drops to +4.25, then to +4. The compressor stops.

First start after defrosting or idle time

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that a new refrigerator cannot be plugged in immediately. Its system contains compressor oil. After installation, it should drain into the compressor sump. This will take 4-6 hours.

In the refrigerator after transportation, defrosting or long-term inactivity, the inner chamber and everything in it are heated much more than necessary. The compressor will work for a long time without stopping. As soon as the camera cools down to normal, it will turn off. If it doesn't turn off for more than 6 hours, there is a problem.

The time the compressor will operate depends on the load in the refrigerator compartment. If it is empty, then everything will happen quickly. If there is food in it, the compressor can run for more than an hour. After all, he needs to cool not only shelves and drawers, but also food.

Advice

Constant operation of the compressor motor wears it out. Therefore, after defrosting, do not fill the refrigerator to the top. Place perishable food items in it and wait until the compressor stops. After half an hour, place everything you need inside.

Reasons for the compressor to function without shutting down

When the unit stops turning off, you should first check the set mode. If the maximum setting is turned down or the “super freezing” mode is activated, the refrigerator will start working continuously. To fix the problem you will need to change the settings. If this is not the reason, you need to inspect the location of the equipment. The surface must be flat, installed at a distance from the stove and heating equipment at standard temperature.

If the room temperature is high, the compressor begins to operate at its limit. Next, you should check the tightness of the door. This is probably prevented by the dishes or damage to the seal. Therefore, heated air flows enter the chamber, and then the compressor continuously tries to cool it down.

To repair the malfunction, the seal must be washed with soapy water and dried, and the containers must be removed. If it has been determined that the operating requirements are met, then the refrigerator must be defrosted. When it thaws, you will need to wipe it and leave it for 1-2 hours to evaporate any remaining moisture.

After this, the unit can be reconnected to the network, allowed to run idle for a couple of hours and then filled with products. If after defrosting the equipment does not turn off or connect, then we can talk about a breakdown.

In such a situation, it is preferable to call a professional to diagnose and fix the problem. Do-it-yourself repairs can cause final failure.

How long will it take for the refrigerator to reach temperature after being idle or defrosted?

The time it takes for the refrigerator to cool sufficiently depends on many factors. The main ones:

Compressor power;
Camera workload;
Freon type;
The difference between the temperatures inside and outside the refrigerator;
Refrigerator serviceability;
Correct installation.

An empty and powerful refrigerator will cool down quickly. The compressor will stop after 5-20 minutes. If there are a lot of products inside, and the unit itself is of low power, then the compressor can operate for more than 6 hours. And if there are malfunctions - even longer.

Periodic shutdown time

The operating principle of the cooling system is a closed cycle. Its duration is equal to the period of time between automatic starts of the compressor.

If you correlate the operating interval of the refrigerator between shutdowns with the length of the cycle, you will get an operating coefficient. When it is within 0.37-0.5, everything is in order with the refrigerator.

This means that the normal frequency of turning on and off the refrigerator is as follows:

15-30 minutes - the engine is running;
25-30 minutes is downtime.

If the coefficient increases to 0.6 or drops to 0.2, you need to call a specialist.

How often should the refrigerator compressor turn on?

It is important to understand that the switching frequency does not directly depend on the operating time of the compressor. For example, in one refrigerator it turns on 4 times an hour and runs for 10 minutes. This does not mean that in another the compressor will turn on 8 times per hour and work for 5 minutes.

Check the effectiveness

Calculating how well your refrigerator is performing is easy. To do this, use the formula:

K = Tr / Tp

Тп – idle time (when the compressor is turned off);
Тр – operating time (when the compressor is turned on);
K – efficiency coefficient.

The normal value of K = 1/2 or 0.5. The more it deviates from the norm, the higher the likelihood of problems in the operation of the refrigerator. If less, perhaps:

You have a refrigerator with a high COP (conversion rate);
The temperature in the cells is too high;
The unit is located in a cold room.

The frequency of switching on depends on the loss of cold. The faster heat gets inside the chambers, the more often the refrigerator will turn on. The reasons are divided into two types - model features and malfunctions. Let's look at them.

Cold loss

If heat enters the refrigerator quickly, food will heat up faster. The temperature sensor will respond more often and start the compressor. Heat can enter for several reasons:

Doors do not close tightly;
The walls of the refrigerator are poorly insulated;
Place hot foods and dishes in the chamber;
You often open the refrigerator door.

Temperature sensor settings

The temperature sensor in the refrigerator has a response limit. For example, if you set it to +4, then one sensor will work when the camera heats up to +4.2, and the second at +4.5 degrees. The smaller this difference, the more often the compressor will turn on.

If the compressor starts to turn on more often, the sensor may have started to malfunction. You won't be able to determine this on your own. Diagnosis of the sensor should be carried out by a specialist.

Thermal protection relay malfunction

The refrigerator compressor becomes hot during operation. Each model has a maximum operating temperature. To protect the compressor from overheating, a thermal protective relay is installed in refrigerators. It automatically turns off the compressor when it overheats.

If the relay fails, it will measure temperature incorrectly. That is, when there is a reserve and the refrigerator can still work, the relay will turn it off. As soon as the compressor cools down a little, it will turn on immediately. After all, the refrigerator did not have time to cool down to the required temperature.

Recommendations for using refrigerators

The period of operation of the refrigerator and ensuring its stability largely depend on the correct settings. Also, the device must stand on a flat surface; it is best to install the refrigerator horizontally and adjust it.

Do not place equipment near heating. It is also prohibited to move the equipment closer to the wall; it is best to leave a gap of 15–20 centimeters for good air circulation.

The new unit is connected to the outlet for the first time after 3-4 hours, and then it will have time to get used to the temperature in the room. The connection to the electrical network must be carried out using a “barrier” protective device, which switches off the unit in case of voltage problems.

If the voltage in the room often drops, it is necessary to install a stabilizer that will regulate everything without turning off the refrigerator. The stabilizers themselves are inexpensive, but installation is expensive.

When you open appliances after defrosting or repairing them, be careful not to put too much food in them. It is safer to connect to an empty refrigerator and wait until the desired temperature is reached. The device can then be turned on.

The time interval during which the equipment produces cold is determined by the brand, type of freon, degrees in the room, chamber volume and quantity of product.

The primary operating cycle depends on the size of the model: for large refrigerators - 2–2.5 hours; for medium-sized equipment – 1–1.5 hours; for small models - 30 m. In order to reduce energy costs by increasing downtime, it is allowed to fill the refrigerator compartment as much as possible if it has been in use for several years.

The products will help preserve and retain cold air for a long time. In a half-empty room, they quickly warmed up, which caused constant failures. If you need to extend the heating cycle, you should try to open the door less. When heat enters the refrigerator from the hot compartment, the product begins to heat up, causing the temperature to rise and the equipment to restart more frequently.

How long can a refrigerator compressor run without stopping?

If you have defrosted, moved, or purchased a new refrigerator, the compressor may run longer than usual. A certain time must pass until the walls, shelves, drawers, and products placed in the chambers cool down.

The higher the temperature in the main compartment and freezer is set, the less time it takes for the refrigerator to cool them. The more products you place in the chambers at once, the more time it takes to cool them.

There are pseudo-experts on the Internet who claim that after the first turn on, the refrigerator can work for 12 or even 24 hours in a row. This is complete nonsense and nonsense. In this mode, a conventional non-inverter compressor will either shut down or overheat and fail.

If in summer an empty refrigerator runs for more than an hour without stopping, there is a breakdown. If it is loaded with food, then the maximum time of non-stop operation in the warm season is 8 hours.

Important

We indicate the maximum time. It is calculated if the unit is filled with standard freon and oil and normal heat exchange between the condenser and capillary is ensured. Otherwise, the compressor's continuous operation time may be higher than 12 hours. but this negatively affects his condition. Working under increased load leads to premature wear.

If the compressor operates at peak power, it will wear out a lot. To prevent this, after transporting, defrosting or cleaning, the refrigerator needs to sit for 1 to 4 hours. During this time, the oil will drain into the lower part of the compressor and the equipment will be ready for safe start-up.

In normal mode, the refrigerator can turn on 2-8 times per hour. The ratio of idle time to operating time should be at least 2 to 1. If the refrigerator compressor runs longer, there is a problem. Possible reasons:

Low refrigerant charge;
Filled with R600 freon instead of R134a;
There is a freon leak;
Malfunctions of the refrigerator components.

Models No Frost

Today, these units are at the peak of popularity. Thanks to the innovative technique, it is possible to completely defrost the care unit once every 10-12 months. No-frost defrosting system used in refrigerators without ice formation. The peculiarity of the system is the removal of moisture through a special system. As a result, high-quality cooling of the product occurs, and ice deposits do not accumulate inside the chambers.

Refrigerator diagram with No Frost (FNF) system

How does the normal operating cycle occur in Atlant, Samsung, LG refrigerators with the know frost system? After the freezing starts and ends, the defrosting mode starts. This process occurs thanks to the thermostat and the evaporator heating element. The heating element defrosts, then the moisture is removed through the tubes and evaporates. The average operating cycle of Know Frost refrigerators lasts from 9 to 16 minutes. The cold accumulates for 2-5 minutes, the rest of the time is spent on thawing.

If the operating cycles of the refrigerator have changed, it means the user is operating the device incorrectly. The door may have been open for a long period of time, and then the freezing time will be increased.

The principle of operation of the refrigerator

How long should a refrigerator work and how long should it rest?

There is no clear answer to this question. One refrigerator model can turn on for 2 minutes after 8 minutes of inactivity, and the other for 3 minutes after 6 minutes of inactivity. The ratio of compressor work and rest for these models is 1 to 4 and 1 to 2, respectively.

The ratio of operating time to idle time should be on average 1 to 2 . Just measure how long your refrigerator works and how long it rests. If the rest time is 2 or more times longer than the work time, there is nothing to worry about. Otherwise, it's worth thinking about. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the possible reasons for the refrigerator not working properly.

Temperature difference

You need to know - the refrigerator does not produce cold. It transfers heat from inside to outside. A special gas is responsible for this - freon (freon, refrigerant). The better it removes heat from inside and the faster it releases it outside, the more efficiently the refrigerator operates.

If you set the temperature in the refrigerator too low, it is more difficult for freon to remove heat from there. And the higher the temperature outside, the more difficult it is to transfer heat to the surrounding air. Accordingly, the greater the temperature difference between inside and outside the refrigerator, the longer the compressor will work.

Freon type

If the refrigerator is filled with R134a or R12 freon, it cools better. If it is charged with R600a refrigerant, the compressor will have to work longer to lower the temperature. These refrigerants have different characteristics.

Modern refrigerators are charged with R600a refrigerant, less often R134a. You can read more about them in the article about which refrigerant is better, R134a or R600a.

System clogged

Freon circulates through a system that includes:

Evaporator;
Capacitor;
Capillary tube;
Filter drier;
Copper tubes.

A blockage may appear in any of the nodes. The cross section will decrease and it will be more difficult for freon to pass through the system. The flow rate will decrease, and the refrigerant will cool the chamber less effectively. The compressor will have to work longer to achieve the desired level of cooling.

Compressor power

The more powerful the compressor, the more it compresses freon. The degree of compression determines how efficiently it can transfer heat to the surrounding air. Accordingly, the higher the power, the faster the refrigerator compartment will cool, and it will work less.

Insufficient refrigerant

In the previous section, we talked about the fact that the refrigerant (aka freon, refrigerant) is responsible for removing heat from the refrigerator. If there is not enough of it in the system, then cooling will occur more slowly. Freon deficiency can be caused by:

Leakage due to depressurization of the system;
Error when charging refrigerant;
Refrigerant decomposition due to contaminants and impurities.

If your refrigerator starts working longer, and especially if the operating time gradually increases, there is most likely a refrigerant leak. We recommend you the article: How to find a freon leak in a refrigerator and get rid of it.

Evaporator icing

The evaporator is a system element in which freon expands and its temperature drops below 0 degrees. It removes heat from the chamber, cooling it. This node is usually located behind the back wall of the compartment, but there are exceptions.

Moisture can accumulate on the evaporator, turning into frost, snow and ice. They form a kind of “fur coat”. Because of this, freon cannot effectively remove heat from the chamber. The refrigerator has to work longer to cool it to the desired temperature. To fix the problem, simply defrost the refrigerator.

What measures are taken in the event of a breakdown?

Do-it-yourself repair requires experience and skills. For this reason, refrigerator repair is difficult. You can eliminate the causes caused by setting the wrong mode and the door not being tightly closed.

The equipment will have to be reconfigured, placed level and as far as possible from the heating equipment or moved to another place, and objects that prevent the door from fitting tightly should be moved away.

If the gasket is damaged, it needs to be replaced - either on your own or contact a specialist. First of all, you need to install a similar gasket and carefully glue it to the door.

Serious reasons caused by technical problems will require diagnostics. A professional will detect and get rid of freon leaks, blockages in the capillary tube, and replace broken elements with new ones (temperature sensor, compressor and start relay). When breakdowns occur in the control unit, a restart can help. The refrigerator must be disconnected from the power supply and left for 15-20 minutes, and then connected. If this method does not work, you must contact a competent technician who will reprogram the unit or replace individual parts.

Important! If the warranty period of the equipment has not expired, you must immediately contact the service center.

Correct installation and its results

The cause of compressor malfunctions may be improper installation of the refrigerator. The main task of this technique is to remove heat from the chambers. Therefore, there must be free access of air to the evaporator.

Here are the basic rules for installing a refrigerator:

Maintain distances from the walls of the device to walls or furniture;
Do not place the refrigerator near the stove;
Do not install the refrigerator close to radiators.

Heat is removed from the inside through the back wall of the refrigerator. The colder the surrounding air, the better. Then the compressor will need to do less work. Accordingly, its service life will increase. And you will save on expensive repairs.

If you read somewhere that you need to keep a distance from walls, ceilings, etc. - it is a myth. No one except the manufacturer can tell you how this or that device should work. 99% of recommendations from the Internet are fake!

The minimum distance from the walls of the refrigerator depends on:

Evaporator heat output:
Type of freon;
Inverter or not compressor;
Conversion factor (COP);
Cooling capacity;

These are just five factors that determine how to position the refrigerator correctly. We cannot consider every individual case. Therefore, we recommend using the instructions or manual. They definitely won't go wrong there.

Features of refrigerators with two compressors

Most refrigerators have one compressor and one evaporator. But there are models with two compressors. They can work according to different principles:

One compressor operates on the line in the main compartment, the second cools the freezer;
In double-door refrigerators, one compressor works on the left circuit, the second on the right system.

Two compressors in a refrigerator
In both cases, the compressors will work with a spread in time. The difference depends on:

Temperature conditions;
Department workload;
Frequency of use of the department;
System states.

Compressors will operate unevenly, turning on and off at different intervals. You may feel like your refrigerator is either turning on more often, running longer, or even going crazy.

It is impossible to detect malfunctions in a refrigerator with two compressors by ear. Malfunctions may affect the temperature in the refrigerator compartments. If it is higher or lower than the established one, call a specialist.

General information about refrigeration modes

How often the compressor starts depends partly on the degree of defrosting. If more heat penetrates there, the compressor will turn on more often. If you have problems, defrosting does not work, then you should think about what the problem is. The reason for the decrease in the effectiveness of the regime may be:

Poor thermal insulation of the block walls.
The unit door is loose and closed.
Damage to seals (displacement, rupture, wear).
The refrigerator door is faulty.

Specialists who carry out technical work determine the efficiency of refrigeration equipment using a formula that you can also use:

K=Tr/Tr, Where Tp – downtime; Tr – operating time; K – efficiency factor. A suitable indicator is 2. But if the unit is installed in a home with a lower temperature, or if you have chosen a higher temperature, then this value will most likely be lower. If this indicator is more than two, it is very likely that your device needs inspection. You will also be able to apply formulas to evaluate the performance of the refrigerator.

If you don’t want to encounter a lot of problems after purchasing equipment, take a look at the following brands: Indesit, Atlant. These companies sell not only expensive models. For example, the cheapest Atlant refrigerator costs 17 thousand. And if we talk about the Indesit refrigerator, the most affordable option will cost you 26 thousand.

Refrigerator with two circuits

There are models that have one compressor, but two separate freon systems. One cools the main compartment, the second cools the freezer.

In any refrigerator, the main compartment and freezer cool unevenly. The reason is simple - they maintain different temperatures. In dual-circuit devices, one compressor is responsible for maintaining it. It alternately works on the main chamber, then on the freezer.

The refrigerator will turn on at different intervals and run for different amounts of time. This depends on which circuit the compressor will operate on in this case. It may seem like it turns on too often or doesn't turn off for a long time. But this is his normal job.

If the equipment cools weakly but continuously

The reasons that caused insufficient freezing, while the unit is operating without interruption, may be as follows:

Seal wear. If it is damaged or displaced, heated air enters the chamber, and ice appears on the back side of the refrigerator, and it does not freeze well.
Broken temperature sensor. A broken element indicates the need for cooling. Therefore the engine does not turn off.
Problems in the control unit. This provokes power surges or water ingress. Moreover, an error code is displayed on the screen.
Cupping of the capillary tube. If oil clots accumulate in the cavity, then freon circulates unevenly.
Freon leak. In most cases, the coolant leaks through the weld joints, but the engine does not turn off at all.
Compressor malfunction. Possible with long-term service of the refrigerator.

Continuous operation of the refrigerator, causes and dangers

If the refrigerator works continuously for more than 6 hours, we give 100% that there is a problem. There are three most common reasons for a compressor running constantly:

Super Frost mode enabled;
The temperature is set too low;
Snow and ice have accumulated on the evaporator.

First of all, check the super freeze mode. Perhaps you forgot to turn it off or the timer did not work. If this is all right, check that the temperature settings are correct. In the main chamber it should be at least +2 degrees , in the freezer it depends on its type. For normal food storage -15...-18 is enough .

If the settings are OK, defrost the refrigerator. After it has settled, turn it on, but do not load any food. The compressor should stop working within a maximum of two hours. If it doesn't stop, call a professional.

There are many reasons why the compressor works and does not turn off. Here are the most common:

The temperature sensor has failed;
There is a refrigerant leak;
During repairs, the wrong freon was charged;
Problems with the control board.

Why does the refrigerator turn off after starting?

It is important for buyers to know how a refrigerator should work correctly, since they may initially buy a faulty model or not notice a serious problem during operation. If you bought a refrigerator and it began to turn off, then there are reasons for this. Similar problems arise due to:

Mechanical damage to the contact group in the relay.
Failure of the compressor for pumping freon.
Turn off the electricity.
Incorrect installation of the model.

If you know why the refrigerator began to work poorly, you can repair it without overpaying for additional services.