Thread: Interior of Refrigerator Cracked

Today's inspection...the interior of the refrigerator was cracked. Has anyone come across this condition? The appliance is only two years old. While it may under warranty by the manufacturer, I was wondering if anyone knew what may cause this.

ScreenHunter_01 Nov. 18 16.29.jpg

Thank you,
Chris

Dropping it off the delivery truck....

Originally Posted by Chris Stichter

Today's inspection...the interior of the refrigerator was cracked. Has anyone come across this condition? The appliance is only two years old. While it may under warranty by the manufacturer, I was wondering if anyone knew what may cause this.

ScreenHunter_01 Nov. 18 16.29.jpg

Thank you,
Chris

Abuse.

Usually someone slamming into the refrigerator door (kids roughhousing, a drunken party goer, or a fight) or slamming a fully loaded door into a fully loaded refrigertor with significant force, causing items to tumble out of the door onto and between the shelf and the items and door, forcing the shelf supported by the molded grooves to compress against the back. Often seen in rentals where the door shelf retainers are broken and the front door is dimpled/dented or warped, or a main shelf within is bent, warped, broken, or missing entirely. Have seen one example where DIYer tried to change the door swing side hinges without directions nor emptying refrigerator (not even the door shelves) first and hung upper hinge before setting lower support for door, cracked the entire shell from the front along side and along back (later admitted by spouse witness in deposition).

Sometimes seen when left in too-high (cold) a level, overloaded and doors not fully closed left running and freeze over into upper refrigerator section even frost free models, usually seen in rentals or abandonded properties REO when utilities restored or uninterupted upon first inspection pre-trashout.

All and all, usually abuse. Most are white ABS and don't move much on their own.

Thanks for the quick feedback. If either are the case, not likely to be covered by the manufacturer's warranty.

Has anyone offered advice on a remedy? Just throwing that question out there..the report is sent and I recommended review by an appliance specialist with repair or replacement as needed.

Originally Posted by Chris Stichter

Thanks for the quick feedback. If either are the case, not likely to be covered by the manufacturer's warranty.

Has anyone offered advice on a remedy? Just throwing that question out there..the report is sent and I recommended review by an appliance specialist with repair or replacement as needed.

The remedy is replacing the refrigerator.

I've seen some like that and the refrigerator cases were dented on the back/top corners.

Also have seen some air conditioning condenser units which had been dropped from the truck (or dropped someplace, but I have seen them dropped from the truck when the condenser units slipped out of the installers hands - not all installers use a lift gate).

The remedy there was to replace the condenser units.

Like being in a store ... you break it ... you bought it ...

Originally Posted by Chris Stichter

Thanks for the quick feedback. If either are the case, not likely to be covered by the manufacturer's warranty.

Has anyone offered advice on a remedy? Just throwing that question out there..the report is sent and I recommended review by an appliance specialist with repair or replacement as needed.

Chris,

Just Curious but why do you inspect portable appliances ?

I suspect bad manufacturing process - blow mould - thinner plastic at corner. Looks like the plastic shrunk.

Most refrigerators only come with a one year warranty.

If this was dropped or abused I would think there would be exterior damage.

Originally Posted by Billy Stephens

Chris,

Just Curious but why do you inspect portable appliances ?

Many inspectors check 'major' appliances even though not 'built-in'.

Depends on the area that the inspector is in.

Since it appears to be under the freezer compartment, I would suspect freezing/thawing or something related to temperature differences.

If the Hulk slammed that door, I can't visualize cracks like that. How about cracks while defrosting?

Originally Posted by Dom D'Agostino

Dropping it off the delivery truck....

This is ONLY logical explanation. Btw. Chris, your refrigerator is prety much useless now + repair will be costly. The best option here is to look for another one.

Originally Posted by Chris Stichter

Thanks for the quick feedback. If either are the case, not likely to be covered by the manufacturer's warranty.

Has anyone offered advice on a remedy? Just throwing that question out there..the report is sent and I recommended review by an appliance specialist with repair or replacement as needed.

Why not just take the bull by the horns and say that it needs to be replaced? What more can an "appliance specialist" (is that really a profession?) say that you didn't say? The back is cracked. Get it replaced.

Originally Posted by Chris Stichter

Thanks for the quick feedback. If either are the case, not likely to be covered by the manufacturer's warranty.

Has anyone offered advice on a remedy? Just throwing that question out there..the report is sent and I recommended review by an appliance specialist with repair or replacement as needed.

Epoxy and fiberglass cloth. Have to be careful as the heat generated by epoxy will melt plastic if you put to much on at one time. Not a pretty fix but will work. Or Gorilla tape may hold for a while.

I never heard this type of problem, it is very shocking that fridge interior can crack.If you go for repairing company to fix, it costs more than you want to spend.You can sand the plastic and then seal it with silicone caulking if the crack is not wide.In interior panel there is no danger of monoxide poisoning so you can try to repair it with less expense.

Thanks
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