KitchenAid Built-In Freezer Won't Hold Temperature: Sealed-System Repair in Menlo Park
A KitchenAid KSSC48QVS05 built-in refrigerator in Menlo Park with a freezer temperature warning. A refrigerant leak required evaporator and compressor work along with the listed control and defrost components.
Repair at a glance
| City | Menlo Park, CA |
|---|---|
| Appliance | Built-in refrigerator |
| Category | High-End Brands |
| Brand & model | KitchenAid KSSC48QVS05 48-inch built-in refrigerator |
| Repair date | |
| Customer complaint | The 48-inch KitchenAid refrigerator could not keep the freezer at its set temperature, and the warning light was on. |
| Diagnosis | The inspection found a refrigerant leak in the sealed cooling system. The invoice documents a sealed-system restoration and replacement of the listed cooling and control components. |
| Repair cost | $3,383 (parts and labor) |
| Warranty | 6 months on parts and labor |
| Outcome | Repaired |
Why the freezer was warming up
The customer reported that the freezer would not stay at its set temperature and the warning light was on. The inspection recorded a refrigerant leak in the sealed system. This was a cooling-system repair, rather than a change to the temperature setting.
Making room for the repair
I moved the built-in refrigerator out for access and removed the freezer shelves and inner covers. That exposed the evaporator and fan assembly. The photos show the old and replacement coils side by side, as well as the fan assemblies and defrost parts laid out during the work.
The invoice lists a compressor assembly, evaporator coil, compressor inverter board and main control board. It also includes the evaporator fan motor, heating element, defrost thermostat and defrost sensor. The open upper compartment and control-board wiring are shown in the repair photos.
Sealed-system work and reassembly
The recorded work included flushing the sealed system, a high-pressure test, evacuation and an R134a refrigerant charge. The gauge photo documents the system connected during this part of the repair.
After the component work, I put the freezer covers and shelves back. The final photo shows the compartment reassembled. The invoice total was $3,383, with a 6-month warranty on parts and labor.
Photos from this repair
The 48-inch KitchenAid refrigerator. 
Freezer shelves and rear cover removed. 
The freezer fan assemblies side by side. 
The old and new evaporator coils. 
Evaporator and defrost heater laid out during the repair. 
The main control board in the upper compartment. 
The fan compartment above the refrigerator. 
The replacement evaporator in the freezer. 
Gauges connected during sealed-system work. 
Freezer cover and shelves back in place.
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