Kenmore 46-51845 Repair in San Francisco

The Kenmore 46-51845 is a side-by-side refrigerator listed at 29 cu. ft. in the current Kenmore lineup. The freezer and the fresh-food section stand next to each other behind two narrow, full-height doors, and a single cooling system feeds both. That one-system arrangement explains most of what goes wrong with it.

Where a side-by-side usually shows trouble

• The freezer stays cold while the fresh-food side warms up. Cold air reaches that side through a vent and a damper, so a blocked vent, a stuck damper or a weak fan shows up as warm milk first.
• Frost climbing the freezer back wall, which points a technician toward the defrost system rather than the thermostat.
• Water on the floor near the front grille, often from a defrost drain that has iced over or a loose line to the dispenser.
• Ice that is slow, hollow or missing, or a dispenser that pours water but no ice.

Fitting a tall unit into a San Francisco kitchen

Many Bay Area flats have narrow galley kitchens and older floors that are not quite level. A refrigerator this large needs room for both doors to open without hitting a counter end, and it needs its feet adjusted so the doors close on their own. A unit that tilts back slightly closes well; one that leans forward leaves the gasket open a crack and lets in warm, damp air. If the dispenser is connected, the supply line behind the cabinet should run in a gentle loop rather than a tight bend.

What you can safely check first

1. Confirm the outlet has power and the breaker has not tripped.
2. Look at both door gaskets for folds, tears or food residue and wipe them clean.
3. Clear the vents inside the freezer and the fresh-food side so nothing blocks them.
4. Pull out the grille at the bottom only to look, not to remove parts, and see whether water has pooled.
5. Check that the water shutoff valve is open if the dispenser is hooked up.

If you see sparks, smell burning or hear loud grinding, switch the unit off at the breaker and book a visit.

Why the full model number helps

The label inside the cabinet usually carries the complete number. Send it with your request so the technician arrives knowing the exact unit, and read it off before you call if you can.

Keep reading

See the wider Kenmore refrigerators lineup, the guide to Kenmore refrigerator repair, or the articles on Kenmore refrigerator not cooling and Kenmore ice maker not working. Codes shown on the display are explained under Kenmore refrigerator error codes.

Frequently asked questions