The short answer
When the ARTX refrigerators runs without cooling, the part owners suspect first — the compressor — is the part that fails last on this platform. On these models a blanketed condenser coil is the first thing this page would have you rule out. The list below ends with the one cause on it that is not owner work.
What you observe on these models
- The appliance never cycles off — It runs on and on without ever reaching the setting.
- The back of the appliance is hot and the box is not cold — Heat is being made and it is not being rejected.
- Ice production has fallen off at the same time — A maker needs the freezer at harvest temperature, so the two complaints share a cause.
- NEAR MISS — only the ice maker has stopped — Start with the ice page for this family; the cooling may be fine.
Causes, most likely first on this family
- Condenser coil packed with dust or pet hair — This is the cause that gets worse with the season: a coil that coped through winter stops coping in the first warm week, and the complaint arrives suddenly. First, because it accounts for every observable above without needing a second fault. One design carries every cabinet size in this family, so it holds across the line.
- Return-air vents blocked by the load — A box pushed against the rear vent does the same damage as a failed fan and costs nothing to rule out. It ranks second — the fault the first check leaves standing.
- Start relay or compressor overload — A relay that no longer starts the compressor gives an appliance that clicks, hums for a moment and falls silent, then tries again minutes later. Third: a real cause on these cabinets, but a less frequent one.
- Sealed-system or compressor fault — A sealed-system fault gives a compressor that runs without pause, a condenser that never gets properly hot and frost on only part of the evaporator face. Last, which is exactly why the checks above are worth spending first.
- Body: Because this family is one design at several capacities, the air path is the part that is worked hardest at the top of the ladder — which is what moves airflow causes above installation ones here.
Check in this order, and why
- Pull the appliance out, take off the lower rear cover or the toe grille and look at the coil for a felt of dust. — First, because it settles the top of the ranking before anything else is touched.
- Clear the rear and upper vents in both compartments and give the appliance a full day before judging it. — Next, once the check above has come back clean.
- Listen at the compressor for a short hum followed by a click rather than a steady run. — Last, so that nothing further is spent until the cheaper checks are exhausted.
Before you take a panel off
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel — a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Leave the door switch wired as it is: it cuts power to the evaporator fan for a reason. Keep the doors shut meanwhile and move perishables to a cooler: a refrigerator holds food safely at 40 °F (4 °C) or below, a freezer at 0 °F (−18 °C) or below.
Models in the ARTX family
Reference| Model number | Family key |
|---|---|
| ARTX2014T*** | amana:refrigerator:artx |
| ARTX2019S*** | amana:refrigerator:artx |
| ARTX2021T*** | amana:refrigerator:artx |
| ARTX2314T*** | amana:refrigerator:artx |
| ARTX2418T* | amana:refrigerator:artx |
| ARTX2419S** | amana:refrigerator:artx |
| ARTX2419S*** | amana:refrigerator:artx |
| ARTX3028P*** | amana:refrigerator:artx |
When to call a technician
The line is the rear panel. Everything in front of it is an owner check; the evaporator, the defrost circuit and the sealed system behind it are not. Call straight away if the compressor is hot enough to smell.
The other faults covered for this family
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
