Kelvinator 536L Top Mount KTM5402WC (White)

I bought one of these fridges 3 years ago to replace a similar looking Westinghouse fridge which I had for over 20 years. I liked it's simple, spacious, old fashioned design. It was not too expensive. The recessed handles would not be easy to open for the elderly or arthritic, and the crisper drawer is very difficult to use, especially if loaded. You will note in my photo that the crisper drawer is broken (I have put a couple of nuts and bolts in to reinforce and hold it together, and there are some plywood shims to centralised and restrain the shelf it is hung off). The freezer temperature is okay, but even at its coldest setting, the fridge was not (a thermometer I put in said it was around 10 degrees. The recommended temperature for refrigerators is between 4-5 degrees Celsius - https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/business/charities/temperature-control).

Unfortunately after a few months it started to make a whining noise. Admittedly I have sensitive hearing but it was extremely annoying. I had the service person out but they couldn't fix it. It was driving me absolutely crazy. I love to cook so am in the kitchen a lot of the time. I had taken to ripping the back panel of the freezer every few weeks and using a hair dryer to reduce the build up of ice (this was reason I got rid of the old fridge in the first place). This process would reduce the noise for a few days. Then it would return. The noise seems originate from the evaporator fan at the back of the freezer.

For two and a half years and through trial and error I tried to fix this noise, but to no avail. Kelvinator, to their credit, did offer to send someone out again after I posted a negative review on their product website, but I couldn't see any point. This was to my mind a design or manufacturing problem. I was a dab hand at removing the freezer shelf with all the food in one go and using long nose pliers to have the back panel off in seconds (I left the 2 retaining screws off for ease of removal). I tried duct taping some of the openings, removing some of the styrofoam insulation from both behind the freezer and the fridge sections. I fabricated a separate duct to channel the fan's air directly to the fridge section. Nothing worked long term. All thought of warranties had long gone. I was resigned to the fact I had a lemon. It really was only suitable for use in a garage where you couldn't hear it, but even then the fridge section wasn't really cold enough.

Then a few days ago I took the fan out and contemplated replacing the blade- see photo attached. I thought it might be a problem with the balance of the blade. What I did do though was drill the plastic end section of the blade so I could push the blade down the axle shaft so the blade was closer to the fan motor (you have to take the pressure spring retaining the blade off first to allow the blade to be removed). I put it all back together again; and to my astonishment I have had a deafening silence for 3 days! Finally! And for bonus points, the temperature in the fridge is now also an almost satisfactory 5 degrees - see photo (note that I have removed and left off the styrofoam panel behind the fridge back panel, which channelled the air, for this temperature - I suspect that it restricted the quantity of cold air coming from the narrow hole between the freezer and the fridge).

So in summary, if you are audiologically challenged, have strong arms, are handy with tools, and don't mind a warmer than ideal fridge, then this refrigerator would be okay. Apologies for the long review, but I needed to express my frustrations, torment and cathartic resolution. Also, I hope this might help someone, or perhaps Kelvinator, to review the design of the evaporator fan blade.

PS 13 June 2026 Unfortunately the ongoing temperature control has been poor. The freezer struggles to achieve the recommended -18 degrees C and spends most of the time at about -8 to -12. Things are sort of frozen but not ideal. I think it may not have been originally calibrated correctly. Occasionally it gets close to -18, but only about 5% of the time. I also find if I put a room temperature item in, like some falafels I made the other day, the freezer temperature goes to -6 for a day or so before it struggles to get back to about -10. Most of the time it's not a problem but there are ice crystals in the ice cream which suggests it was defrosted and refrozen, and bananas which are sometimes soft instead of frozen solid. This problem is also reflected in the fridge section where temperatures are generally about 8 degrees or so. So sadly still a lemon, but at least it is a quiet lemon.