kegerator issue

[Paulb6676]

I know this has been asked quite a bit, but I feel my issue might be different.
I have a Vassani kegerator. In the past I have never monitored air or liquid temp of it. I am currently trying to get the liquid temp down to 38 degrees. I have adjusted the screw on the t stat a couple of times. At 1 point at the highest setting I was able to get down to 38.8 degrees. I turned down the t stat to 4 thinking it would be fine there. Next day I check temps went up to about 44. I turned it back up to highest setting and never got it to go below 40 degrees. The shield has ice on it. My unit doesn't have a fan in it. My biggest concern is the compressor is constantly running from the time I wake up, to the time I come home from work, till I go to bed I never hear it shut off. I don't want to burn out the compressor. Do I need another t stat? Or do I have a different issue? I don't understand that since there is ice on the shield the temps are as high as they are.

 

[Gonefishing]

I'm not familiar with that brand, but have you tried putting a small fan in it, maybe aimed right at the coils?

 

[day_trippr]

"Vissani".

A constantly running compressor is indeed bad juju.
Good chance the iced-up evaporator is having a negative effect, I'd definitely defrost it before doing anything dramatic - or allowing the compressor to keep running in that state.

Make sure the gaskets are effective; when the temperature drops inside it will draw room air through any leak, and if the air is moist it's gonna freeze up that cold plate...

Cheers!

 

[Paulb6676]

Defrosting is not really an option. I have a fairly new keg in there and no where to store it. The evapator always would ice up and end up having a huge ice block in the past. I just never temped the inside thinking it was cold enough. The reason the compressor is constantly running is because I adjusted the screw on the t stat to get a lower temp. But for whatever reason I can't get the lower temp and trying to figure out why. The beer tastes good and is not going bad, however the unit shouldn't struggle to reach lower temps.