Faulty appliances are a nuisance, they can be a real health hazard, and a fridge is no different. A refrigerator is one of the most common home appliances. It saves you a lot of trouble from preserving food to keeping them fresh. However, sometimes you may experience malfunctioning with your refrigerator. Unfortunately, most people do not know how to repair refrigerators in case a problem occurs. They lack essential skills – refrigerator troubleshooting and repair skills – to address typical refrigerators’ issues.
Like dishwashers, laundry machines, and induction cooktops, refrigerators are also highly efficient, eco-friendly home appliances. They are some of the most convenient and valuable appliances. Due to their efficiency and eco-friendliness, more people are buying them. In actuality, they are among the first assets people look to have.
Lack of knowledge leads them to spend their hard-earned money on refrigerator experts over simple DIY fixes. So, having the right information on how to solve some minor problems is crucial. This article will address common refrigerator problems troubleshooting and guides you on how to fix a refrigerator. Therefore, I recommend reading through to avoid wasting your money and time waiting for a specialist.
Here’s a refrigerator troubleshooting guide to help you solve minor problems in your fridge.
The Three Most Common Refrigerator Issues
The freezer is cold, but a warm refrigerator compartment problem, not defrosting, and refrigerator freezing food, are the most common refrigerator problems. Here, we will discuss everything you need to know about each of these refrigerator problems. Let’s get started.
The Freezer is Cold, but Warm Refrigerator Compartment Error (Refrigerator not Cooling)
It is a confusing situation when a part of the refrigerator works well while the other is not. The commonly used refrigerators come with two main parts
Freezer compartment – this is the part with temperatures below zero degrees Celsius. It is used to freeze liquid stuff.
Chiller compartment (Refrigerator compartment) – this is the cool part but with temperatures above zero degrees.
Sometimes, one compartment, especially the chiller compartment, may fail to work effectively. The issue indicates that some of the essential refrigerator parts are malfunctioning.
Probable Cause of Refrigerator not Cooling
- Dirt on the condenser coils – the condenser coils facilitate the cooling of the refrigerants. When dirt accumulates on the coils, it prevents it from dissipating heat from the refrigerant.
- Defective motor fan motors – usually, a refrigerator has two fun motors, the condenser fan and the evaporator fan. If one fan motor is not running, your refrigerator will not cool.
- Defrost system malfunctioning – the system helps in preventing evaporator coils from frosting over.
- A broken temperature control board also leads to a warmer refrigerator compartment.
Troubleshooting and Repairing Refrigerator not Cooling Issue
After determining a problem and the probable cause, you now need to establish the specific source of that problem. During refrigerator troubleshooting, you start with the most apparent probable causes;
- Check the thermostat settings – see if it has been turned off accidentally and adjust it accordingly
- Check if the dirt has accumulated on the condenser coils and vacuum clean them.
- Check if your loads are blocking the refrigerator vents that allow cold air to enter the refrigerator compartment.
- Check if the refrigerator door is closing correctly.
Ensure everything is in order. You can also switch off the refrigerator, open its doors, and leave it for some time to allow it to defrost. If the issue is due to the defrost system’s malfunctioning, Allowing the refrigerator to defrost will fix it. In such a case, you will need to troubleshoot the system. If the problem persists, head on to the other cause – evaluate the fans.
First, troubleshoot the functionality of the evaporator fan. To troubleshoot, access the fan by removing the freezer compartment’s back cover, then start your freezer to see if it works properly. If it does not work, you will need to establish the cause of the problem.
The cause might be a broken fan blade (resulting in an imbalance in the fan), a stuck blade, a broken electric circuit, or a defective motor. If the problem is due to a defective motor, you will need to replace it. Use a multimeter to test the fan motor.
If the evaporator fan is in condition, examine the functionality of the condenser fan. The condenser fan is located at the back of your refrigerator, near the compressor. Repeat the prior process to fix the condenser fan issue.
Refrigerator not Defrosting
Usually, the refrigeration cycle freezes the moisture around the evaporator coil, leading to the coil frost over. While the frosting can lead to more stressful issues, refrigerators are designed to defrost automatically when necessary. Sometimes, due to various reasons, refrigerators may fail to defrost automatically.
Most Probable causes of refrigerator not Defrosting
- Faulty defrost system
Refrigerator Troubleshooting and Fixing Refrigerator not Defrosting
The defrost system consist of a defrost heater, thermostat, and defrost control system (defrost board or timer). First, using a multimeter, test the defrost heater for continuity. If the heater tests negative, you will have to replace it. Suppose it is in good condition, head on to testing the thermostat.
The thermostat helps in powering the heater when temperatures drop to a certain level. Ensure to test the thermostat for continuity in temperatures below 15℉.
Next, test the defrost control system if the thermostat is in order. Some refrigerators come with a defrost timer, while others have a defrost control board. Defrost timer is usually set to start the heater several times per day. Adjust the timer dial to a defrost mode to test if it is faulty. The compressor should stop while the heater starts if the timer is in good condition.
For refrigerators with defrost control board, you need to remove it and inspect it for shot-outs. Replace the board if you detect a shorted-out component.
Last, test the defrost circuit from the main control board. If the control board does not send power to the defrost system, you will need to replace it. Use a multimeter to test the continuity of the defrost circuit.
Refrigerator Freezing Food
The refrigerator compartment is designed to keep foods in a chilled state. However, due to the following reasons, the compartment may freeze the foods.
Reasons for Refrigerators to Freeze Food
- Faulty damper control system
- Defective thermostat
- Leaking freezer’s door gaskets
Refrigerator Repair Troubleshooting for Refrigerator compartment Freezing Food Issue
Start with the most straightforward procedure, checking if the freezer’s gaskets (door seals) are not leaking. Also, check if the refrigerator compartment’s control knob is set to its maximum cold position and adjust accordingly.
Leaking gaskets results in the compressor working continuously to keep it at frozen levels. As a result, more cold air enters the freezer and is directed to the refrigerator compartment, leading to freezing the fresh foods.
Note that only 20% of cold air should enter the refrigerator compartment. Use a piece of paper to test if you have broken gaskets – trap the paper between the door and fridge the try to pull it out. If it slips out effortlessly, then you need to replace the seals.
If the gaskets are in good condition, you will need to troubleshoot the damper. A damper is a small flap that regulates airflow into the fresh-food compartment. If the flap is faulty or stuck in an open position, the cold air will continuously enter the refrigerator, resulting in freezing foods in the refrigerator compartment. Ensure the flaps are not stuck.
Next, test the damper’s temperature sensor and motor if there is no mechanical error. The sensor controls the motor that drives the flaps. Use a multimeter to test the resistance in the sensor and motor. Replace them when you detect a fault. Defective sensor readings will vary from the manufacturer’s preferences (usually written on the sensor).
If the damper control system is not defective, troubleshoot the thermostat. The thermostat regulates the temperatures of the refrigerator by controlling power flow to the compressor. If it is defective, the compressor may run continuously, freeing a lot of cold air to the freezer, then to the refrigerator compartment, which results in freezing in the compartment.
To test for defects, run electrical function tests as you adjust the temperature control knob from off to the maximum cold position. If the test reading remains the same, the thermostat is defective. Therefore, you will need to replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding The Refrigerator Troubleshooting
1. What is the first thing to check when a refrigerator stops working?
In case your fridge stopped working, you need to check the power supply first. If there is an electrical supply, check whether the indicator button is on. You then check whether the fridge’s power breaker is on or has tripped.
2. How do I fix my hot fridge?
A hot fridge shows that the air vents are blocked, or the fan is faulty. It’s also a result of coils that are clogged. To fix this fault, ensure that the fan is running and that the thermostat is in good condition.
3. Why is my freezer too cold and my fridge too warm?
Probably your evaporator fan is not working. When the air stops circulating, there will be no cooling of items in the fridge. Packing too many items can also lead to the refrigerator being too warm. Overpacking limits the air circulation hence keeping the fridge warm.
A freezer can be too cold if the thermostat is defective or the air damper is worn out. You will notice this when there is an increase in ice in the freezer. Reset the thermostat or unclog the vents of the damper.
4. Where is the evaporator coil located in a refrigerator?
An evaporator is responsible for converting liquids to gas hence keeping your fridge cool. It’s a gadget that resembles a radiator and is located at the lower compartment in the back of a refrigerator.
5. Where is the evaporator fan located in a refrigerator?
It’s found in the same place as the evaporator coil. It receives the cooled air from the evaporator coil and circulates it in the refrigerator and the freezer. You will need to pull out the shelf or cover plate in the back of your fridge.
6. Do the refrigerator have a reset button?
Not all refrigerators have a reset button. It depends on the model of your specific fridge whether it has a reset button. If yours don’t have, you can switch it off from the power supply and let it sit for an hour. This should reset it to the factory setting.
7. What happens when a refrigerator fan stops working?
The fan in the refrigerator helps in regulating the temperatures. When the fan is not working, it will cause the fridge to be too cold or too hot.
8. Why is my fridge not running?
A fridge can be on but not running even when you see the lights on. The possible problems could include
- The electronic control panel. This helps in maintaining the refrigerator cooling system by sending a command to the fan or the compressor. When there is a malfunction, the fridge will not run.
- Compressor failure. This will cause a fridge to be on but will not circulate the air properly throughout the refrigerator.
- Thermostat failure will prevent control of the temperature in a refrigerator.
9. How long do I unplug my fridge to reset it?
Unplugging your fridge for 30 minutes to one hour is enough to reset it to the original or factory setting. If it had some problem, in some cases, this reset can fix it. Sometimes you can even unplug for about 5 minutes that will give room for the pressure in the refrigerant to stabilize.
10. Can the fridge work without a fan?
A refrigerator cannot work without a fan. A fan in a fridge helps to circulate air to keep it cool. Once the fan is not working, there will be a continued increase in temperature hence spoiling the food.
11. How do I know if my condenser fan motor is bad?
If the fridge is not cooling properly, then there might be a problem with your condenser fan. In this case, there will be an increase in temperature in the fridge causing food spillage.
12. Where is the fan switch in a refrigerator?
In most refrigerators, a fan switch is located in the front of the refrigerator. In the inside of the door at the top. There are two switches, the one on the right is the fan switch while the other one is the light switch.
13. Where is the compressor in the fridge?
A compressor in most modern refrigerators is found at the back of the fridge on the bottom compartment. It’s the heartbeat of a refrigerator as it maintains a circuit of refrigerant to keep the fridge running smoothly.
14. How do you reset a thermostat on a refrigerator?
You can reset the thermostat in two ways. First, you can disconnect your refrigerator from the power supply by unplugging the cord from the socket. This will reset the fridge to the initial setting. Second, slightly increase the degrees of your thermostat.
15. Is it worth repairing a refrigerator?
It is considered worth repairing a refrigerator if the cost of repair is less than half the price of the initial cost. However, if the fridge is broken and requires more than half the price you bought it, then you might consider buying a new one.
Conclusion
Refrigerators are among the most used home appliances worldwide, with a market size of over $64.17 billion – expected to rise to $103.93 billion by 2026. They are also among the most efficient appliances.
Having a properly working refrigerator is necessary for any modern kitchen to ensure the safety of stored foodstuffs and other items in the fridge. This will prevent food poisoning and spoilage. Make your refrigerator or freezer like a treasure chest when you learn refrigerator troubleshooting guide to help you solve minor problems. You’ll also be able to know when to seek help from a home appliance technician.
To keep their efficiency, you need to ensure you conduct periodic servicing and maintenance procedures. Additionally, you need to have refrigerator troubleshooting skills. Use our refrigerator troubleshooting guide to learn how to fix a refrigerator.
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