We rely on our refrigerators every day to keep our food and drinks cool and fresh. Most of us tend to take these modern marvels for granted and it’s frustrating when they don’t work as intended. Reaching into the fridge to discover that the contents are warmer or hearing a strange noise for the first time can be disconcerting. In this article, we will take a closer look at some common refrigerator problems and some simple steps to fix them.
It’s important to state up front that not every refrigerator problem can be fixed. Some issues may be too complex without formal training and specialized parts and tools. Sometimes an appliance has simply passed its useful lifespan and it’s time to replace it. Some of the troubleshooting advice below may be helpful to explain the problem to an appliance repair specialist. But, you may be surprised to learn that some minor issues can be fixed without any special training or skills and that will be the focus of this article.
Many DIY enthusiasts will have a number of useful tools for refrigerator repairs. For those that don’t have a toolbox it’s a great idea to start one and keep it in a handy location in your home.
The two most important tools for refrigerator repairs are a socket/ratchet set and a wire stripper/cutter. Having spare condenser or evaporator fans for your specific refrigerator on hand can help, but you can always order them online. Please bear in mind that there may be a slight delay, so you will need to find an alternate location to store your food items in the meantime.
A refrigerator is fairly complex, there are a number of potential causes when the contents are warmer than they should be. The fix may be much easier than you anticipated and before you attempt a complicated repair some troubleshooting is advisable. Here are eight things that you should check first:
Any appliance repair specialist can tell you that they have been called out to repair a refrigerator only to discover that it was unplugged. This may seem surprising, but a plug can be partially moved out of the socket or dislodged entirely. This usually happens after a deep clean or remodel or even a kid or the family dog can bump into the appliance and disturb it.
The easiest way to check is to look for the internal light to come on when the refrigerator door is opened. This can mean that the bulb has burnt out, but the other likely cause is that the power cord isn’t connected.
The thermostat is the brain of the refrigerator and if it’s set to the wrong temperature the contents are affected. It’s all too easy to knock the thermostat off its usual setting in a typical refrigerator. The optimal temperature range should be below 40ºF (5ºC) and above that is considered to be dangerous for food storage.
At the back of the refrigerator you will see vents for the freezer compartment. These vents must be kept clear to keep the cold air circulating from the freezer to the refrigerator. If the vents are blocked with pizza boxes, ice cream and other bulky food items this can make the refrigerator compartment warmer.
The latest refrigerator models don’t tend to have a condenser fan and they are more likely to have rear mounted coils. But, if there is a fan it can become stuck and it needs to spin freely to facilitate cooling.
To fix this issue, turn off the power, clean the fan blades with your finders or remove them carefully for gentle cleaning and replace them. Restore the power and check if the compressor is running properly and the fan should move smoothly. If the fan is still stuck or it’s damaged it may be time to replace it.
If you share your home with pets there is a risk that pet hair can build up in the coils under the refrigerator. When the evaporator coils are clogged they can become inefficient and provide less cooling. To solve this problem, simply vacuum the coils carefully with an appropriate cleaning tool.
If the refrigerator door deals are deteriorated or damaged they can allow warmer air to enter the internal compartment. This forces the appliance to work hard in an attempt to maintain the cooler temperature set on the thermostat. Take a close look at the seals and if you identify any areas where they are worn or torn replace them.
If the freezer compartment is full of frost and ice it can degrade the efficiency of the appliance. It’s a great idea to defrost the freezer regularly to promote better airflow to keep the refrigerator running efficiently.
The occasional refrigerator noise is normal, but if you hear an unusual or persistent sound this can be a sign that something is wrong. If there is a rattling or buzzing noise the source may be the compressor or a loose internal component. The best course of action is to contact a repair specialist to diagnose and fix the problem for you.
If you’ve gone through the troubleshooting guide above and the refrigerator compartment is still too warm, it’s time to explore the more complex solutions. The most likely cause of cooling issues is that the evaporator fan is stuck or it’s gone bad. If you listen closely, you may hear the compressor running, but the internal temperature isn’t sufficiently cool for food storage. One key indicator is a chirp or squeal caused by a failing motor and this will tend to be louder when the freezer door is opened. There is a simple fix, the evaporator fan should be replaced:
The evaporator compartment is located at the back of the freezer and it has a cover to protect it. Some refrigerators may have obvious screws that you need to remove and others are harder to locate. The screw heads may be covered by small white plastic plugs that can be hard to see in poor light conditions. These plugs will need to be removed to get at the screws which should be removed and kept in a safe location.
Once the screws are removed (if the cover has them) the fan cover should be easy to remove. Lift the cover gently at the edges and it should lift to reveal the inner fan.
If the evaporator fan is not spinning or it’s noisy, it will be necessary to replace the fan motor. It’s important to unplug the refrigerator before you touch or remove any screws that are holding the motor in place. When you’re ready, carefully remove the evaporator fan and examine it closely.
When you look at the old fan motor you should notice a mounting bracket that you will need for the new fan unit. Remove the bracket, attach it to the new motor, screw it back in place, replace the cover and restore power to the refrigerator.
Replacing the evaporator fan using the method shown above should get your refrigerator working again. But, if the problem persists you need to check the condenser fan too:
Before you begin, unplug the power cord and carefully pull the refrigerator from the wall to gain access to the rear of the appliance. Most refrigerators have a thin rear panel that is located near the bottom of the appliance for easier access to the compressor unit and the condenser fan.
Restore power to the appliance and wait a few moments for the compressor to turn back on. The condenser fan should begin to run, if the compressor is running, but the fan doesn’t or it’s making a chirping or squealing noise it needs to be replaced.
Like the evaporator fan replacement detailed above you may need to remove a mounting bracket from the old fan. It will be necessary to turn off the power and cut the old wires, close the old fan and strip them for a fresh connection.
The new fan should be connected and then screwed onto the bracket. Once the connections are secure, reinstall the fan into the compartment and replace the cover.
Now it’s time to restore power and test the replacement. Leave the refrigerator in place for a while to check that the internal compartment is sufficiently cold for food storage. Once you’re satisfied, slide the appliance back into position and you’re ready to use the refrigerator again.
If your refrigerator is delivering poor performance, be sure to speak to a home appliance repair specialist to restore full functionality to the appliance.