Refrigerator
problems can be costly especially when you factor in the food you could lose if
it doesn't stay cool. Here are some
refrigerator repair and troubleshooting tips for common problems:
Poor Temperature Control
- Make sure it is plugged in and fuse or breaker is not tripped
- Dirty condenser coils – Should be cleaned periodically to remove dust build-up
- Condenser fan motor may need to be replaced
- Defrost timer stuck in defrost mode. Advance timer and see if compressor starts. If compressor starts and temperature starts to pull down, replace the timer before your evaporator ices up.
- Evaporator fan motor may need to be replaced
- Burned out defrost heater - Defrost problems are usually indicated by excess buildup of frost on back wall or bottom of freezer compartment.
- Bad defrost thermostat. Run continuity test on defrost thermostat.
- Compressor not starting – sometimes a constant humming and clicking sound can be heard when a compressor fails to start
Light stays on inside the
refrigerator –
Replace the switch
Excessive
Sweating – Worn, damaged or dirty door
gaskets. Clean or replace if necessary.
Excessive
Frosting in Freezer – Could be the
defrost timer, defrost heater, thermostat or evaporator fan motor
Refrigerator Leaking – Check to see of the defrost drain
hose is plugged. Plugged defrost drain
opening or drain hose. Also make sure gaskets are clean and not damaged.
These are just a few of the things
that can go wrong with a refrigerator.
The number one refrigerator repair and maintenance tip is to refer to
the troubleshooting section of the service manual. It may be necessary to call a qualified
service technician to fix the problem.
Read Refrigerator Maintenance Tips for more info.