Refrigerator Problems

Refrigerator Problems

Question 1: Why doesn’t my refrigerator work at all?

Answer 1: The first thing to check if your refrigerator stops working completely is to make sure that there is power to the appliance. To see if there is power to the refrigerator, plug a different electric device that you know works into the same outlet. If there’s no power, check your fuse or circuit breaker. After verifying that there’s power to the refrigerator, and it’s still not running, then your problem lies in a different area. You’ll want to check the compressor, overload/relay, thermostats, and wiring, or contact a professional appliance repair person.

Question 2: Why is my refrigerator not cooling properly?

Answer 2: If the refrigerator isn’t cool, check to see if the light comes on when you open the door. Next check to see if the thermostat is set properly. If both of these are OK, then check to see if the compressor is running.

See if the compressor motor is running. The compressor is in a case with no visible moving parts. It is usually located at the back of the refrigerator near the bottom. If it’s humming, or making a steady noise, and your refrigerator is still not cooling properly, there could be a problem with one or more various components.

Refrigerators have either a mechanical defrost timer, or an ADC (Adaptive Defrost Control). If your refrigerator has a mechanical timer, set the cold control to the coldest setting and then advance the defrost timer. You can manually advance the timer with a screwdriver. Insert the screwdriver into the advancement pinion and turn clockwise a 1/4 to 3/8’s of a turn. If the compressor starts, replace the defrost timer. For further help, you’ll want to call a professional appliance repair technician.

Sometimes you can hear a click-buzz-click sound coming from the compressor. This is the relay/overload at work. If you hear this, power is getting to the compressor. If you do, something is wrong with either the compressor or the compressor starting components. If you have a newer model with solid-state starting components, you may not hear anything at all. If there is power to the starting components, you may be able to test each part and replace any bad parts. There is also a 3-in-1 unit that may work on your model which replaces all the components in one unit. If the compressor still won’t start, you have a bad compressor and need to replace it. If it does start, wire the 3-in-1 part in permanently. Make sure the one you buy is rated for the horsepower of your appliance.

If you don’t hear anything, you can take the cover off the side of the compressor and test for voltage at the two leads. If no voltage is present, it’s time to check the cold control. To test if the cold control is bad, you can temporarily jump the two wires at the cold control. If you get power to the compressor after doing so, the cold control needs to be replaced.

Question 3: Why is there a strange noise?

Answer 3: Refrigerators typically make a lot of sounds when they operate. The cause of the problem can usually be narrowed down once you determine where the sound is coming from. If you hear something coming from the bottom, the source is probably somewhere else. There is not much under a refrigerator to make noise. You may hear noise coming through this area of the fridge, but it is probably originating in the back of the refrigerator.

Regarding any water sounds, refrigerators have a drip pan behind the kick plate. During a defrost cycle, melt-water from the freezer ice typically drains through a tube and down the back of the refrigerator into the drip pan. You may hear water dripping into it or it may rattle. Usually evaporation empties the drip pan, but you can remove it and empty it if there is a lot of liquid in it. If it rattles, you can check the supports holding the pan to make sure they haven’t been damaged, you can replace the pan, or you can try to secure it with tape. Another water flow sound would be if you have a built-inicemaker . You may hear the water flowing into the

If the noise is coming from the back, there are a few things that could be causing the problem. If the unit seems louder when the compressor starts, it’s probably a normal sound. The compressor starts with a high pressure, but as the pressure balances, the noise should become normalized. The compressor is in a black case with no visible moving parts. It’s located at the back of the refrigerator near the bottom and has wires and a bunch of tubes going to it. If it’s humming, or making a steady noise, and your refrigerator is still not cooling properly, there could be a problem with one or more various components. If the compressor is making noise, there’s probably no repairing it. You’ll have to replace it. This is often a very costly job and needs to be done by someone with the necessary EPA certification to work on sealed systems.

You can usually hear air rushing, or a swooshing sound from thecondenser fan motor and blade. If it sounds abnormal or different than usual, check for dirt or dust on the blade and fan motor. If this area is dirty, make sure the power is off and wipe it with a clean towel. If the fan blade is metal, make sure that it is not hitting anything and that it is attached securely to the motor. If the noise is still coming from the motor, you will need to replace it. The damper door opening and closing may cause a chirping or howling sound.

The defrost timer can also make noises. It usually will make a click when it advances. As the timer gets old, the motor that runs thedefrost timer can begin to make noises as well. If the timer motor is making a loud sound, then you should replace the entire timer. Noises related to the defrost timer are: snapping, crackling, or popping sounds. This is most likely caused by the defrost heater getting warm, and cold water dripping onto it. You may also hear some metallic sounding expansion or contraction creaks as the coils warm or get cool.

Other clicking or snapping sounds may be caused by the water valve opening to fill the ice cube tray. This valve is operated by a solenoid, and most solenoids make a snap sound as they open and close.

If you notice a sound coming from the freezer, you’ll want to check theevaporator fan motor. This is the fan that circulates air through all parts of the refrigerator and freezer. When the compressor is running, this fan should run as well. The fan blows the air over the evaporator coils to cool it. As the fan gets older and worn out, the moving pieces in the fan motor can start to make strange noises. When you hear the noise, quickly open the freezer door and manually press the door switch. If the noise is louder, then the motor is causing your problem. The motors are not repairable, you just replace the entire unit.

Vibrating noises are often caused by dishes or other containers vibrating on a shelf inside. You can move the dishes around to see if that helps. Other times the vibrations may be caused by something on top of the refrigerator. These items could be touching and rattling around on top of the refrigerator. Verify that the refrigerator is not touching any nearby walls or counters.

Question 4: Why won’t my icemaker dispense ice?

Answer 4: This could be because the ice is clumped in the ice bin. When the automatic defrost cycle occurs, heat is transferred to the freezer area. This can cause the cubes to melt slightly and refreeze back together. You can take the bin out and give it a good shake, or simply discard the cubes and start over with a fresh batch of ice cubes. By increasing the amount of food in the freezer compartment, you may be able to buffer the heat that comes from the defrost cycle and avoid clumping issues.

If you have a large ice bin and hardly use any ice, it is possible that the cubes have gotten stuck together just from the weight of the cubes on top of others.

Question 5: Why does my freezer door pop open when I close the refrigerator?

Answer 5: On models that have the freezer built into the refrigerator, this is because the freezer and refrigerator compartments are connected via air channels or baffles. When you slam a door hard, it creates a pressure wave by compressing the air in the cabinet and forces the other door open. This can also work in the reverse order.

You want to make sure the gaskets are sealing properly, and that the gasket is clean and lubricated. If you need to lubricate the gasket, you can use some paraffin wax or Vaseline, which are very soft substances. Rub the wax or Vaseline along the surface of the gasket to cover the whole thing. If needed, wash the gasket first with some baking soda and water and let it dry thoroughly before lubricating it.

You want to make sure that the leveling legs cause the refrigerator to tilt slightly backwards. This will help to keep the door from popping open, as well as making sure the door closes if you don’t actually push it shut. You can also add some heavier items to the freezer door compartment to add some extra weight. This may help to keep the door from popping open. The freezer door is more likely to pop open than the refrigerator door as it is much lighter.

Domestic Refrigerator Maintenance

Domestic Refrigerator Maintenance Tips  

1. Maintenance Tips For The Entire Cooling Unit:

Clean those Coils: The coils at the back remove the heat. If they are clogged, they become inefficient and the compressor will work harder. Unplug the fridge, pull out from the wall and reach behind with a long handled broom or vacuum cleaner nozzle.

Keep It Away from Heat Sources: Position your ref away from sunny windows, hot water heaters, warm air from heating ducts, radiators, stoves and other heat sources. The heat makes cooling harder for your refrigerator.

• Check Door Gaskets: Check for holes & gaps. To achieve a good seal, close the ref door on a piece of paper and try to remove the paper. If it's not held snugly in place, adjust the door or replace the seal.

Keep It Level: Many of us get the habit of just letting go of the door and walking away. But if your refrigerator is not evenly level on the floor, the door won't shut by itself. This would cause a lot of waste of energy.

Always ensure the refrigerator has its own power outlet - NO double adapters!

Wash exterior of cabinet with detergent solution; rinse and dry. A creamy appliance wax may be used occasionally to protect painted exterior and make spots easier to wipe off.

Position the refrigerator to allow good airflow on all sides.

Regularly clean outside enamel with warm to hot water - no need for polish or detergents.

Adjust front legs higher than the rear to allow doors to self-close.

2. Maintenance Tips for Refrigerator Unit

• For short vacations, leave refrigerator on but use up or discard perishable food.

Do not cram refrigerator so full that cold air can't circulate freely to chill food. Cover or wrap all foods stored, especially in frost-free models, to prevent drying out, and transfer of odors.

Clean refrigerator compartment regularly, even though it does not require defrosting. Turn it off and unplug. Remove all food and removable interior parts. Wash with a solution of 1-2 tablespoons baking soda in 1-quart warm water. Rinse and wipe dry. Wash removable glass shelves and plastic parts in warm detergent solution, rinse and wipe dry. Do not put either glass or plastic in hot water; they may crack, especially if cold. Clean door gasket with detergent solution; rinse and dry.

Unpleasant odors develop, either from improper storage of food or from spoilage, make sure you cover the food stored, and throw away food, which is very old. Also, wipe up spills in the refrigerator promptly to avoid staining and odors.

3. Types Of Refrigerators And Their Type Of Maintenance

Manual defrost refrigerator/freezers:

When frost has accumulated on the inside walls of the freezer to a thickness of ½ inch or so, remove the food from the refrigerator/freezer, turn off the thermostat or unplug the unit, and allow all of the frost to melt. Once the frost has melted completely, turn the unit back on, wait for it to reach its operating temperature, and restock it with food. In models that need defrosting,do not use electric defrosters or other hot objects where they can touch plastic liners or parts; they could melt. Always unplug refrigerator before defrosting. Never use sharp objects that could damage the evaporator coils.

Self-defrosting refrigerator/freezers:

Every 6 to 8 hours, it heats up its cooling coils slightly and melts any frost accumulation on the coils. The resulting water drains into a shallow pan at the bottom of the refrigerator/freezer. There's no need to empty the pan. The water in it will evaporate. But it may begin to smell bad over time. You may be able to remove it for periodic cleaning by detaching the lower grill and sliding the pan out the front of the refrigerator/freezer.

4. Maintenance Tips for the Freezer Unit

Restaurants and shopkeepers use separate freezers for their storing purposes. The maintenance for freezers is also almost the same as that of the refrigerator.

• Locate in a cool, dry room for most efficient operation. The freezer mechanism will run better above 4.44 degrees Celsius. Leave room on both sides and back for heat to be given off in air. Plug into a grounded outlet. Plug only into its own circuit so an overload from another appliance cannot shut it off. It should be leveled so the door closes tightly; uprights may be tilted slightly from the front so the door closes readily.

• Never run frost-free freezers where temperature goes below 15 degrees Celsius. Compressor will not run enough to keep food from thawing and spoiling.

• Defrost freezers about once a year, before frost is 1/2 inch thick on inside walls and clean. Use a plastic or wooden scraper, not a sharp instrument.

• Clean interior during annual defrosting. Remove food and store in cooler chests or boxes insulated with thick sections of newspapers or blankets, or in the refrigerator. Use a fan directed toward frost to loosen it, and remove. Wash inside with warm water solution of mild detergent or baking soda; rinse; wipe dry as possible. Vacuum dust off condenser coils. Turn freezer back on and replace food.

• When needed, wipe outside with a damp cloth; if spill will not come off, use detergent solution and rinse off. If exterior is synthetic paint (not porcelain enamel), occasionally apply a creamy white appliance wax to exterior for protection of surface and easier removal of spots.

• Occasionally clean freezer compartment following manual instructions. 

Freezer Tips:

• A full freezer stays colder longer.

• Remove odors from many small items, (books, plastic bowls, etc.) by leaving them over night in a frost-free freezer.

• Line the bottom of your chest freezer with a clean white sheet. When it is time to defrost, it acts as a giant towel and makes cleaning much easier.

• Refrigerator care - If you look after the refrigerator with adequate care, there is no way that it will not look after your needs. So have a cool day!

5. Tips on Moving a Refrigerator

If you are thinking of an innovative or fresh look for your kitchen or dining space, and want to move the fridge, well, put it simply, it will protest.

Inside the compressor body the working mechanism is suspended on springs. The purpose of these springs is to dampen vibrations and reduce the amount of noise level output by the compressor. When the compressor operates these springs absorb heat as well as vibrations. The longer they have worked the more tempered or work hardened they tend to become. These same springs may be all right as long as the fridge sits in the same place, but when loaded on the back of a truck and driven down the road, they can stretch, compress, or break resulting in very noisy operation once you've reached your destination. The only resolve to this problem of course is compressor replacement. By the way, this is the same reason new compressors and refrigerators can be shipped almost anywhere with little or no danger of spring problems, the springs are not yet work hardened.

An older fridge may easily survive a move across town, especially if the rough road route is avoided or taken very slowly, but if you are moving across the country, consider selling it and purchasing another once you get there.

6. More Tips for Refrigerator Maintenance

Manual-defrost refrigerator/freezers

Manual defrost refrigerator/freezers require very little maintenance.When frost has accumulated on the inside walls of the freezer to a thickness of ½ inch or so, remove the food from the refrigerator/freezer, turn off the thermostat or unplug the unit, and allow all of the frost to melt.

Once the frost has melted completely, turn the unit back on, wait for it to reach its operating temperature, and restock it with food.

Self-defrosting refrigerator/freezers

You don't need to manually defrost your self-defrosting refrigerator/freezer. Every 6 to 8 hours, it heats up its cooling coils slightly and melts any frost accumulation on the coils. The resulting water drains into a shallow pan at the bottom of the refrigerator/freezer. There's no need to empty the pan. The water in it will evaporate. But it may begin to smell bad over time. You may be able to remove it for periodic cleaning by detaching the lower grill and sliding the pan out the front of the refrigerator/freezer.

Under your refrigerator/freezer is a set of coils and a cooling fan that you need to clean at least once a year. The coils may look like a grate or like a wide radiator. Unplug the refrigerator/freezer and use a Refrigerator Condenser Brush (available in the accessories section of our website), and your vacuum cleaner to clean any lint, pet hair, and so on from the coils.

If the gasket or interior of the refrigerator/freezer needs cleaning, try Refrigerator Cleaner to clean the surfaces. You can find this useful product in our accessories section. For odors in the refrigerator/freezer try baking soda or, for tougher odors, try Fridge Aid deodorizer, also available in the accessories section of our website.

Refrigerator Maintenance Tips

• Ventilation is of the utmost importance. Make sure side and roof vents are clear and free of nests and check the roof vent from the top. 

• If your refrigerator isn't working, make sure the LP gas valve at the refrigerator or on the LPG container is turned on.

• A sweating or frosting problem in the freezer usually indicates air leaks or an improper condensation tube.

• If the freezer is fine, but the food area is warm (or there is an ammonia smell), it's probably the cooling unit.

• When you load your refrigerator, don't pack items tightly. It will interfere with air circulation.

• The normal operating temperature for the food compartment is 34-40 degrees F. The freezer compartment should be 8-15 degrees F.

• When leaving the refrigerator out of use for an extended period, prop the door ajar to avoid mildew and odors.

• The flue, burner, baffle, fins and coils should be cleaned annually for best performance.

• The burner jet should be cleaned with wood alcohol and compressed air. NEVER poke anything into the burner jet.

• Following these simple guidelines will extend the life of your refrigerator and allow it to provide dependable service for years to come.

Refrigerators/Freezers

• Clean coils with a condenser coil brush, available at an appliance dealer. The coils are usually behind the snap-out grill at the front bottom of the unit. On older models, they're located in the back and are partially covered by cardboard. Unplug the unit first so you don't strike the moving fan. Even when the unit is unplugged, avoid disturbing the insulation or bending the fan blades, which could damage the fan. If your pets shed, do this four times a year.

• Test the door gasket. A leaky gasket wastes energy and shortens the life of the compressor. Close the refrigerator door on a dollar bill at various places along the door, and pull lightly. If the bill does budge, replace the gasket (about $60). Peel back the gasket enough to loosen the retainer strip screws and slip a new one in place.

• Change the inline water filter on the ice-maker after turning off the source water. Use a bucket to catch water in the system. Buy recommended replacement filters.

• Once a year slide the refrigerator out and vacuum around and beneath it. Left unattended, this dirt will end up on the coils.