The refrigerator is the most essential device in your residence, as it is necessary for keeping items cool and your food secure to eat. Therefore, it is completely understandable that when your fridge starts to warm up, ceases to adequately cool, drips water, or abruptly changes from a quiet device to a loud one, you would be anxious that the appliance is on the brink of breakdown. Prior to ringing up a service specialist to inspect your malfunctioning refrigerator, you can take a few simple measures to identify the problem yourself. Here is how.

Understanding the Various Functioning Parts of a Refrigerator

It is simpler to figure out a problem with a refrigerator if one comprehends the parts of the refrigeration system and their purpose. Therefore, by understanding the various parts, you can easily anticipate any difficulties that your fridge could be facing.

  • The Compressor: This is the core engine of the refrigerator. It kick-starts the whole refrigeration process by pumping the coolant throughout the system. It also regulates the pressure and temperature and ensures optimum functionality. The compressor is typically found at the base of the refrigerator.
  • Condenser Coils: These are pipes that run behind the refrigerator. They condense the refrigerant from its vapor form as it passes through. This process gives off heat which you can feel emanating from the back of the refrigerator. As your refrigerator troubleshooting guide, we advise you to clean and brush your condenser coils at least every 2 to 3 months.
  • Expansion Device: The refrigerant is liquid from the condenser coils as it approaches the expansion device. However, the job of the expansion device is to convert the refrigerant liquid back to vapor. This action aims to control the release of pressure within the system.
  • Evaporator Coils: This is where the central cooling takes place. As the now liquid coolant passes through these coils, they absorb any surrounding heat within the refrigerator, usually from the food compartment. You can find the evaporator coils behind the freezer.

Refrigerator Troubleshooting Problems You May Encounter

This guide will show you how to figure out potential problems with your fridge before they become too serious.

Malfunctioning Thermostat

A thermostat is an indispensable element of a refrigerator that regulates the temperature in the fridge. A broken or defective thermostat can be a major cause of your fridge not cooling or cooling too much.

Imagine the thermostat as the self-governing mechanism in the human body. The appliance controls the temperature in the fridge and it prevents the freezer from defrosting and the refrigerator from becoming too cold.

Using a multimeter is a good way to quickly figure out what is causing refrigerator temperature issues with the thermostat. A multimeter can be used to determine if a thermostat is not operating correctly by listening for clicking sounds. If you hear a sound like a ‘click’, the thermostat is still functional. However, if you hear a click, it’s likely faulty. This is a regular issue with refrigerators that can be solved by an expert.

Persistent Cycling

Examining a refrigerator’s functions can assist with the resolution of a problem in which the device turns on and off repeatedly. If you observe your refrigerator turning on and off at a quick rate, it’s likely that the fan blades are accumulating dust and the condenser coils could be grimy.

The grimy parts present a major danger to the steady running of your fridge. Once you spot this, simply shut off the main power source and take off the back access doors.

Additionally, be sure to meticulously clean the condenser fins and use a vacuum to clear off any dust or debris from the fan blades. Cover the coils and fans with a light material before putting on the rear access panel. This material will decrease the accumulation of dust in the future. This simple adjustment should take care of the issue with your refrigerator not producing cold air.

Ice Build Up

Understanding this concern is an essential step in figuring out how to diagnose a fridge problem. Too much ice and frost can have a negative impact on how your refrigerator functions, potentially leading to jams and blockages.

A significant reason for the accumulation of ice is an aperture in the freezer that prevents the door from closing completely. When you shut the door of the freezer, you need to make sure that an airtight seal is established, forming a vacuum.

Nevertheless, hot air will enter the freezer and convert to liquid if the door is not tightly sealed shut and there is an opening. The warm air solidifies and transforms into either blocks or sheets of ice, which can create an obstruction in the freezer.

Once you have noticed the issue and want to start assessing it, check for any openings or escaping air from the freezer entrance. Once you become aware of the faulty freezer door, you can either get a new one or adjust its position. No matter which way it is done, this will make sure the freezer door shuts firmly and seals without any openings.

The freezer door may appear to be alright, however the hinges might be damaged, allowing for hot air to get in. In this situation, a fantastic course of action for a DIY refrigerator repair would be to unscrew the hinges and then reattach them. Additionally, you can use lubricants on rigid hinges to make sure they are functioning properly again.

Overflowing Ice Maker

The freezer component of your refrigerator requires attention frequently. A malfunctioning freezer could be the cause of the refrigerator not running properly. The ice maker unit in the refrigerator’s freezer may often become clogged and end up overflowing.

This problem usually happens when the water inlet valve does not provide enough pressure. The pressure being lowered will cause the water to seep into the ice unit, causing the ice maker to become filled too full. If the ice maker produces too much ice, it can impede the functioning of the refrigerator by either not allowing the freezer door to shut correctly or changing the temperature that the refrigerator is set to.

You can avoid this surplus issue by verifying the water pressure and making sure it is kept at a minimum of 20 psi. Regarding refrigerator issues, if the ice maker continues to spill water even with sufficient water pressure, the water inlet valve may be faulty. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the valve swiftly.

Water Leakage

Water leakage is a frequent occurrence with household refrigerators. There are a myriad of reasons for this leakage. It is essential to act quickly when investigating the cause of an issue with your refrigerator.

A defective refrigerator can be a tripping or slipping risk for yourself and anyone that resides in your household. Moreover, there is a chance of electric shock if the body of water is close enough to an electrical source. Eventually, the escape of cold air will diminish the cooling capacity of the refrigerator.

At first, make sure that the defrost drain of the machine is not clogged up. Blockages can occur due to debris or food particles. After finding a clog in the defrost drain, use warm water to get rid of the obstruction. You can utilize a lengthy and slender rod to force out the rubbish.

The obstruction might be originating from the water source, causing liquid to seepage out of the pipe and gather on the ground. Try to solve the problem by switching the appliance off and locating the intake valve behind the refrigerator.

Examine the turn-off valve and look for any breaks in the plastic tubing. If you observe any destruction to the water supply pipe, move forward with replacing it. It is important to be aware of any issues with your refrigerator early on, in order to fix it by yourself. Once you come across a bit of water, look at the tubes of your fridge right away.

Malfunctioning Compressor

The compressor is the beating heart of your refrigerator. The breakdown of the fridge is a particularly regular difficulty due to the fact that it is inside the equipment. The compressor is the cause of the refrigeration system repeating its cycle within the machine. It squeezes the refrigerant and sends it through the condenser tubes and the evaporator.

When the functioning of the internal components of a fridge is not working properly, it may operate very poorly or cease to work altogether. In the event that you notice a decrease in the functioning of your refrigerator, take a look at the compressor.

How to Diagnose a Broken Refrigerator

First, Check for the Obvious

Before you start dismantling your appliance, pause for a moment to make sure it isn’t just a straightforward issue like a power or a temperature setting issue. Move your fridge away from the wall a bit and make sure it still has power. Examine the thermostat of your refrigerator to make sure that it hasn’t been moved up unintentionally. Check to make sure that none of the food or boxes are obstructing the air vents, so that the cold air is able to move around the fridge.

Required Tools

If your basic evaluation doesn’t yield any solutions, you’ll need to move onto the diagnosis stage and you’ll need some specific tools to help you determine what’s broken on your refrigerator:

  • Multimeter
  • Screwdriver with slotted and Phillips-style bits
  • Putty knife
  • ¼” nut driver set
  • Work gloves
  • Thick towels
  • Needle-nose pliers
  • Combination wrench set
  • Shop vac with nozzle attachments

Listen to the Compressor

The compressor is responsible for running the refrigerator. The device sends vapors to the coils located external to the refrigerator in order to chill the contents. One way to detect a potential issue with a compressor is to remove the refrigerator from its place against the wall and carefully listen to the sound.

Quick Troubleshooting

You will be able to detect the compressor of your refrigerator cycling on and off regularly when it is in good condition. It will sound like faint humming. If you don’t detect it switching on, pay attention for approximately 30 minutes. If you don’t listen to something during that period, it might point to a problem with the compressor. If the compressor is cycling on and off but the fridge isn’t sufficiently cooling, you may still be experiencing a difficulty. If your compressor continues to run without stopping, then it is necessary to look into the issue more closely.

Caution:

It can be more expensive to fix the compressor of a refrigerator than to buy a new one. Before you run out to buy a new fridge, you should confirm that the compressor is definitely the problem by following these steps:

  • Slide the refrigerator away from the wall and unplug it.
  • Remove the panel on the side of the compressor by taking out the screws holding it on.
  • Look for the starter relay switch . It looks like an ink cartridge from your home printer. Unplug it from the compressor .
  • Shake it and listen for a rattle. If you hear a noise , you’ve just saved yourself a lot of money— the relay is bad and you’ll need to order a new one.
  • If there’s no rattle sound, you likely have a compressor problem and will need to call in a professional.

Test the Evaporator Fan

When you have exhausted any plausible reasons as to why your refrigerator isn’t performing as it should, you’ll need to proceed to the more drastic solutions. When you have a broken refrigerator, you should inspect the evaporator fan.

The evaporator fan situated behind the freezer wall circulates cold air to all parts of the refrigerator; when it stops functioning, the temperature inside the fridge will begin to increase. To check if the fridge is performing correctly, you’ll need to switch it into diagnostic mode.

Quick Troubleshooting

  • Pull out your appliance manual and look up “diagnostic mode.” It will likely require a set of repetitive actions like flipping a switch several times.
  • While in diagnostic mode, run the evaporator fan test (check your manual on how to do this.)
  • If the fan runs during the test, it is operating properly and indicates a bad control board.
  • I f the fan doesn’t run during the test, the evaporator fan will need to be replaced by a professional appliance service .
  • If your refrigerator doesn’t have a diagnostic mode, you can still check its operation. It should be located in the freezer section.
  • If the fan blade doesn’t spin freely by hand, it should be replaced.
  • A very noisy evaporator fan motor also indicates a problem and should be replaced.
  • If your motor isn’t working at all, use your multimeter to check for continuity. If it shows no continuity, replace it.

Take a Look at the Condenser Coils

The condenser coils are the most essential component of the fridge and are involved in converting hot gas into a chilled liquid that produces the cooling effect in the refrigerator. The condenser coils not running optimally could create a major problem with how cold the refrigerator is.

A recurring issue that condenser coils often have is a build-up of dust, dirt, or other particles, so they should be routinely brushed off.

Quick Troubleshooting

  • Empty the refrigerator of its contents.
  • Pull the fridge away from the wall and unplug it.
  • Some refrigerators locate the coils on the back. If your condenser coils are underneath the fridge, you can access them through the back of the unit and the front kick panel. In either case, you may need to remove screws to take off the back panel.
  • Use a shop vac with a nozzle tool to carefully vacuum dust and debris from the coils and surrounding area.
  • Replace the back panel and plug the appliance back in.

Check Your Thermostat Function

The thermostat is a vital part of your appliance. If not functioning correctly, the wrong signal will not reach the compressor, evaporator fan motor, or condenser fan motor. The performance of the system may end up being either too lengthy or too brief, which could cause the refrigerator to be too cold or too warm.

Quick Troubleshooting

  • Open the refrigerator door and slowly turn the thermostat from the lowest setting to the highest setting.
  • You should hear a clicking sound if it’s working properly.
  • If you don’t hear a click, use your multimeter to test for continuity at each setting. If there is no continuity, you’ll need to contact an appliance repair service to replace it.

Can’t Figure It Out?

If you have no idea why your refrigerator isn’t working correctly, or you know what the issue is but need help resolving it, you should contact a group of expert technicians that can help you identify what’s wrong.

Jonathan
Author: Jonathan