6 Common Refrigerator Problems and Their Solutions

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A&E Appliance
December 2, 2022
Refrigerator Repair

Refrigerators are arguably some of the most important home appliances. Every home in America has one to keep their food from spoiling and save them from frequent trips to the grocery store. Like with any other electric appliance, refrigerators suffer wear and tear, which may lead to breakdowns if unattended. We have learned that proper maintenance reduces the chances of your fridge developing problems and extends its service life.

While some refrigerator problems are more severe than others, you can solve many of them with quick DIY fixes. The first step to fixing a problem is identifying its source. Pay close attention to your appliance and follow the guidelines below to fix common refrigerator problems.

The Original A&E Appliance Parts and Service advises that you stick to simple and safe fixes such as defrosting, unclogging, and cleaning. Call your certified professional appliance repair service for more technical fixes, such as replacement of parts.

Let’s explore some common refrigerator problems, their causes, and possible solutions.

The Refrigerator is Leaking Water

Water leaking is one of the most common refrigerator problems. Additionally, it is a potential safety hazard as one could slip and fall, injuring themselves. It also carries the potential for electric shocks if the water comes into contact with electricity.

Despite these problems and imminent danger, water leakage from your fridge is a little tricky to solve as it has several possible causes.

Common Causes of Water Leakage

The two most common reasons your fridge could leak include

Clogged Defrost Drain

A build-up of debris and food particles in the drain hose can lead to a clog. Ice builds up over the clog and blocks the drainage of defrost water. This is how you end up with a water puddle inside the fridge. If left unattended, the water will continue to build up and leak onto the floor.

Solution

You can unclog the hose by draining it from the inside using warm water. If that doesn’t work, try pushing the clog out of the hose using a pipe cleaner or turkey baster.

A Frozen or Clogged Water Supply

A frozen or clogged water supply can also cause water leakage from your fridge. A clogged water supply prevents the water dispenser and ice maker from working correctly.

Solution

To fix a clogged water supply, unplug the fridge and close the shut-off valve on the supply line. You can now inspect the plastic supply line for leaks and clogs. If this does not solve it, there may be an ice blockage in the water supply. You may have to leave it unplugged to melt the ice.

If the water supply line is damaged, you will have to replace it. You can still use your fridge, but not the water dispenser and ice maker.

The Refrigerator is not Cooling

You may notice that your fridge can not maintain the temperature as it should, and your food items spoil faster. This common fridge problem has several possible causes.

Lack of Power Supply

This is the simplest case of your fridge not cooling. If it is the first time you encounter this problem, check and restore your fridge’s power supply.

Temperature Settings

If your fridge is not cooling, the temperature setting may be incorrect. Ideally, someone may have accidentally bumped into the thermostat while reaching for something inside the fridge. Check and adjust the thermostat to the right temperature setting.

Blocked Condenser Fan

If you notice your fridge can’t maintain the set temperature over time, you can check the condenser fan for blockage. Dust, debris, or pet hair buildup can block the fan, reducing heat dissipation. As a result, the fridge and freezer will have higher temperatures than expected.

Solution

Unplug your fridge from the wall socket and pull it from the wall. Clean the condenser fan and the surrounding area to ensure it can rotate freely. Plug the refrigerator back in and check if the fan is running normally. If this does not solve the problem, you may have to contact appliance repair services.

Frost Buildup

You don’t want the inconvenience of finding half-frozen food in the refrigerator. This means you

have to spend time and energy on manual defrosting. If you notice this problem, it results from a faulty temperature control thermostat. The thermostat determines the temperature inside the fridge by controlling the compressor and evaporator fan motors. A malfunctioning thermostat may cause the fridge to work extra hard, causing a frost buildup.

You can check if the thermostat is faulty by turning from the lowest setting to the highest. If you hear a click, it is likely not faulty. But if you don’t hear a click, the thermostat is faulty. It is not easy to repair the thermostat, so you will have to replace it.

Noisy Refrigerator

Refrigerators make a humming noise when operating normally. This noise is usually from the motors and the moving parts of the fans. If you notice a significant increase in the noise, it may be a sign of an underlying problem. It means that your refrigerator has to work extra hard to maintain temperature. The noise is annoying and can also lead to a higher utility bill. Do not ignore noisy or strange sounds from your fridge. Some possible causes of a noisy fridge include:

Dirty Condenser Coils

Dust and other debris particles build up on the condenser coils forcing your fridge to work harder to keep temperatures. The condenser fan motor has to run faster and longer than before, thus the noise.

Solution

Start by unplugging your fridge from the power supply and moving it away from the wall to access the coils. You have to remove the grill protecting the condenser coils. Once they are accessible, clean the dirt buildup and put the protective grill back. This should reduce the noise from the motor as it will not have to run so hard.

Low Temperature Setting

A low temperature setting leads to the same problem. Your appliance will have to work harder and longer to maintain the temperature inside the fridge. This could result in higher bills and spoiled food.

The solution is to adjust the temperature to the required range and wait for a few hours to see if the fridge is working normally.

Your Refrigerator has a foul odor

Nothing ruins your appetite more than a whiff of stench when you open the fridge to get something to eat. Those with busy refrigerators are at a higher chance of experiencing this fridge problem. The problem is that such smells can infiltrate other foods and drinks in the fridge, altering their taste.

Finding its source in a crowded fridge is the hardest part of getting rid of such a smell. Usually, rotten food particles jammed behind the shelves or vegetable bins are the cause. Expired food products, especially meat, may also cause odors in the fridge.

Smells can also come from forgotten food rotting inside the fridge doors. If your fridge has a drip pan, mold can build up, causing unusual odors. In other cases, food parties may be caught between rubber seals or fall to the floor of the unit.

Solution

To get rid of bad odors, start by turning off and clearing everything out of the unit. Followed by thoroughly cleaning all the bins and shelves. Use baking soda and water to clean the inside of the fridge. You can use a non-abrasive pad to get much of the dirt out while taking care of the paint.

After a thorough cleaning, you can leave the fridge open for a day to air and get rid of the smell. You can plug in and start restocking your fridge after a day.

If you can still smell the odors after cleaning, then you may have to deodorize your fridge. You can wipe down the interior of the fridge with vinegar to remove the odors from the rubber and plastic. Coffee grounds and activated charcoal are also effective at absorbing fridge odors.

High Power Consumption

Your refrigerator is one of the most power-consuming home appliances. If you notice a sudden increase in your utility bill, your refrigerator may be the culprit. You can use an energy meter to monitor your fridge’s energy consumption and note when it spikes. Being a recurrent bill, an increase in your utility bill can dent your pocket significantly.

If you establish that the increase to your utility bill is due to your fridge, you can perform any diagnostics above to establish the cause. You can begin by looking at the thermostat setting and dirty condenser coils. If this does not solve the problem, you can always leave it to the appliance repair experts.

Takeaways

Always unplug your appliance before performing maintenance, including defrosting and cleaning.

You should attempt to perform any repairs without the appropriate training.

If your fridge is leaking or you plan to defrost, lay several absorbed towels beneath.

Consult a professional appliance repair expert if your fridge needs repair or parts

replacement

Professional Refrigerator Repair Services in Macomb County, MI.

A&E Appliance Repair provides affordable expert appliance repair services and spare parts for all makes and models in Macomb County. Schedule your appliance repair online today.

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