Just like other home appliances, refrigerators are likely to develop some technical problems. This can be very frustrating especially if you are not sure how you fix such issues. Hiring a technician to check the fridge for you is the perfect solution. However, sometimes the problems are minor and very easy to fix. In this article, we shall guide you on how to troubleshoot the most common problems that even the best refrigerators can develop.
9 Common Home Refrigerator Problems & How to Fix Them Click To TweetTable of Contents
1. Refrigerator leaking water
All refrigerators come with drainage pathways which prevents leakages. In case there is a water leakage, chances are that the drain is blocked. This normally happens when there is hardened dirt due to the cold temperatures.
In case there is any blockage, you can troubleshoot it by unplugging the fridge overnight. You should also set it in a way that it tilts towards the back to facilitate drainage. In order to speed up the process, you can use a jet of very hot water down the drain using a large needless syringe. Once you are done with this procedure, you can now connect the fridge to check for any leakages. In case, there is still a problem, you should not hesitate to call a technician.
2. Refrigerator not cooling
In some instances, the refrigerator may fail to cool as it is required. This mainly happens when the condenser coils are dirty which means that you will need to clean them. They are located at the bottom of your refrigerator. Remember to unplug the appliance when cleaning the coils. You should also do this frequently to ensure that the refrigerator is always in perfect condition.
3. Build up of ice inside the freezer
If you realize that everything inside the fridge is freezing, it means that there is a serious problem. Sometimes it happens after you have left the door open for a long time or when the door seal is broken. This increases the humidity levels inside your freezer which results to build up of frost. You should check the refrigerator door seals to confirm that there are no cracks. In case you find out that the seal is not in good condition, you should replace it immediately. On the other hand, you should check the defroster sensor if the seal is in good condition.
4. Refrigerator door doesn’t shut correctly
This is very normal if you have been using your fridge for several years. It happens when the gasket or the strip that seals the door wears out but it is very easy to replace. You will only need to look for a replacement that suits the model number of your refrigerator. When replacing, you should start by peeling off the gasket from the door of your fridge carefully.
You may need to remove the screws when doing this. After this, you should soften the new gasket by soaking it in hot water. After this, you can now install your new replacement. You need to be very careful to ensure that you do not leave any loose spots. What you need to know is that if the refrigerator door does not close completely, the appliance is likely to develop some other problems like increased energy expenditure.
5. Constant cycling or running
If your fridge runs or cycles too frequently, it means that there is a problem. A running fridge may be very noisy and it may also lead to increase in your electricity bills. When your fridge runs too frequently it means that there is build up of dust or dirt around the condenser coils. The coils are located at the bottom of the fridge and when accessing them, you should first disconnect the refrigerator to prevent problems.
The problem might also occur if the temperatures inside the fridge are set too low. This means that of the problem still persists after cleaning the condenser coils, you should adjust the temperatures to see if there will be some changes.
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6. Noisy refrigerator
The refrigerator should not operate at a high volume that disrupts your daily life. In case it is too noisy, you need to check it immediately especially the fans. Most refrigerators are equipped with an evaporation fan and a condenser fan. The condenser fan helps to cool the condenser coils while the evaporation fan pulls air on the evaporator coils when the compressor is running. Since these fans runs at the same time, the refrigerator may become loud if one of them has issues. You should check if their motors are in good condition.
7. Water dispenser not working
In case the refrigerator water dispenser is not functioning, chances are there is a frozen water tube. You can check this by disconnecting the tube at the bottom of the door. Blow air in the tube and if air doesn’t blow through the tube, it means that it is frozen.
8. Warm refrigerator
Refrigerators are designed to remain cold throughout. This means that in case you realize that there is excessive heat inside the fridge, you need to determine the cause. The first thing you should do is to clean the condenser coils. In case that doesn’t solve the problem, you should check the condenser fan motor to ensure that it is in perfect condition. This can be a bit difficult to solve which means that you may need to call a technician.
9. High electricity consumption
Refrigerators consume power according the BEE rating of the machine. If you are searching for the most energy efficient appliance, you should look for one with a BEE rating of 5 stars.
However, older models are likely to consume more power than the modern refrigerators. This means that an old model with a 5 star BEE rating may consume more power than a modern appliance with a 3 star rating. This is something you cannot solve and the best thing you should do is to replace it with a new appliance.
Conclusion
If you have a refrigerator in your home, you need to know how to fix various refrigerators problems when they occur. As we have already explained in this article, some of the problems are very easy to solve. However, you should never attempt to work on the fridge if you feel that you can’t do it. Instead, you should hire a technician to check it for you.
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