Kitchen appliances are expensive to purchase and repair. If you’ve ever suffered appliance damage, you know how much it costs to fix the problem professionally. The fridge is an important part of the home and kitchen. It serves as a storage unit for perishable food items and should always be in good shape. However, common problems can affect the functionality of your fridge, causing you to need fridge repair services.
With a lifespan of between 7 to 8 years, your fridge will likely break down at least once or twice within this period. This article touches on the fridge common problems you’re likely to experience with your fridge and the common solutions.
Refrigerator Leaks
The refrigerator is designed to handle water components perfectly. The inside usually has a vent designed to collect and transport water out of the fridge. However, in some cases, you may find a pool of mysterious water on your floor traceable to your refrigerator. This problem is often one of the smallest issues you can face.
Refrigerator leaks are never a good sign, but it is a problem that can easily be fixed. Below are common causes of refrigerator leaks;
Clogged Defrost Drain
Refrigerators are often equipped with a defrost drain that collects water molecules after the refrigerator defrosts. This drain can sometimes clog up, forcing the water out of it and down through the refrigerator.
To solve this problem, you need to unclog the defrost drain and remove any solid materials that may have blocked the water passage. Unclogging may require you to disconnect your refrigerator from the power source, wait for it to defrost, take out all your food items, and pour hot water down the drain.
If the hot water solution doesn’t work, purchase a snake or pipe cleaner from your local convenience store and try to push the buildup down the drain. If that fails, you can try to manually remove the debris by cleaning the rubber check valve located on the service panel.
Frozen Water Supply
Another common cause of fridge leaks is a frozen or clogged water supply. This problem is very common and can be addressed using DIY methods.
To fix this problem, disconnect your fridge from the power source and allow it to stand for some hours. Find the shut-off valve, ensure it is completely closed, and then check the supply line for leaks or clogs. Plan a replacement if you discover damage to your plastic supply line.
Refrigerator Not Cooling
Most homeowners panic when their appliances aren’t functioning the way they should. A refrigerator that has failed to cool presents a nasty problem that can cause food spoilage. As one of the commonest fridge problems addressed by technicians, below are some of the common causes;
Lack of Power Supply
Your fridge may have raised a false alarm due to its disconnect from the power source. This is one of the commonest causes of a refrigerator that’s not cooling. Check that the refrigerator is properly plugged into the socket before calling a technician. Also, confirm that the socket is switched on.
Change Fridge Temperature Setting
Sometimes your fridge is set to the wrong temperature, affecting its ability to cool your food items. To fix this problem, locate the temperature dial and change it to the highest setting. Most refrigerators have seven as the highest dial on the temperature regulator. Try switching to 7 for some hours to see if the fridge responds or not.
Blocked Condenser Fan
After having checked the two obvious reasons behind a refrigerator that’s not cooling, you can then consider the more technical problems, which can include a blocked condenser fan. This problem is common with refrigerators that have condenser fans.
You can attempt a DIY fix by disconnecting your fridge, locating the condenser fan, and cleaning the element. If this doesn’t fix the problem, you may need to call a professional to diagnose the problem and replace damaged parts.
Other solutions you can consider;
- Clean or vacuum coils located under or behind the refrigerator.
- Unblock the refrigerator vent and blow cold air into it to spur cooling.
The Refrigerator is Freezing Contents
This is perhaps the opposite of a refrigerator that won’t cool. If your refrigerator freezes everything in it, chances are high that you or someone has tampered with the thermostat. Below are some of the common causes and how to fix the problem at home:
Faulty Thermostat
If you or any member of your home hasn’t fiddled with the thermostat, chances are high that it may have gone bad. Before assuming the worst, locate the fridge’s thermostat and rotate it downwards. If your thermostat clicks at some point, it may still be working. However, if it fails to click or lock in after several turns, it may be broken.
If you hear the click sound, ensure to turn the fridge’s temperature down and observe its performance. Contact the nearest repair technician if nothing changes.
Broken Ice Maker
The ice maker in your fridge is great for many things, including supplying ice on hot summer afternoons to keep your drink cool. However, a lot can happen to your ice maker, from not producing ice to being clogged. If your ice maker isn’t working properly, below are three possible causes.
Blocked Waterline
A blocked water line is a common and simple problem that could cause your ice maker to stop working. The ice maker may shut down when it isn’t supplied with water to turn into ice for your needs. For this problem, investigate the waterline and locate the problem area. Chances are high that the waterline may have been blocked by ice, thus preventing it from supplying water as needed.
Badly Positioned Shut-off Arm
The water supply into your ice maker may be cut off if the shut-off arm is badly positioned. Ensure that the shut-off arm is investigated and turned on if off.
Tripped Ice Bucket Sensor
The ice bucket sensor is an important part of the ice maker. The sensor tells the ice maker when to start and stop work to prevent water damage. Ice buildup can tip the ice bucket in any direction, causing the sensor to detect its false absence and halt ice production. To solve this problem, check that the ice bucket is sitting correctly and in the right position.
However, if any of these does not solve the problem, you should contact an appliance repair technician quickly to address the problem.
Homeowners facing any of the common fridge problems can visit our refrigerator repair service for more information or contact an appliance repair professional.
