Refrigerator Troubleshooting

Refrigerator is one of the major kitchen appliances that is found in almost all homes. Like all electrical appliances, refrigerator too comes up with some technical problems. One cannot call the repair man the minute a problem is detected and it is always better to do some refrigerator troubleshooting to find out the main problem. The following are few troubleshooting tips that will help you detect the problems before calling for help.

How to Troubleshoot a Refrigerator

These refrigerator troubleshooting tips are to help you find what is causing the problem. You need to follow the symptoms to find the possible causes. The following tips on how to troubleshoot a refrigerator will help you understand your refrigerator better.

Refrigerator and Lights Not Working
If you find the lights in your refrigerator do not work and the refrigerator has shut down, check for the power supply. You need to see if the refrigerator is plugged in properly. Also check for a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker. See if there is any damage to the electrical cord and check the outlet voltage. Troubleshoot the problem and if you do not find any of the above reasons as the cause of refrigerator not working, call the repairman.

Lights are On but The Refrigerator does not Work
If the lights are on but the machine is not working, then you need to check for the temperature control. If it is off, turn it on. If not, then you need to check the compressor for overheating. You need to unplug the refrigerator and clean the condenser coils. If the compressor is bad, then you need to call the repair man.

Freezer Not Cold Enough
You need to check the temperature settings and see if there is enough air flow in the refrigerator and freezer. You need to check for air flow restrictions in the vents and clean the compressor coils. The door seals, door switch, defrost heater and timer has to be checked. Also clean the clogged drain tube and refrigerant leak.

Refrigerator or Freezer too Cold
You need to check the temperature settings and temperature controls for very cold refrigerator troubleshooting.

Noisy Refrigerator
You need to check for the refrigerator level, drain pan, condenser fan, evaporator fan and inspect the compressor mounts for the cause of noise. Any popping or hissing sound is normal on frost free refrigerators.

Continuously Running Refrigerator
You need to defrost the freezer and clean the condenser coils. Also, check for the door seals and door switch.

Odor from Refrigerator
You need to remove any spoiled food from the refrigerator and clean the interiors with hot water added with baking soda. You need to clean the door seals and remove the breaker strips. Also check for unusual wet insulation.

Water inside the Refrigerator
You need to clean the drain tube and check the ice maker and refrigerator level for water inside the refrigerator.

You should call a refrigerator repairman for any kind of refrigerator repairs. Do not attempt to carry out refrigerator repair all by yourself. I hope this article on how to troubleshoot a refrigerator is helpful to you.