What Should You Do When a Refrigerator Stops Working

Since I travel so much, it's always great to be home. There's nothing like getting to raid my own refrigerator at two in the morning. ~ Amy Grant.

Refrigerators have assumed such an important place in our kitchen, that one day, when I was having a video-chat with my sister, she showed me how she had packed off stuff for one whole month in her refrigerator, since she can't go out shopping often due to her busy schedule, to buy those everyday things. I was amazed how her family could eat that meat after 30-40 days of storage. But as a refrigerator keeps that food safe, we have got so used to packing in loads of stuff in the refrigerator to ensure that we don't feel any shortage of food over a period of time. So, imagine the loss of food material if at all the refrigerator stops working, even for the time we are out of our homes. Even Amy Grant would have to sleep hungry at two in the morning, since she won't have anything healthy to eat. So, let us see what should you do when a refrigerator stops working.

What to Do If Your Refrigerator Stops Working

Before proceeding, remember that you should ensure the power supply is off before fiddling with the electrical parts of a refrigerator. These are the simple steps you need to follow to check out and fix your refrigerator.

Motor or Bulb
Check whether the motor itself has turned off or only the bulb has burned out. You will understand that if the refrigerator is not cooling or with the help of the sound of the motor, which you must be used to over the years. You can change that faulty bulb with any new one from the same electronic appliance store from where you had purchased the refrigerator. Take care that you carefully unscrew the bulb before plugging in a new one. Also, it may have happened that the sensor to detect the opening and closing the door may be malfunctioning due to which the refrigerator is not lighting. You may need to call a qualified serviceman to check the internal wiring.

Check the Plug and Fuse
If you are sure that the motor is not running, check out the plug. There's a possibility that the plug may have just got disconnected and turned off the fridge temporarily. Take out the plug completely and plug it back in the outlet properly. Then switch on the refrigerator and check if the motor is running. If the problem still persists, check the fuse box to see if it tripped due to some overloading. It may happen due to the huge number of electronic appliances we tend to use nowadays, and refrigerators are mainly responsible in adding to the overload. Check it and try replacing the fuse if it is out of order.

Move the Food
Now, if you are sure that the fuse has not tripped, and there is actually some problem with the refrigerator itself, take out all the perishable food items like meat, seafood, vegetables or ripe fruits immediately, and make a provision for them to be shifted in a spare refrigerator (if you have one) or call one of your neighbor and ask him / her to make some space for these items in their refrigerator. Most perishable foods will not last beyond a few hours, if not refrigerated. All the canned foods can be safe outside for the time until you repair your refrigerator. If the door is closed after the refrigerator has stopped working, it can maintain the temperature for up to 4 hours. However, if you are late, it's better to dispose of the perishable items.

Check the Individual Parts
Check the individual components of the refrigerator like the thermostat, condenser fans, compressor, etc. There are chances of a heavy frost build-up on the evaporator coils. In the case of the condenser, with the help of an ohmmeter, check the condenser windings and whether the condenser is getting power. Make sure the plug is removed before proceeding with this step.

Call a Qualified Serviceman
If you find out that there is a heavy frost build-up on the coils and the condenser is faulty, then without wasting further time, call a qualified serviceman to get things sorted out. It will be better, if the serviceman is from your refrigerator vendor itself. If there's a need to get any part replaced and if it costs more with no guarantee, it's better that you get your refrigerator replaced with a new one. You will find out that a new refrigerator will be far better than your existing one, given the rapid and continuous advancement in the refrigeration technology.

These tips on what should you do when a refrigerator stops working, can go a long way in ensuring your food items are not wasted, and most importantly, your food stays safe. Remember, eat safe food to stay healthy!