Refrigerators have a brief life span of about 7 to 8 years. After that, it might have some problems; after a decade, you may need to replace them with a new one. Always try to cover your kitchen appliances with appliance insurance plans to face such emergencies in case of electrical/mechanical or accidental breakdown.
Moreover, buying kitchen appliances is fun, whereas dealing with faulty ones is not. Most kitchen appliances get spoiled fast, the most common ones being your fridge and freezer.
In this article, we will talk about common refrigerator issues and how to fix them:
Leaking of Water in Fridge:
Sometimes we find a puddle of water next to our fridge, which is not good. You can solve such problems, and the reasons why such leaks happen are:
Defrost drain clogged:
The leading cause of water leaking is the defrost hose clogged with food bits and debris. It leads to clogging, and sometimes ice starts to build over it, and you can see water puddles next to your fridge.
How to Fix:
You can fix it in two ways; first, try to clean the drain from the inside by pouring hot water and clearing the hose. If that does not work, you must get a pipe cleaner. With the help of the pipe cleaner, push the food bits and debris out of the buildup. If you feel both ways did not work, you can manually clean the debris by removing the rubber check valve on the back of the service panel. Try to use soap and warm water while cleaning the valve and install it back safely.
Problem with Frozen Water supply:
We also come across clogged or frozen water supply problems which leads to water leakage in the fridge. Such issues are prevalent if your refrigerator is a bit old and can be fixed.
How to Fix:
To fix the clog, you need to unplug the fridge from the power socket and shut off the valve underneath the sink. Double-check that the valve is closed and inspect the plastic supply line for any leaks or clogs. If you find a tear, replace the water supply line with a new one. If you still experience the same problem, then it might be an ice blockage issue and for this, just leave the fridge unplugged, allowing the ice to melt. Later once the ice gets cleared, you can plug the appliance.
Fridge, not Cooling:
We often see that our food is not getting cooled or spoiled faster; this is because the fridge is not getting cooled, and there are various reasons behind it.
No Proper Power supply:
Sometimes we forget and switch off the fridge button in the panel board where you have connections to other electrical connections like a fan, lights, etc. It results in a warm temperature inside the fridge, causing the food to spoil.
How to Fix:
Simple, plug it back and switch on the socket.
Temperature Setting is Changed:
All the fridges had a temperature control thermostat; the problem might be that you must have accidentally increased the temperatures resulting in warming up the things inside.
How to Fix:
Just set the temperatures right in the control thermostat.
A problem in Condenser Fan:
Few refrigerator models have a condenser fan inside them. Sometimes they can run into a problem when dust piles up or pet hair etc. Such a problem can affect both the fridge and the freezer.
How to Fix:
To clean the condenser fan, you need to unplug it from the power supply and check the fan. If you find dirt, clean it using a cloth or brush to remove the debris and then spin it to check if it’s moving. Once cleaned and spinning, plug the fridge and check it’s working. If you still have the problem, call a professional to replace it.
Freezer, not Cooling:
There are many reasons for the freezer not maintaining Cooling for a long time.
Defrost problem:
An automatic defrost system is designed to clear the evaporator’s air paths at least once every eight hours by freezing the coils. If it breaks, ice begins to build up around the evaporator and the back of the freezer compartment, leaving the freezer unable to cool.
How to Fix:
Such problems cannot be solved by yourself; it’s best to call a technician to fix them.
Temperature Sensor Broken:
A temperature sensor is nothing but a thermostat that is inside the fridge, used to detect the temperature. Sometimes this might get faulty, and has trouble showing the correct temperatures in the refrigerator and the freezer.
How to Fix:
To solve this problem, you must replace that part.
Problem with Evaporator Fan:
Usually, a plugged or broken evaporator fan can cause strange chirping and squeaking sounds before your refrigerator stops working. If this occurs, you have an ice-clogged or broken evaporator fan.
How to Fix:
Fixing it requires taking all food out of the refrigerator, unplugging the device, and then waiting for it to defrost. It’s probably the evaporator that’s worn out, and you need to replace it if the same issues persist after you defrost your fringe.
When you are working on the appliances, just turn off the plug. If you have to defrost your refrigerator, lay a couple of towels underneath to absorb the moisture. Call a professional to do the work if all parts are to be replaced.
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