Home Improvement Articles

Of all the large appliances, refrigerators tend to be the most dependable. But problems do crop up occasionally. A refrigerator that fails to do its job properly can result in disaster and cost you money. Though most problems require an appliance repair specialist, there are a number of simple repairs that you can perform yourself. Keep these tips handy for heading off refrigerator problems to ensure it works properly for years to come.

To ward off potential problems with your refrigerator, regularly check the power, controls, condenser coils, and other parts outside of your refrigerator’s sealed, hermetic system. According to refrigerator technicians, the best way to lengthen the life of a refrigerator is to clean the condenser coils once a year, or more frequently if they get dirty. For side by side and built in models, it is recommended that the condenser coils are cleaned at least twice a year. Fridges with black coils on the back don’t require semiannual cleaning.

One of the most common fridge troubles people run into is that it won’t cool or it runs constantly. If the inside light works and you can hear the unit running, but it continues to cool poorly or runs without stopping, check to see if something is blocking the passageway between the freezer and refrigerator compartments. Restricted airflow caused by an item such as a loaf of bread in front of the passageway prevents the fridge from cooling properly. Other causes may be an overfull fridge, a constantly opened door, or a hot room temperature.

A fridge that runs without stopping may be low on refrigerant. Without a full charge, the fridge cannot reach the low temperature that you set the dial to. Another likely culprit is a defrost problem, which points to a faulty component in the automatic defrosting system. Before calling a specialist, try the following:

1. Verify whether the fridge section is being cooled. Frost at the top of a “frost free” fridge even when the cold control is set low indicates the fridge probably has a full charge of refrigerant. If this is the case, the thermostat may be faulty or out of calibration.
2. Turn the cold control up and down. If the compressor doesn’t shut off, the control might be broken; call a repair person in this instance.
3. Make sure the drain line under the evaporator coils (which goes to a pan underneath) is not plugged up. Water should drip into the pan when the refrigerator is defrosting properly.

A third common fridge problem is vibrating or rattling noises. These noises are usually caused by loose parts–such as loose condenser coils or compressor “tubing rattle”–or rollers and feet that sit unevenly on the floor. Begin by checking for any part that is loose. To check the feet at the front of the unit, remove the bottom trim piece by lifting it off its supports. If necessary, turn the adjustable feet up or down so they contact the floor squarely. If you can’t find anything that seems to be causing the noise or what you do find cannot be fixed easily by you, call a repair person.

The Appliance Man AC and Heating (http://www.appliancemanrepairs.com) offers reliable and affordable Katy and Sugarland Texas appliances repair. Rachel Spohn is a freelance writer.