Refrigerator Repair Tips

Sometimes an appliance just isn’t working as it should. And when that happens, you have to decide whether to repair it or replace it.

The decision is often a tough one. It’s a balancing act between cost and utility bill savings, plus the typical useful lifespan of your appliance.

Door Seals

Door seals are an important part of your Refrigerator Repair. They prevent warm air and moisture from leaking into the fridge.

They also help keep ice from forming on your food, keeping it fresher longer. Sadly, they can become brittle and crack over time.

The good news is that many fridges give you a simple way to replace the seal without having to replace the whole door.

The best way to find out if you have a problem with your door seal is to do a quick inspection. Look for signs like splits, or areas where the seal is coming loose and not adhering to the door.

Condenser Fan

The condenser fan is the key to your refrigerator’s cooling ability. It draws in cool air, circulates it around the coils in the back of the fridge, and then re-circulates it out through the bottom exhaust grill.

A good condenser fan should be able to rotate freely and not be obstructed by dust or other debris. If your condenser fan isn’t spinning, this could be a sign that it needs to be replaced.

A condenser fan that won’t start when power is turned on but whose blades spin easily when power is off may have a worn fan motor shaft bearing. Worn fan motor bearings can wobble or bind, causing overheating and freezing of the fan motor.

Evaporator Fan

The evaporator fan is located in the freezer compartment of your refrigerator and helps circulate air. If the evaporator fan stops working, the temperature inside your fridge will rise and your food may become spoiled.

A faulty evaporator fan can cause a number of issues with your appliance, including increased energy usage and a clogged evaporator coil. To fix a faulty evaporator fan, you need to identify the problem and make sure the electronic control board, evaporator fan motor, and wiring are all working properly.

To check if the fan is functioning correctly, unplug your fridge and open the access panel. Then, use a brush or vacuum attachment to clean out the coils. This should be done regularly, as dirty coils can lead to a number of problems with your fridge and impede air circulation.

Motor

The motor, which sits behind a panel on the back of your refrigerator, moves air through the refrigerator’s evaporator coils to cool the fresh food compartment. It is one of the most important components of your refrigerator, and if it stops working, you’ll need to replace it.

Historically, single phase shaded pole (SP) induction motors have been used to power evaporator fan blades for stand-alone refrigeration units. However, as energy costs have increased, permanent split capacitor (PSC) motors have become the preferred choice for most newer refrigerators.

Both motor types are induction motors that consist of copper wire wound on a steel stator and aluminum wire cast into holes through a steel rotor. Each type operates differently, and each has advantages and disadvantages that can affect the performance of a refrigerator’s evaporator fan.

Power Cord

When repairing a refrigerator, one of the most important things to check is the power cord. The power cord connects the refrigerator to the outlet receptacle, and if it’s frayed, damaged or broken, the appliance will not turn on.

A power cord is a length of electrical cable with a plug on one end and a connector on the other. The plug and cable are molded to fit into a power outlet, while the connector connects to an appliance or other device.

The plug and cable are typically rated to carry a specific amperage. The voltage of the electricity is also a factor.