Every homeowner has that moment when they open the fridge only to be treated with a warm and dark appearance. The refrigerator is always taken for granted and is expected to run at all times. Unfortunately, things happen and when it does, the results are never good and sometimes it can cost quite an investment, depending on what you have in your refrigerator. Now you have to find out what caused the refrigerator to stop working? Here are the most common reasons why fridges give out and what an appliance repair expert in San Diego County can work on to fix the problem.
The Evaporator Coils Are Frosted Over
When a refrigerator is working, the defrost heater will turn on and off throughout the day. This heater works like this in order to melt any ice and frost that may be building up on the coils. If this heater stops working, your coils will eventually be overtaken by the frost build up. You will not only see the frost but you will also notice that the freezer is still cold but inside the refrigerator it will be warm. The best way to handle this problem is to unplug the unit and simply allow it to defrost completely. You will need to do something with all the food that is in it while you are doing that. Conversely, you can unplug the refrigerator and freezer and use a hair dryer to help melt the frost away.
Tips To Avoid Frost
You want to avoid keeping the air blocked inside the freezer. In order to do that, you should avoid stuffing the freezer so that the air can circulate with ease. The best rule of thumb is to only fill it up 2/3 way full. This gives the air room to circulate throughout.
Defective Evaporator Fan Motor
The evaporator fan is important for pushing the cold air from the refrigerator coils to the other parts of the unit. The fan is operated by a motor. You can check to make sure that the evaporator fan is working by manually rotating the fan. If the motor will not turn, then it should be replaced as soon as possible. If the motor seems to be running but stressed out or making a loud sound, you will need to replace it instead.
Damper Control Assembly
The damper control tells the damper when to open and when to close. It also allows the right amount of air to circulate throughout the unit. If the control isnโt working right, then the damper will not open or close correctly. You can visually inspect the damper to see if it is broken or if it is lodged either open or closed.
Tips To Avoid Frequent Refrigerator Repair
Itโs always a good idea to clean the coils in the back of the fridge. There is a lot of dust and other debris that can be pulled up to the coils and left there until you vacuum it off. The coils are easy to get to if you simply remove the kick plate near the bottom of the unit.
Always make sure that the refrigerator door stays closed. If you leave the door open for long periods of time, this causes the motor to work harder in order to maintain the temperature. In some cases, the compressor can overheat and shut off. This causes the fridge to stop cooling down. You can also clean the door seals on occasions to ensure that it seals up great. While you can build cabinets around your refrigerator, it helps the unit to run better when air can flow freely around it. Placing it in a snug area can shorten the life of your refrigerator because eventually it does overheat.
Never put too many items inside the door of your refrigerator. The added weight on the door can eventually wear down the hinges and the shelves causing damage that will affect the way that it seals.
Contact us: