Can you imagine what life was like before refrigerators existed? Let’s just not.
Refrigerators are a life changer for keeping food fresh, drinks cold, and extending the lifetime of delicious leftovers.
But picture it’s a hot summer day, you open the fridge door with a yearning for ice cold lemonade…and rather than being greeted with that refreshing cold blast of fridge air, you’re met with a room temperature box.
Don’t panic!
There is likely a fairly simple problem and equally simple solution to your refrigerator not working probably.
Power problems and troubleshooting
Check to make sure your refrigerator is properly plugged in. Even if it is, try plugging it into any other outlet within reach to make sure you don’t have a circuitry problem.
Take a close look at that fridge switch
Push down the automatic switch inside the fridge, checking to make sure that the fridge switch is activating when the door closes.
Usually, this will be pretty easy to determine because the switch will activate the interior light as well. This switch will often turn off the cooling system when the door is opened in order to save energy.
If it’s not working, check your refrigerator manual to see how to disassemble and replace the switch.
You may not need to replace the actual part, but rather tighten it in place so that it turns on properly when the door closes.
Air filter blockages
Most refrigerators have air filters located in the upper rear. These are a critical component of the fan and cooling system.
If the air filter is blocked or gets dirty from outside the fridge or from within, it may be a problem for the cooling system.
A simple do-it-yourself solution is to clear out the shelf area directly in front of the air filter, making sure there is enough space for air to get through within the fridge.
Give the filter a good cleaning while you’re at it, wiping down the interior and exterior area and clearing away any build-up of dust.
Examine the evaporator coils and compressor in the freezer
This step represents the first troubleshooting “level-up” in your refrigerator inspection.
The evaporator coils do exactly what they sound like, which is to evaporate water from inside the freezer, which then drains out through another unit, ensuring a steady flow of cold air.
If the coils themselves become frozen or covered in frost, they’re not going to work properly, which puts excessive pressure on the machine’s compressor, and the whole system is going to eventually fail.
An easy way to determine if you have a problem with your evaporator coils or your compressor if you see a buildup of icicles inside the freezer.
This means you have a draining problem, which will likely be related to the evaporator.
While this might be an indication that you need to replace a part or two, you can at least temporarily remedy the situation by cleaning the coils.
If you do need some replacement items for your refrigerator, there are a number of low cost and high quality sites where you can find refrigerator parts, our recommended brand for the highest quality refrigerators on the market.
Look for leaks
In order for the refrigerator and freezer to keep temperatures fixed at certain cold levels, refrigerant fluid flows through the compressor and evaporator coils.
Letting a refrigerator run with a refrigerant leak is like a marathon runner trying to finish a race without water.
If you do have a leak, locate the source and try to patch it on your own.
You can get replacement refrigerant liquid for very cheap, and a good patch plus some more liquid will fix the problem in no time.
One final note: safety should always be your priority. Before cleaning the air vents, or checking the coils and compressor (which, by the way, are usually located underneath the fridge), unplug the fridge and transfer any critical frozen items while you do your repair.