If the refrigerator suddenly stops working or isn’t keeping food as cold as it should, you could end up with spoiled food and an expensive repair bill. But before you call a repair service, there are a few common problems you can investigate.
Here’s what you can do if your refrigerator stops working.
First, examine the refrigerator’s power source, electrical cord, and circuit. If the electricity is fine, then check your refrigerator’s temperature to make sure it hasn’t accidentally been bumped off the optimal setting. Finally, listen for strange noises and see if there are any water leakages.
Each clue can lead you to the source of your refrigerator’s problem.
Common Refrigerator Problems & Solutions
Most refrigerators are rather simple appliances, consisting of a compressor, cooling coils, fan motors, and other small parts. Any of these can break down, causing the entire refrigerator to run inefficiently or stop working.
To find out what’s wrong, you’ll first have to troubleshoot the source of the problem.
Electrical Issues
If the interior light is out, and there doesn’t seem to be any power, there are a few things you can take a look at.
Since the electrical cord is tucked away behind the refrigerator, it’d be very unusual for it to become unplugged unless you’ve recently moved it. However, there still could be some power issues. Check to see if a breaker has been tripped; if after resetting it, it trips again, you could have more serious problems.
It’s possible the power cord could be damaged or experience ordinary wear and tear over time. Mice also sometimes chew electrical cords. If the cord is damaged, you can repair or replace it.
Next, use an electrical tester to see if the outlet is working properly. An inexpensive multimeter can be used to check the outlet’s voltage. Refrigerators run on 120 volts and 15-20 amps. A home refrigerator doesn’t require a GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter), so that is not likely the problem.
Temperature Setting
If the refrigerator is operating, but your food isn’t as cool as it should be or your frozen foods are melting, the problem could be the inside temperature setting.
The normal process of taking things in and out of the appliance can knock the temperature dials off the ideal settings. The temperature range of a refrigerator should be about 37–40°F (3–4°C). A freezer should be set at 0°F (17-18° C).
Some models of refrigerators use numbers instead of actual temperature measurements, so check your manual to see what levels the numbers represent. Generally, higher numbers indicate colder temperatures.
Blockages
Too much food could be causing the lack of coolness in your refrigerator or freezer. Containers and bottles that are pushed too far back or packages stacked too densely can block air vents in the back of the appliance that can prevent the cooled air from circulating. To fix the problem, simply clean out the fridge.
However, blocked vents can lead to more serious problems because when the sensors detect a temperature drop, they prompt the condenser to run harder. The strain on the condenser can cause it to fail.
Water lines can also get blocked or clogged up. If you’re finding puddles of water on the bottom of the fridge, the culprit could be a defrosting drain blocked with ice. You can easily solve this problem by warming the tube and melting the ice.
Coils
The cooling coils are located at the back and bottom of the refrigerator and are responsible for releasing heat from the refrigeration process. If these get covered with dust and debris, they can reduce the efficiency of the refrigerator. Coils are easy to clean with a cloth, brush, or vacuum.
The evaporator coils are a more serious matter. It’s the mechanism responsible for releasing the cooled air into the refrigerator. It’s natural for the coils to become covered with frost, but there’s a built-in thermostat that causes them to periodically defrost and avoid freezing.
If the thermostat malfunctions, the coils can freeze. Several things could cause the thermostat to fail, ranging from timers to switches to the compressor. It’s not easy to diagnose or fix yourself.
There’s also an evaporator fan that can go bad and cause squeaking noises. These can be replaced.
Compressor
A loud noise or grinding sound could indicate a bad compressor. This device maintains the cooling system and tends to be difficult and expensive to fix. Repair requires special equipment and knowledge. It’s best to call a repair service.
How Much Does It Cost To Repair a Refrigerator?
Today’s refrigerators are high-tech and not always easy to repair on your own. Aside from cleaning and defrosting, you may be able to do a few inexpensive repairs yourself, if you have the experience and the right tools. More complex repairs will be more costly.
Fixing a refrigerator can cost as low as $50 to up to $1,000, depending on what parts and repairs are needed. On average, you will pay anywhere from $200 to $300. Refrigerator service technicians charge from $45 to $120 an hour, and some will add on service charges.
By far, the most expensive repair is replacing the control board, which runs about $500-800. Replacing a compressor is also high, costing up to $650 including labor.
You may be able to buy some basic refrigerator parts at a hardware store. Other parts may be difficult to obtain, especially if your refrigerator is older or out of production.
Handling Freon is dangerous and difficult. It’s toxic, and if you don’t install it correctly, you risk personal injury and damage to your refrigerator. Technicians must have certification from the Environmental Protection Agency to buy and use it.
Here are some other common repair costs.
| Ice Maker | $300 to repair; $60-$200 to replace |
| Freezer | $90-$650 |
| Defrost Motor | $100-$440 |
| Door Seal | $50-$440 |
| Coils | $100-$400 |
| Thermostat | $100-$440 |
Is It Worth Repairing a Refrigerator?
After seeing how much you’ll pay to repair a refrigerator, you might be wondering whether it’s worth it. In comparing the repair costs to buying a new refrigerator, you’ll need to consider a number of factors.
It might be worth repairing a refrigerator if it’s a newer model and the part or repair needed is relatively simple. The cost of a new refrigerator averages somewhere between $1,000 and $2,000, depending on the style and features. But if your refrigerator is more than 7 or 8 years old, you might want to buy a new one.
Repairing a newer refrigerator can extend its life by several years. If your refrigerator is already past its prime, or if you’ve had repeated or continuing trouble with it, the repair costs will not pay off.
According to Consumer Reports, whether to repair or replace is determined by the refrigerator style. “Consider repairing” means to weigh the costs of repair vs. the cost of replacement.
| Freezer at Top | Repair if under 3 years old; consider repairing if under 6 years old. Replace if older than 6 years. |
| Freezer at Bottom | Repair if under 7 years old; considering repairing if older than 7 years |
| Side-by-Side | Repair if under 5 years old; consider repairing if older |
| Built-in Refrigerator | Repair |
What’s The Average Life Expectancy of a Refrigerator?
With so many types of refrigerators on the market, you might be tempted to upgrade to a newer model. At the same time, to get a good return on your investment, you want to use the refrigerator as long as you can.
The average refrigerator can last between 10 and 20 years if it is cleaned and maintained properly. Top-freezer and bottom-freezer models generally have longer lifespans than side-by-sides.
As refrigerators age, they may become less efficient and more prone to breakdown. Older units may also be energy hogs. Newer models are usually Energy Star certified, which means they have been specially designed to save electricity.