A refrigerator is one of the most important household appliances. It saves us having to prepare food every day. It comes in handy when freezing you’ve bought food in bulk for future use. Therefore if or when it malfunctions, stress isn’t too far away. Here are some common refrigerator problems and how to fix them.
Leakage
Water pooling under the fridge is a sign of blocked defrost drain. When food particles get lodged in the drain pipe, ice builds up and water leaks out of the freezer compartment and the refrigerator. This can be fixed by draining the freezer with warm water using a funnel. Alternatively, use a pipe cleaner and straightened coat hanger to remove the clog.
Leakage is also caused by a frozen or blocked frozen water supply line. This in turn stop water flow from the dispenser and affects ice production from the ice maker. To fix this, unplug the fridge and locate the shut off valve. It should be behind the refrigerator, or below the refrigerator in the basement. Close it securely then check for leaks.
Replace the water supply line if there are any breaks in it. If there’s a translucent clog, leave the fridge unplugged for around 2 hours to dissolve it. However if the clog is coloured, consult a trusted repair professional.
Freezer Choking In Ice
This occurs when the freezer door is left open for too long. Humidity levels inside the freezer rise, resulting in the buildup. If the door doesn’t close on it’s own, have someone assist you to lean the refrigerator far back enough for you to access the 2 front pedestal feet. Screw them out a few feet such that the fridge leans backward when erected upright. This ensures the door closes well and water drains out of the freezer.
Running Constantly
The main cause of this is debris buildup in the condenser coils. Unplug the fridge then look for the condenser coils at the very bottom. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove the dirt. If there’s still some left over after this, a small brush or cloth should do the trick.
Setting the temperature too low causes the refrigerator to overwork as it tries to reach optimum levels. Ensure the temperature is between 2.8 and 4.4 degrees Celsius.
