Different Types of Home Refrigerators Repairs Explained

Did you just notice that your home refrigerator isn’t working properly anymore? If there is one appliance you need to work on daily, it is likely your refrigerator. Over time, it will accumulate dust and grime and stop working correctly. Many people think they have to buy a new refrigerator if the existing one is no longer working. However, this is not necessarily the case. You might be able to perform home refrigerator repairs that will help prolong its life by several years. Just remember that it’s never a good idea to use your appliance if you have any ambiguities as to whether or not it’s safe.

If you are not familiar with home refrigerator repairs, it might be a good idea to read this guide to understand the various types of fridge repairs available.

Different Types of Home Refrigerator Repairs That Can Be Done By Yourself

There are many types of refrigerator repairs. But before you learn about the different home refrigerator repairs, you must first understand what a refrigerator is. A fridge is a mechanical machine used to keep food at a low temperature. This is achieved by using the concept of thermodynamics. The main parts are:

  1. Compressor
  2. Condenser
  3. Evaporator
  4. Expansion valve.

Compressor: The compressor is used to pump refrigerant through the system. It also pumps heat out of the evaporator and pushes it into the condenser.

Condenser: The condenser has copper tubing, which contains refrigerant. This part aims to get rid of the heat that was absorbed in the evaporator to complete the cycle.

Evaporator: This part gets rid of heat from inside the refrigerator using the principles of thermodynamics.

Expansion valve: This part releases excess pressure from inside the system.

To name a few!

The Most Common Types of Home Refrigerator Repairs You Need to Know About

Refrigerator home repairs can be expensive, so you must know the different types of home refrigerator repairs.

Below are the six most common types of home refrigerator repairs you need to know about.

  1. Compressor replacement
  2. Cooling System Repair
  3. Ice Maker Repair
  4. Defrosting Problems
  5. Hinges Repair
  6. Replacing an Exterior Door Gasket:

Let’s talk about each of them. One by one!

Compressor Replacement

The compressor is used to pump refrigerant through the system. If this part fails, there will be no cooling or freezing in your refrigeration unit.

To replace your faulty compressor with a new one, you’ll have to empty the fridge, take the guard plates off, remove the old compressor and install the new one.

Cooling System Repair

The cooling system is probably one of the essential parts of your refrigerator because it helps keep your food fresh. Unfortunately, a faulty cooling system can cause food to spoil and can even lead to an entire food poisoning outbreak in your household. Fortunately, problems in this area are usually easy to repair.

You just have to check that nothing is stuck in the condenser fan of your refrigerator, and it can spin freely. Unplug the fridge. Clean the fan blades and move them with your hands to see if it turns quickly. Plug the refrigerator back and check the fan should run along with the compressor. Otherwise, it needs to be replaced.

Ice-maker Repair

Ice-maker repair usually involves replacing a broken ice maker or repairing a defective water line that leads from your refrigerator’s water supply to the ice maker compartment. First, you need to unplug the fridge and remove the ice maker to resolve the issue. Also, make sure the back of the ice maker isn’t clogged with the ice.

If so, you can fix it by heating it with a hairdryer.

Still didn’t work? Maybe it’s time to replace the ice maker.

Defrosting Problems

One of the most common home refrigerator repairs is defrosting problems. When ice accumulates in the freezer, it can damage food containers and cause freezer burn on frozen foods. In addition, if the ice harms your shelves or containers, moisture from melted water may drip into other foods causing spoilage or contamination.

Defrosting your freezer at least once a year is essential to preventing these problems. But if you live in a humid climate, you may need to do it more often.

If your freezer is having trouble defrosting on its own, you can manually defrost it by pulling out everything from your freezer and placing it in a cooler or large plastic bag for 24 hours. A space of one inch between each item will allow air to circulate freely around all surfaces. Running a fan near the open door can help things along even faster.

Hinges Repair

Hinges are used on doors, allowing the door to swing open. Over time, door hinges can become loose or worn out, but they can easily be repaired instead of having to be replaced entirely. Most home refrigerators have metal hinges that are easy to work with and fixed in place without much trouble.

Replacing an Exterior Door Gasket

Many refrigerators have an exterior gasket that keeps cold air from escaping through the door cracks. If you notice an external gasket leak inside your refrigerator or freezer, it is best to replace it immediately with a new seal.

Conclusion:

This concludes our repairing of home refrigerators.

If you have ever done the repairs of your home refrigeration system on your own, be sure to tell us how things went down in the comment section below. Also, share your experience with others and give them a tip or two you might have learned along the way.