Common Refrigerator Problems You Can Solve at Home
One of the most common refrigerator problems homeowners face with their fridge is cooling issues. Faulty appliances should be taken care of before trying to sell or rent a home. Replacing your appliances is also a good solution for upping the value of your home. Thankfully, there are two ways to troubleshoot the problem before calling a professional appliance repair technician.
Check your Electrical Connection
Before calling a professional, determine if the cause of your cooling issue is an inadequate electrical connection. This can be done by ensuring the power cord is completely inserted into the socket and by confirming the circuit breaker associated with that socket hasn’t tripped. As silly as it sounds, you’d be surprised how many Front Range homeowners call an appliance technician for professional help, only to find that the resolution was simply a lose power cord or overloaded breaker.
Check your Cooling Settings
If your cooling issue still isn’t fixed, the next thing to check is the appliance’s temperature settings.
The temperature controls are found inside of the refrigerator and usually come in the form of a dial or a lever. In most models, the higher numbers on the temperature dial represent a cooler temperature, while the lower numbers represent a warmer temperature. If the dial was accidentally turned to a warmer setting (which is a common issue in homes with curious children), it can mimic the symptoms of other serious cooling issues.
If neither of these DIY troubleshooting tips has corrected your cooling issue, it’s time to call a professional.
Refrigerator Problems that Always Require an Appliance Repair Technician
Broken Ice Makers
The luxury of an ice maker can seem trivial during the cold Colorado winters, but when the heat of summer returns to the Front Range it almost feels like a necessity.
One of the most common reasons ice makers stop working is due to a broken inlet tube. Repairing this component requires working with the internal electrical components of the refrigerator, which can be extremely dangerous for an untrained individual. If the ice machine in your fridge has suddenly stopped working, call an appliance repair technician to troubleshoot the issue for you.
Puddles Under the Fridge
There are usually two primary refrigerator problems that will cause a fridge to produce puddles – a leak in an inlet valve, or a damaged connection between the inlet and the saddle valves. Because both of these problems require professional help to diagnose and repair, it’s crucial to call a technician as soon as you notice water under the appliance.
Loud Noises
If your refrigerator sounds like it’s transformed into a race car, the loud noise is likely caused by one of three common refrigerator problems: a broken fan blade, a malfunctioning evaporator fan motor, or a broken condenser fan. Diagnosing and repairing any of these refrigerator problems is incredibly time consuming and requires the help of a professional repair technician.
Any refrigerator repairs that go beyond adjusting the temperature settings or reconnecting the power cord require the help of an appliance repair specialist. As soon as you notice an issue with your refrigerator, call a professional repair technician to troubleshoot and correct the issue.
