Out of Cold? Keeping your Refrigerator Running

Sonia Hwang
2019-12-18T16:00:00-05:00

Keep everything cool, literally. Your refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in your home for food storage, and if the temperatures are out of control, it can be a big risk.
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Hey, is your refrigerator running? No? It’s no joke, being without a working freezer and refrigerator can cost you a lot of time, energy, and food.

When your fridge breaks down, your kitchen comes to a halt, never mind the expense and inconvenience of having it fixed. Thankfully, our Vernon appliance experts have some handy tips you can follow to avoid most refrigerator issues. Doing proper maintenance, regularly cleaning, and checking your refrigerator at home can help catch issues before it's too late. But if you're already needing assistance, keep reading for more!

Whether you’re currently having fridge-issues, or you are interested in learning how to keep everything running smoothly, we have tips and fixes for you.

Warning: Unplug your fridge before doing any maintenance!

The problem: No power

If your fridge isn’t running and the lights are off, try these steps to see if you can get the power going again.

1. Is the power cord loose? If it’s not plugged in tight or the receptacle is worn, the plug might not be able to make a connection. If you notice brown or black discolouration around the plug, you might need to contact an electrician. Remember to take photos to document everything before you try to fix it yourself!

2. Is the power cord frayed or worn? Mice and rats can chew through these wires, or they can just become strained when you move your fridge. There are some DIY and repair solutions you can find online, but in this case, it might be good to look into a new refrigerator.

3. Check your fuse box. Make sure the switch is on, and power can get to the outlet. If the switch is constantly being thrown, you may need to contact an electrician. This could be a warning sign that could lead to a house fire if ignored.

4. Plug a lamp into the outlet to see if the lamp will turn on. If it doesn’t, you know there’s an electrical issue and your fridge might be fine.

The problem: Your fridge is running, but your food is warm

When your fridge has power but it’s clearly not cooling your food, our appliance repairs experts suggest trying these steps before calling for service.

1. Check your thermostat. It should be on and set to the right temperature (usually somewhere in the middle). The dials on some fridges are easy to move accidentally.

2. What does the inside light do when the door closes? If that light bulb you use to see what’s on your shelves is staying on when the door is closed, it could be heating up your fridge enough to throw off the temperature and warm your food. How can you check? Stick a butter knife between the gasket (the rubber-like seal around the edge) and close the door. If light shines out, the switch needs to be fixed. Until that happens, loosen or remove the bulb, so it stays off when the door is closed.

3. Check for ice build-up. If you have a frost-free fridge and your freezer is packed with ice-build-up, you’ll need to defrost the freezer by unplugging it and call for service. We recommend doing this when it’s cold outside since you can use nature as a freezer/fridge in the meantime! Pack it in a cooler if you can, to avoid tempting wild animals into a quick snack

4. Re-pack the freezer. If you have a frost-free fridge and an upper freezer, it can be easy for food to stack and block the freezer vent. Move those packages of fries and green beans to the side so your vent can properly circulate air in the freezer. It’s also important to only fill your freezer about three-quarters full so that cold air can circulate.

5. Clean the door gasket. You know that bendy white material around the door of your fridge? This is called the gasket, and it seals the cold air in your fridge when you close the door. Because of their location, gaskets take the brunt of a lot of spills—juice, jam, syrup.
To avoid your gasket gluing to the fridge—and, in the worst case, tearing when the door opens after a long-ignored sticky spill—spend a few minutes every month wiping down your gasket. Just a bit of warm water and a sponge should do the trick so you can keep your gasket sealing that cold air in your fridge.

6. Clean your coils. Ever looked at the back of your fridge? Those black coils are a very important part of your refrigerator. They allow the heated, pressurized refrigerants to get cooled. When dust and dirt build-up on the coils at the back of your fridge, it acts as an insulator and doesn’t allow heat to dissipate. This can cause the compressor to shut down the fridge. Good news! You can easily clean the dust with a vacuum cleaner. But the grime will require a bit more care. Wipe the coils with a wet, soapy rag. Drive everything off completely before plugging the fridge back in again!

Major appliances like refrigerators can be a bit intimidating to open up or check for issues, but it's important to know where the problem points lie. This is a helpful guide if you find your refrigerator a bit on the warmer side. Don't be afraid to take a look around! Sometimes the problem is as simple as a vent being blocked by your groceries. If there's a solution you're not finding on the list here, you can find additional references and recommendations via searches, such as this one.

Hopefully, these troubleshooting tips will help you avoid an appliance repairs service call and get your refrigerator back up and running. Refrigerators are resilient, but they do require some care to keep them running for as long as possible. Most refrigerators last for 10-20 years, with proper upkeep. If your appliance is getting on in age, it might be time to upgrade. Take a look at our online catalogue, and say hello in-store for any questions you might have.