4 of the Most Common Fridge Issues and How to Repair Them

After a long day at work, you’re eager to come home, cook a simple dinner, and relax for the rest of the night. However, when you arrive home, the last thing you want to find is your refrigerator leaky, warm, or frozen!

Instead of panicking, identifying the issue and knowing how to remedy it is essential to saving your fridge from disrepair. Similarly, it helps you save money instead of purchasing a brand-new unit.

If you’re looking to learn the most common fridge issues, keep reading. You’ll learn how to identify and fix typical problems your unit may give you.

1. Leaking Water

The kitchen can be a dangerous place. From handling extreme temperatures to sharp utensils, a leaky fridge can be a recipe for disaster. Water can make your floor slippery, leaving you at an increased risk of injury and harm.

Not only can leaking water pose a safety hazard, but if left untreated, standing water can lead to dangerous mold. This poses potential health risks, as breathing in mold can cause respiratory issues.

Typically, a leaky fridge can is caused by a blocked or clogged defrost drain. As the refrigerator defrosts, the water runs through a hose. However, when this is blocked, the water can’t drain and ends up on the floor.

Luckily, this is one of the most common fixes, as you’ll need to locate the hose and wash it out. However, if the problem persists, the blockage may be located in the valve that connects the shoe to the fridge, so you’ll need to clean this piece.

2. Not Staying Cool Enough

When you open your fridge, it’s not uncommon to feel the cold radiating out of the storage space. However, if your unit can’t seem to hold a cool temperature, this can be trouble.

Storing your food at the incorrect temperature can be a major cause for concern about food-related illnesses. This means you’re more than likely to toss any food that can’t be stored at a warm temperature, wasting valuable ingredients and money.

If you find that your fridge isn’t staying cold, the most common cause is an issue with airflow. The air that cools your fridge flows from the freezer, so you’ll need to ensure the vents are free of dust or debris that could be blocking the airflow.

If you’ve checked and your fridge vents are perfectly cleared, you’ll need to move your attention to the coils beneath your fridge. Clearing these out can help the air escape your fridge, helping it retain a consistently cool temperature.

If all else fails, you may need to call a 24/7 appliance repair service to take a look at your motor. When your engine isn’t functioning, it can make it difficult for your fridge to receive the necessary cold air.

3. Water or Ice Dispenser Not Functioning

Is there anything worse than looking forward to an ice-cold drink, only to find no ice in your freezer? Or worse yet, finding your water dispenser is broken?

When these two features don’t work, don’t panic. There’s a relatively simple fix for both of these common issues, but you’ll first need to identify the cause!

The first thing you’ll want to check is your water line. If this is broken, frozen, or kinked, it can prevent water from flowing to your ice machine or dispenser. Thawing out or replacing the line is an easy remedy for this issue.

However, if the line is fine, you may need to check your water pressure. Improper water pressure can lead to your fridge being unable to properly dispense ice or water.

Finally, if improper water pressure isn’t the problem, you may need to investigate the water valve. This piece can often become blocked or jammed, making it impossible for the after to pass through the inlet to your dispensers.

4. Frost Buildup

When you open your refrigerator to find the contents are coated in a layer of frost, you may immediately panic picturing the pricey repairs.

However, frost in your fridge can have a simple solution. Your temperature control thermostat may be broken and in need of replacement.

However, you can check to see if the thermostat is the main issue by rotating the controller from the coolest to the warmest temperature. You should hear a click; this indicates that the thermostat is functioning properly, and is not why the fridge is freezing.

If you don’t hear a click, this indicates that your thermostat isn’t to blame for your fridge freezing.

If your thermostat isn’t the issue, you may find that the seals that keep the cool air in your fridge are worn down and malfunctioning. Because they can’t retain the cold air, your unit will work overtime to remedy the issue, leading your fridge to freeze.

Replacing the seals, also known as a gasket, is a relatively simple process that can save you money in the long run.

Combat These Common Fridge Issues

Though these problems can be frustrating, your refrigerator is an integral part of your kitchen. Knowing the quick repairs and remedies for these problems can help keep your unit functioning properly and save you money on a pricey replacement.

Remember, if you’re still having trouble, calling a repair service to assess fridge issues is essential.

If you’ve been able to identify the problem with your unit thanks to this guide on the most common fridge issues, you’ll want to check out the rest of our website. You’ll find more essential home improvement hacks.