Troubleshooting A Warm Fridge
Posted on: 27 March 2019
Without a properly functioning fridge, it becomes next to impossible to cook and store food at home, which represents a huge disruption to your everyday routine. Thankfully, a fridge that is no longer cooling properly is usually caused by one of three common issues, all of which are relatively easily solved. Being able to identify why your fridge is not working properly can help you quickly diagnose and solve the issue once it arises.
Lining Issues
The most common, but also thankfully the easiest to fix, reason why your fridge may be suffering from warm air and condensation on the interior is because the lining around the door is no longer complete. This can be caused by the lining simply being knocked loose, allowing air to enter your fridge. In some cases, the lining may be physically damaged and will need to be replaced, but more often than not all you will have to do is reattach the lining so that it fits snugly around the edges of your door. Keep in mind that older linings may no longer be able to hold their shape or form a seal, in which case you'll have to purchase a replacement.
Refrigerant Leaks
Another fairly common cause of a warm fridge that is unfortunately a little harder to fix is a refrigerant leak. Refrigerants are the gases used to chill the interior of your fridge by absorbing and venting heat outside of the appliance. Leaks can develop due to a combination of age and stress, which can cause the refrigerant lines or condenser to physically break down. A refrigerant leak will cause your fridge to run constantly as it attempts to maintain a stable interior temperature, and can also leave an unpleasant smell lingering in the air around your appliance. An appliance repair specialist will have to replace the damaged component and refill the refrigerant within your fridge before it will work properly again.
Clogged Condenser Coils
Finally, the last reason why your fridge may be running a hot interior temperature is because the condenser coils, which work to vent heat out of the fridge, are clogged. This happens normally with age as dirt and dust becomes caked on, preventing your fridge from operating as it should. You can clean condenser coils yourself with no special tools. Simply wipe them down with a wet paper towel to remove grime and stuck on materials, using regular dish soap if necessary to cut through grease. Condenser coils are most commonly found at the back of your fridge, though some models have coils at the top or bottom of the unit as well.
For more help, get in touch with a home appliance repair service.
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