Your refrigerator is the backbone of the home, meticulously keeping food and drinks chilled or frozen every day, 24/7. So, it would be a miracle if there were no troubles from time to time. But a faulty light or ice maker is bound to happen here or there, so now you may be wondering if it’s time for a new fridge or if repairing your current one is worth the cost?
Contrary to public belief, repairing your refrigerator may not cost as much as you think compared to buying a whole new fridge, depending on what’s short-circuiting. By the end of this article, you’ll see the benefits of knowing how to fix a refrigerator, or if it’s time to call a repair service professional.
At a Glance:
When to Seek Professional Repair Service
How to Fix a Refrigerator
Has the ol’ reliable refrigerator started malfunctioning? Is it making loud humming or buzzing noises? Does it look like the Ice Age has come to the inside of your refrigerator, freezing everything in sight? Or worse, your favorite cold desserts have turned into soup and your fruits are feeling mushy? These are just a few issues we have all dealt with when our refrigerators are no longer functioning properly. However, our experts have found a few solutions to fix it at little cost.
Refrigerator Not Cool
Are your frozen foods covered in condensation and thawing out while your fresh produce is expiring way faster than it should? Does the inside of your fridge feel warmer than it should? It sounds like you may have a cooling problem. Here are some of the potential causes along with solutions to get your refrigerator back to its cool self.
Try Adjusting the Temperature Settings
Although this may seem like a very obvious fix, sometimes the settings get changed accidentally from things brushing against it, resulting in a higher temperature, expired milk, and soupy ice cream. Check the thermostat inside your refrigerator to ensure your fridge is set between 36–40°F, while the freezer should be at 5°F and below. If that doesn’t make a difference, call a professional technician to find the root cause of the problem.
Inspect Door Gaskets
Sometimes, it’s a matter of your refrigerator door not closing, due to the door gaskets not forming a perfectly tight seal to keep the cold in. To avoid making your refrigerator work harder to keep your food frozen and chilled, first try cleaning the seals with warm water and placing a thin coating to regain that air-tight seal. If that doesn’t work, check the quality of the gaskets, and if they show any signs of brittleness, it’s time to replace them.
Refrigerator Door Won’t Close
If you have ever struggled with closing your refrigerator door or getting it to stay closed — we know your frustration and have a few ideas of what may be causing it.
Overloaded Door
If you have had trouble finding more room for your groceries on the shelves and crispers, then to the refrigerator door bin it goes. But have you noticed your refrigerator doesn’t close all the way anymore, resulting in spoiled and rotten foods? Regularly overloading your door’s bins can pull the door downwards, knocking it out of alignment. To prevent this, check the door often for heavy items and make sure to remove them.
Leveling is Wrong
Have you ever looked at your fridge and wondered if it was leaning a little to the left/right, or if it was just you? You’re probably not imagining things; a tell-tale sign of a poorly leveled refrigerator is the inability to close your fridge door automatically when it’s barely opened. To ensure the proper leveling of your refrigerator, confirm if the front of the model is higher than the back, and then consult your installation guide for how to correct it.
Refrigerator Light Stays On
Aren’t sure if your light isn’t turning off when you close your refrigerator? Find the light sensor or switch in your fridge and cover it to see if it’s working correctly. Or try touching the food closest to the light to see if they feel cool to the touch. There’s a problem if the light stays on, but we may have a solution.
Is It the Switch?
Test the light switch and see if there is any resistance or stick; sometimes, the control can get sticky or covered in build-up, preventing the switch from working. This can easily be solved with a good cleaning with warm water and soap on a cloth to wipe away the build-up and stickiness.
Check the Bulb Socket
If the problem is the bulb or the switch, it may be time to potentially replace the light bulb socket. You can easily pick up a replacement from a home improvement store or call a technician to install a new one.
Refrigerator is Too Cold
If you have ever opened your freezer to see your items covered in frost and freezer burn or frozen produce in your fridge instead of chilled, your refrigerator model may be working too hard to keep things cold.
Damper Check
The damper is the cooling device controlled by a thermostat placed in the very back of the fridge for most models. Check to see if the vent is stuck in the open position resulting in the continuous rush of cold air that’s freezing everything.
Refrigerator Repair Costs
Parts
When it comes to repairing your refrigerator, parts can range anywhere from $200–$300 on average. But homeowners can spend as little as $40, or up to $1200, depending on the components that need to be fixed.
Professional Service
If you prefer the convenience of hiring a certified technician, you can expect service calls to range from $70–$120, depending on your location. If the type of fix needed is urgent, they will offer emergency repair services which can cost $110–$300 per hour since the malfunction needs immediate fixing upon arrival.
When to Seek Professional Repair Service
When the problems with your refrigerator are beyond quick and easy fixes, it’s time to call a professional repair service: Make a service repair appointment for:
- Gas leaks
- Cooling defects
- Freon leakage
- Heat vent blockage
- Uneven power supply
- Dirty condenser coils
Receive the Best Refrigerator Repair from Don’s Appliances
Don’s Appliances service department prides itself on having factory trained technicians capable of servicing and repairing more than 25 appliance brands available in our store. Our EPA-friendly service department, crowned the “Top 100 Service” from Sub-Zero/Wolf, provides service and repairs within a 125-mile radius of our nearest stores in PA, OH, WV, and MD. Continuously receiving “A” grades from multiple manufacturers, customers can expect friendly service, prompt scheduling, appointment reminders, and top-quality professionalism of our factory-authorized technicians capable of servicing more than 25 appliance brands.
Seek Our Repair Services at Don’s Appliances
Don’s Appliances has supported our customers and Pennsylvania communities for 50 years with our appliances and housewares expertise and competitive prices! Browse brand-name refrigerators that can keep up with your daily home life or visit us in person if you have any questions about our appliance services at one of our eleven appliance showrooms throughout Pennsylvania and West Virginia.