What To Do When Your Fridge Stops Working
That’s where this post can help. It looks at some of the things you can do when your fridge stops working so you can get it up and running again and avoid spoiling any baby food.
Check The Power Source
It might sound obvious, but the first step is to check the power source. Sometimes, fridges don’t work because there’s some problem at the wall or with the fuse box.
Usually, refrigerators have a switch next to them, hidden out of the way. Often, it’s a special fuse switch that can trip. Check it’s one, and also any switches inside the fridge. Also check the fridge’s circuit at the fuse box to check nothing’s shorted out.
Adjust The Temperature Setting
Next, you’ll want to adjust the temperature setting. Your fridge might seem like it isn’t working properly if you haven’t set it to the correct coolant level.
Usually, there will be a dial with numbers on it. The higher the number, the lower the temperature (confusing, indeed).
Inspect The Door Seals
If that still seems not to be working, check the door seals. Make sure they are airtight around the door. If you can see cracks or any other damage to the soft rubbery material, you may need to replace it.
Fortunately, you can find loads of parts to fix the fridge online, so there shouldn’t be any issue here.
If the door seals are dirty, sometimes you can get away with simply cleaning them. Running hot, soapy water over them can remove most of the gunk.
Allow The Fridge To Cool Down
As you try all these strategies, make sure you leave time for the fridge to cool down. It can take quite a while for this to happen, so you’ll want to go back several hours later to check how everything is going.
It should be immediately obvious that the fridge is working well (and any ice cream in the freezer compartment should feel solid again).
Remember, it will take longer to cool down the more food you have in it. The coils will have to cool the air and then the solid food and drinks, which will take much longer.
Listen For Strange Noises
While waiting, listen for strange noises that your refrigerator doesn’t usually make. Clicking or buzzing is usually a bad sign and indicates a compressor problem.
If you can’t hear anything, it could mean a problem with the motor or power supply. All fridge motors make a bit of noise, so a prolonged period of silence after you’ve told the unit to cool down is unusual.
Use An Appliance Thermometer
Finally, it’s worth using an appliance monitor to see if the unit is cooling down. These are accurate and can provide real-time updates, telling you if anything’s wrong.
Failing that, you may have to hire a handyman to fix the problem. Often, they can get to the bottom of it fairly quickly.