Local Refrigerator Repair

Leaking Water 

The most common cause for a leaking refrigerator is a clogged or blocked defrost drain. When a refrigerator goes into a defrost cycle, or reaches the set temperature, frost which has accumulated on the evaporator coil melts. The melt water must flow down a drain tube to a pan under the refrigerator where it eventually evaporates. When this drain tube freezes over or becomes blocked, the water begins to flow out from the inside of the refrigerator. This often forms sheets of ice on the floor of the freezer or fresh food section, before eventually leaking out onto the kitchen floor.

A refrigerator leak can also be due to broken or cracked water lines or tubing, which supply the water to the refrigerator dispenser or ice maker. These plastic water lines often become dry rotted and brittle over time due to the heat from the surrounding compressor and condenser.  Leaks can also arise from improperly installed tubing or hose connections. In any case, a leak must always be visually traced back to the point of failure.

In many other cases, a refrigerator may leak due to faulty parts. Overtime, an icemaker's gasket can begin to leak, or the ice trey may crack, causing what appears to be icicles forming down from the bottom of the icemaker. Other parts, such as a refrigerators water inlet valve, could be responsible for a leak as well. The electronic solenoid, within the water valve, will often fail to close off the supply of water to the unit, often leading to a significant and often disastrous leak.

Feels Warm or Hot

If your refrigerator is warm or hot to the touch it could indicate that it is in need of service. The most common cause for this is a dirty condenser coil and can be remedied with a quick cleaning. It is normal for the condenser coil to feel warm, as it is transferring out the heat from the inside of the unit. However, the condenser can overheat and cause a reduction in the unit’s efficiency to produce cold air. A condenser fan, which cools down the condenser, can also fail. This will also lead to the refrigerator overheating. 

Along with the condenser, there are other areas of the refrigerator that are intended to get warm. Don’t be alarmed if it is warm where the door makes contact with the body of the unit. Many refrigerators are equipped with heaters and heater loops that intentionally produce heat to reduce condensation.

Making Noises

If your refrigerator is making unusual noises, it almost always indicates a problem that should be addressed. Refrigerators can make many different types of noises and many are perfectly normal, but if noises become louder than its time for service. The most common problematic noises usually come from failing fan motors or built up frost and ice around the fan causing a loud buzzing sound. Ice or frost around the fan can arise from a number of different issues. Frost can form from a simple mistake as leaving the door slightly ajar for an extended amount of time. However, frost can also come from a malfunctioning defrost cycle or from trapped water from a blocked drain. 

Many other common noises can be associated with the compressor. If your compressor has become louder it could indicate a serious problem such as a restriction of the flow of Freon through the system. The compressor can than become overworked and begin to overheat and shutdown. Refrigerators are equipped with an overload on the compressor. When the compressor overheats, you may often experience a clicking noise as the overload turns on and off the compressor. In any scenario, a professional must track down the noise to see if there is frost or ice, to make an accurate diagnosis.

Running Constantly

If your refrigerator is running longer or more often, it could be overheating and may be in need of a simple condenser cleaning. However, sometimes this may indicate a more serious problem, such as a Freon leak. When a refrigerator leaks Freon, it takes longer to cool. When enough Freon is lost, it may run constantly and never reach the set temperature, resulting in a costly electric bill. In many cases, a refrigerator run time is ignored until it is too late and food spoils.

Not Running

If you notice that your refrigerator is not running, it most likely has reached its set temperature and has intentionally turned itself off. Refrigerators will also cycle into a defrost, where the fans and compressor shut down and a heater turns on to melt frost accumulation. If you do not hear your refrigerator running, there is no need to be concerned, unless you notice inadequate temperatures. In many cases parts can fail requiring immediate attention. Thermostats, sensors, or controls can fail, keeping the refrigerator from turning on, which then becomes a race to prevent food from spoiling.