Residential refrigerator & freezer inspection, troubleshooting & repair guide:

This article describes simple steps that you can take to get a refrigerator working again, or to decide that it's time to buy a new refrigerator or that you would be smart to call an appliance repair person.

We include links to more-detailed refrigerator / appliance repair procedures.

Refrigerator Inspection & Repair

Where to start when the refigerator is giving problems: as adapted from Carson Dunlop Associates Home Reference Guide:

• If the refrigerator is not running,
  
  the power cord may be damaged, the fuse or breaker at the main panel may have tripped, the compressor may be inoperative, or the refrigerator may be turned off or unplugged.
  
  There may also be a problem with the thermostat.
• If the refrigerator is running, but is not very cold,
  
  the temperature setting may be too high, the refrigerant level may be low, the airflow over the cooling surface may be blocked or restricted, the condenser coils may be dirty, the defrost mechanism may be inoperative, or the compressor may be failing.
• If the refrigerator is too cold
  
  check the temperature settings in two locations: both the freezer compartment and the refrigeration compartment.
  
  Often setting one of these two areas to a higher or lower temperature will cure the problem.
• A noisy refrigerator
  
  may have worn motor bearings for the evaporator or condenser, or the refrigerator may not be level.
• Too much condensation inside the refrigerator
  
  or on its door jamb may indicate the unit is on “economy” setting or that the heater is inoperative.
  
  A leaky door gasket may cause condensation around the door.
• Leaks at the refrigerator
  
  are often the result of a clogged or disconnected defrost drain line. Leaks may also be from the icemaker or water dispenser.
• Watch out: at refrigeration school I [DF] learned that very often people toss out a perfectly good refrigerator that appears to be "dead", suspecting a costly refrigerator repair like a compressor replacement.
  
  If your appliance repair person traces a refrigerator problem to a dead compressor motor, it can be replaced but that measure is often not economical.
  
  But first check to be sure that the problem is not simply a bad timer, relay, sensor or control. Those parts are usually much less costly to replace.

Refrigerator Repair Basics & Error Codes

• Bosch REFRIGERATOR ERROR CODES [PDF] - https://www.searspartsdirect.com/diy/error-codes/refrigerator-repair/1234589/bosch-side-by-side-refrigerator/1794
• Electrolux REFRIGERATOR ERROR CODES [PDF] - op. cit
• Frigidaire REFRIGERATOR ERROR CODES [PDF] - op. cit.
• GE General Electric REFRIGERATOR ERROR CODES [PDF] - op. cit. these error codes will help with any brand of refrigerator whose electronics are provided by controls made by GE
• Kenmore (Sears) 111 REFRIGERATOR ERROR CODES [PDF] - op. cit.
• LG REFRIGERATOR ERROR CODES [PDF] - op. cit.
• Maytag REFRIGERATOR OWNER'S MANUAL [PDF] (2008) Maytag Brand Home Appliances Customer eXperience Center 553 Benson Road Benton Harbor, MI 49022-2692
  or
  Maytag Brand Home Appliances Centre d'eXpérience à la clientèle 1901 Minnesota Court Mississauga, Ontario L5N 3A7 Canada
• Samsung RS25H REFRIGERATOR ERROR CODES [PDF] - op. cit.
• Sears Parts Direct offers a range of refrigerator repair manuals and videos: https://www.searspartsdirect.com/diy/repair-guides/refrigerator-repair/1234589 - a few examples are below
  
  Weischwill, Lyle, REFRIGERATOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL BOARD REPLACEMENT [PDF] searspartsdirect.com - for modern refrigerators using a printed circuit control board
  
  Excerpt:
  This DIY repair guide gives step-by-step instructions for replacing a temperature control board in a refrigerator. The temperature control board, also called the main control board or the PCB board, is next to the compressor, behind the panel on the back of the refrigerator.
  
  The temperature control board monitors the temperature sensors and starts the compressor and fans to cool the refrigerator. It also controls the defrost cycle.
  
  A failed temperature control board misreads the temperature sensors, causing inconsistent refrigerator temperature—typically too cold.
  
  Because other problems can cause the same symptom, a reliable diagnosis requires the expertise of a local refrigerator repair expert. If the temperature control board is faulty, replace it with the manufacturer-approved replacement part for your model.
  
  Use this procedure to replace the temperature control board in Kenmore, GE, Maytag, Amana, Frigidaire, Electrolux, Whirlpool and Haier refrigerators.
  
  Weischwill, Lyle, PRESS-IN DOOR GASKET IN A SIDE-BY-SIDE REFRIGERATOR, REPLACEMENT [PDF] Op. Cit.
  
  Excerpt:
  
  This DIY repair guide and video shows youhow to replace a refrigerator door gasket thatpresses into a groove around the edge of thedoor on a side-by-side refrigerator.
  
  Weischwill, Lyle, REFRIGERATOR DEFROST SENSOR REPLACEMENT [PDF] Op. Cit. for a side-by-side refrigerator
  
  Excerpt:
  
  This refrigerator repair guide gives step-by-step instructions for replacing the defrost sensor in a side-by-side refrigerator. The defrost sensor—also called a defrost bi-metal thermostat—shuts off the defrost heater if the heater gets hot enough to damage the evaporator.
• Whirlpool REFRIGERATOR ERROR CODES [PDF] - op. cit.

 

1950's Refrigerator Catalogs & Photos

• AMERICAN KITCHENS CATALOG 1950 [PDF]
• FRIGIDAIRE APPLIANCES CATALOG 1950 [PDF]
• GE APPLIANCES CATALOG 1950 [PDF]
• HOTPOINT APPLIANCES CATALOG 1950 [PDF]
• KELVINATOR APPLIANCES CATALOG 1950 [PDF]

Restoration of a 1950s Kelvinator Refrigerator

These before-and after photos and a few notes about restoration of a 1950's Kelvinator refrigerator are provided courtesy of InspecApedia.com reader Brandon Sieczkowski.

Mr. Sieczkowski notes:

Just finishes restoring a 1950s Kelvinator and wanted to add this KELVINATOR APPLIANCES CATALOG 1950 [PDF].

Q: Was the compressor still good?

A: Yes! The compressor still works and adjusts to the turn style thermostat in the fridge.

Q: What did you do about door gaskets?

A: The gasket was replaced. Found this company for a replacement gasket: https://store.antiqueappliances.com/Door-Gaskets_c_8.html

My wife and I purchased this old Kelvinator refrigerator from a guy in Galloway NJ who had it in his mechanic shop. He had inherited it from his parents basement and prior to that, according to his mother, it was used in a church to hold the sacrament(wine).

We took it to our garage, then Cape May NJ, and used it as a beer fridge. We are now in CA where it has been restored and will still have some beer but will be overflow for leftovers and the like. 2022/11/20

Where to Obtain a Printed Copy of the Carson Dunlop Associates' Home Reference Book

To purchase a more extensive printed collection of information about home inspection and maintenance see

• The Home Reference Book, a reference & inspection report product for building owners & inspectors.
  
  Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
  
• The Home Reference eBook, an electronic version for PCs, the iPad, iPhone, & Android smart phones.
  
  Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter inspectaehrb in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
  

...

Continue reading at RFRIGERANT LEAK DETECTION or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• APPLIANCE DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - home
• APPLIANCE NOISE DIAGNOSIS
• ASBESTOS USE in APPLIANCES
• BURNED-OUT COMPRESSOR
• CAPACITORS for HARD STARTING MOTORS
• MOLD on APPLIANCES refrigerators, etc.
• REFRIGRATOR REPAIR
• RFRIGERANT LEAK DETECTION
• REFRIGERANT LEAK REPAIR
• REFRIGERANT METERING CAPILLARY TUBES

Suggested citation for this web page

REFRIGRATOR REPAIR at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to APPLIANCE REPAIR

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

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