Is Your Refrigerator in Need of Repair?
5 Warning Signs Your Refrigerator is About to Have a Problem
No matter how much money you pay for your refrigerator, no matter the quality you may think it’s made with, most fridges will be in need of repair at some point in their life cycle. Usually there are going to be some warning signs that the refrigerator is going to give some trouble. However, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Sometimes catching these symptoms early will prevent further damage to the refrigerator.
(1) The seams and outer cabinet of the of the refrigerator feel warmer than normal or hot to the touch.
Most manufacturers run condenser tubing close to the edges of the refrigerator or freezer where the door would normally attach to. The purpose of this is to prevent this area from sweating or creating moisture around the door opening. When the refrigerator is having trouble removing heat, it usually is a sign that the compressor is running extensively and cannot keep up with the normal pace of cooling in the freezer and refrigerator compartment. There could be several reasons for this like a clogged condenser coil or a bad condenser fan motor. Either way this should be evaluated by a repair professional.
(2) The ice cream feels soft.
If all the food is frozen solid but the ice cream is easily squeezed, then that is a telltale sign of a cooling problem. The ideal temperature for storing is 0 degrees Fahrenheit so slight deviations and warmer temperatures will avail itself quickly with ice cream verses other frozen food in the freezer.
(3) There is a sheet of ice forming inside the refrigerator or freezer.
There should never be water puddling so much that it will allow a frozen sheet of ice to form. Sometimes the ice sheet will prevent itself on the bottom of the freezer and eventually spill onto the floor in front of the refrigerator. Sometimes you will notice puddles of water underneath the crisper drawers inside the refrigerator section. Either way this is not a symptom that should be ignored. Eventually this ice could begin to affect the cooling operation of the fridge/freezer by blocking the vents and passageways that allow the refrigerated air to freely flow through the different compartments.
(4) The frozen food is covered in frost or snow.
If you open the freezer door or drawer and it looks like it snowed inside your freezer, you have a moisture problem. Basically, something is not sealing properly like a door gasket or icemaker door chute, and this is allowing exterior air into the freezer for an extended period of time causing the frost appearance to come about. A similar symptom you would see in the refrigerator section would be dew drops collecting on the upper portion of the refrigerator section.
(5) Food is spoiling before its expiration date.
Is the milk spoiling before its expiration date? Is the butter softer than it normally is? Standard temperatures that most manufacturers recommend for the refrigerator is 37 degrees Fahrenheit. If you happen to notice that milk is spoiling way faster than it should be than this is normally an indicator that the temperature of the refrigerator may be closer to the mid to high forties or worse.
Call to Schedule Service Before the Damage is Done
If you notice any of the above symptoms and the refrigerator or freezer is not correcting itself within a short period of time, then it is a good idea to schedule a service call for diagnosis sooner than later. Many times, when a customer waits too long, these small symptoms turn into larger repair bills where sometimes the appliance it is no longer cost effective to repair.
Anthony Mechanical HVAC & Appliance is located in the Herbertsville Section of Brick Township New Jersey. Being centrally located in northern Ocean County allows us to quickly provide service to Ocean & Monmouth County. We are a local small business that specializes in residential major home appliance repair & HVAC repair. Customers are welcome to call at any time if they have any further questions or would like to schedule a service call.
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Anthony Murgolo
Anthony Mechanical HVAC & Appliance LLC
Brick NJ 08724
NJ HVAC Master Contractor#19HC00098900
(732) 840-3500