Tag Archives: Refrigerator Repair

Repair Vs Buying Refrigerator: How Do I Know?

Refrigerator Not Cooling?

Imagine one of your worst nightmares has come true – your refrigerator is not cooling! Would you know what to do next? The first thing you will probably wonder is how quickly you’re going to be able to get it working again so you and your family can continue to eat perishable food. A refrigerator is something you can’t go very long without!

Then you’ll probably wonder how much it is going to cost, and whether or not it is worth the refrigerator not cooling hassle. Today we’ve got some tips for you that will help you navigate your refrigeration repairs, and decide when it’s time to call it quits.

If your refrigerator is not cooling, there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot before calling a repair company. First, make sure your fridge is properly plugged in. You’ll also want to check the thermostat to make sure it wasn’t accidentally turned down. Check the gasket, or seal on your refrigerator for tears or cracks where cold air may be escaping.

Next, check the condenser coils, and if your fridge has one, the condenser fan. If these parts are dirty, it will make it difficult for your fridge to work properly and efficiently. They should be cleaned every three months, otherwise they can become bogged down with dirt, dust and hair. Check out tips for removing dirt, dust and hair here.

If you’ve done these things and despite your best efforts your refrigerator is not cooling, it’s time to call an appliance repair company. Choose someone like Complete Appliance Repair and Service, who’s professionals will work quickly to get your refrigerator up and running again.

But what if your refrigerator is going to require more work than you thought it would to start cooling again? When it comes to replacing your refrigerator, you should consider a few important things; cost, age and type of fridge, as well as energy efficiency.

Cost

A good rule to follow when it comes to repairing vs buying is the cost. If the repair costs more than half the price of buying a new fridge, you should probably consider getting a new appliance all together.

Age

Generally, large appliances like your refrigerator should be replaced every 10 to 15 years. If your refrigerator is built in, it’s going to be cheaper in most cases to repair rather than buy a new one. But if your refrigerator is a side-by-side, it could be worth it to replace if you start having problems after five years. If you have problems with a bottom freezer, or top freezer refrigerators, consider replacing after seven years.

Efficiency

Repairing on old fridge might be cheaper than buying a new fridge, but a new fridge could save you on your monthly utility bills by being more energy efficient. If your fridge is especially old, this would be something worth crunching the numbers on.

If you’re still having a hard time deciding whether to replace your fridge or buy a new one, call an appliance repair expert like the ones at Complete Appliance Repair for a consultation.

Show Your Refrigerator Some Love This Valentine’s Day

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With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you may be busy thinking about what special meal you will prepare for your sweetheart, or when to pick up those dozen roses. Don’t worry, you’ve still got time! Refrigerator Maintenance Salt Lake City Utah

But there is someone else who could use a little love – your refrigerator. Your fridge keeps your milk perfectly chilled and your vegetables frozen for you all year long. This is probably the last appliance you want to break. By taking a few minutes a few times a year to do these simple tasks, you can improve the lifetime of your refrigerator and avoid unnecessary repairs.

Refrigerator Maintenance Step 1:

Take a look at the inside of your fridge. You should be regularly wiping down the inside, but every once in a while give the bins, selves, shelf end caps, and retainer bars a closer look. Also check any glass shelves, crisper drawers and drawer slides. Look for anything broken, cracked, unstable or defective. As soon as you notice any of these problems, you’ll want to replace of fix it to prevent any further damage that may be caused by a falling shelf of food.

Refrigerator Maintenance Step 2:

Next, take a look at the seal, or gasket on the refrigerator. It is the vinyl strip that forms a seal between the cabinet and the doors. It keeps the fridge running efficiently by keeping room-temperature air out, and chilled air in.

You can perform a simple test to check the seal by shutting a dollar bill between the seal and the door. Once the door is shut, pull the dollar bill out of the fridge door. If there is tension when you pull, you’ve got a good seal. Try this test in several different spots along the seal. If this little test proves your seal is lackluster, it may not be flexible enough. Try massaging a vinyl conditioner or a thin film of petroleum jelly to loosen up the seal.

Bonus Step

Also, be sure to wipe up any spills before they stick and cause the seal to tear. This will also maintain flexibility and prevent odors. If you notice the gasket is loose or torn, it’s time to replace it. This can be tricky to do, so be sure to call Complete Appliance Repair to do the job right.

Refrigerator Maintenance Step 3:

The inside of your fridge isn’t the only place that needs to be maintained. For starters, the hinges get plenty of action every day. Which is why it’s important to make sure the hinges are in good shape and have proper lubrication. Wear and tear is normal, but occasionally using some food-grade lubrication on the hinges and checking for any damage on the top and bottom hinges will prolong the overall life of your fridge.

Refrigerator Maintenance Step 4:

You can also help your fridge stay efficient by removing any dirt, dust, and hair that often collects on the condenser coils and condenser fan. Cleaning the condenser coils and fan can also maintain proper airflow.

To clean these parts, you should first make sure that your refrigerator has been unplugged. The condenser coils are usually located at the back or the fridge or across the bottom. If the coils are at the bottom of the fridge, it’s likely the fan will be there too. To clean, remove the back panel of the refrigerator. Then with a vacuum and soft brush, remove any buildup. Do this carefully and avoid damaging the coils or fan.

Conclusion:

Occasionally taking the time to maintain your refrigerator will help you avoid any unnecessary repairs, and it will also help you catch those repairs that are important to address without delay. If you have any questions about your refrigerator or other appliances, be sure to call Complete Appliance Repair.

Troubleshooting a Refrigerator with Standing Water

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Troubleshooting a refrigerator problem is always important, but it is especially so if standing water is evident. Besides the annoyance factor, leaks potentially indicate a major problem. Standing water can ruin food and cause a mess, but it also poses a risk for electrical shock and threatens damage to your flooring, drywall and the surrounding wood cabinetry. You may be able to DIY some small issues, but others require the attention of a skilled service technician. Read on to learn the four most common causes of refrigerator leaks.

Problems with the Defrosting System

If water is pooling at the bottom of your refrigerator, one of the most likely causes is the defrosting system. The automatic defrosting system uses both a timer and heater to periodically melt the frost from the evaporator coil. When it works correctly, the melted frost drains into a tube, which leads to a pan under the refrigerator. However, the tube drain or the tube itself can become clogged, causing the water to back up and overflow. The result is standing water on your refrigerator shelves or beneath the produce compartments.

Whether ice or debris causes the blockage, it must be removed. Since this usually involves removing the panel that covers the evaporator, calling a professional repair technician is the logical course of action.

Problems with Heaters

Most modern refrigerators, made to be energy-efficient, have an energy-saver switch. When switched on, it turns off the heaters in your door that help to remove ambient humidity, which helps prevent condensation. Deactivating these heaters saves electricity, but it also lets the inside of your refrigerator sweat. The resulting condensation collects on the walls, runs down the sides of the refrigerator and pools at the bottom. A repair tech can determine whether the energy saver switch is the source of the problem.

Problems with the Cooling System

Your fridge’s freezer compartment stays extremely cold to keep items frozen indefinitely. If the cooling system develops a problem, the ice crystals that naturally form on frozen foods will melt, dripping water onto the bottom of the freezer area. This can drip through to the refrigerator compartment below, resulting in standing water. The three basic causes of a malfunctioning cooling system are dirty condenser coils, frost on the coils or a damaged compressor. You can clean condenser coils yourself with a brush or vacuum cleaner, but if the problem is due to frost or a bad compressor, it is time to call a repairperson.

Problems with the Ice Maker

If you have a problem with the water line that leads to the ice maker, you can end up with standing water. Seals and hoses can come loose and crack as they age. Hoses can also develop kinks. When they give way, the result may be leaking around the outside of your refrigerator. You can spot this by looking for moisture on the supply line that runs down the back of your refrigerator. A repairperson can replace hoses and seals to fix the problem.

Whatever your appliance problems, the skilled repair technicians at Complete Appliance Repair in Salt Lake City can help. Contact them for periodic maintenance and inspections, to keep your appliances working properly and to avoid unexpected problems. The next time you notice a leak or other problem with your refrigerator, contact Complete Appliance for help with troubleshooting.

Troubleshooting Your Refrigerator

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Summertime means cold beverages and weekend barbecues, but if your refrigerator goes on the fritz, you could find yourself in a bind. Before you panic about your picnic, it may be helpful Refridgerator Repair to understand how to troubleshoot refrigerator issues. Refrigerator repairs can be complicated, so if you can identify your specific refrigerator problems, it may help avoid spoiled food and fun.

My Refrigerator Is Not Running and the Light DOES NOT Work

First, check to see if the unit is plugged in. Pets, vibration, or items falling off the fridge can cause it to become unplugged. Next, check the breaker or fuse box. Make sure your fridge shut-off switch (if it is so equipped) has not accidentally been bumped into the off position. Check the temperature setting. Finally, try plugging something else into the outlet and try plugging the refrigerator into a different outlet. If none of these fixes the problem, it’s time to contact a refrigerator repair professional.

My Refrigerator Is Not Running but the Light DOES Work

Check the temperature setting to be sure it’s correct. Pull the fridge out from the wall, unplug it, and allow it to sit undisturbed for an hour or two. If it works after you plug it back in, your fan or compressor may be overheating. Clean the condenser coils with a vacuum (on the back or underneath), as this may fix the problem. If not, the problem may be the thermostat, fan, defrost system, or a relay. All of these will require the attention of a professional appliance repair service.

My Refrigerator is Running but Not Cold

First, check the temperature control setting. Verify that the fridge has ample room for air circulation around and above the unit. Three inches is the ideal amount of space required for proper air flow above your refrigerator. Check vents and condenser coils for debris and lint. If you have pets, hair can quickly build up. Check the insulating strip around the door for damage, and make sure the door is fully closing and sealing. If none of these seem to be the problem, you may have a leak in the refrigerant line, a bad fan, or a faulty defrost system. Time to call your friendly refrigerator repair company.

You can avoid having problems like these by following some common sense maintenance practices, like keeping your condenser coils clean and routinely vacuuming around and under the fridge. It is also helpful to have an annual professional maintenance service. The repair technician can test critical components to ensure they are operating within the specifications for your refrigerator, check Freon levels, and take care of anything that may need attention. This way, you won’t have to worry about missing out on any summer fun, or losing your food to spoilage.

Refrigerator Maintenance Hints

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Proper operation and maintenance will greatly expand the life and efficiency of major appliances. Your refrigerator has the potential to run properly for many years with some simple and inexpensive maintenance that you can do yourself. If you decide to forego these maintenance tips you may be calling us in the future for a refrigerator repair.

On the Level

The simplest thing you can do to keep your fridge happy is to ensure that it is level. Your refrigerator may never have been leveled when installed, or it may have settled over time. In any case, an un-level fridge is prone to improper door operation and poor sealing, allowing cold air to escape. Increased energy costs and inefficient operation will result. The feet of your refrigerator may easily be adjusted by turning them clockwise or counterclockwise, to raise or lower a particular corner. You will need a carpenter’s level to accomplish this, but it will only take a few minutes. Re-check the level once or twice per year, perhaps at the “spring forward” and “fall back” time changes.

Where the Coils Are

Dirty coils result in inefficient operation. Inefficient refrigerator operation means higher electric bills and shortened lifespan. But, as the coils are basically out of sight, they’re usually out of mind as well. Vacuum refrigerator coils often (monthly if you have pets, every other month otherwise). Coils are either on the back or underneath. Those on the back are easy to reach, once the fridge is rolled out. The ones underneath require removal of the front panel and, even then, you may not be able to easily reach them with your vacuum cleaner or even the crevice attachment. You can purchase a special refrigerator coil brush at the hardware store, which easily bends to reach the tough spots.

Gaskets, Drain Hole, and Drip Pan… Oh My!

The gaskets (aka, the weather stripping stuff that goes around the door and seals in the cold air) need to seal properly in order to do their job. Once a month or so (say for example, whenever you clean the coils), clean and dry the gaskets thoroughly, then check for damage or detachment. Some models (mostly older but you never know) also have a drain hole and drip pan, designed to carry spilled liquid and condensation out of the fridge. If so equipped, the drain hole will be near the bottom of the refrigerator compartment and the drip pan will be underneath. Check the hole for blockage and clean it thoroughly. Remove the pan, discard any liquids or other debris in it, clean, dry, and replace.

If you follow these simple tips, you will be repaid with a happy, healthy fridge that will cool your food for years to come. A professional appliance repair and maintenance technician from Complete Appliance Repair and Service can also inspect your refrigerator, and recommend any periodic service or necessary repairs that might extend its life.