Refrigerators are an appliance that many of us take for granted in Alexandria. We expect them to work 24/7 and with little to no maintenance on our part.  But because of their constant use, refrigerators can get worn out and there are a variety of common problems that can occur. Here is an overview of three of them and how they can be repaired.

  1. Refrigerator is cycling too frequently: If your fridge is cycling more often than usual it can waste a lot of energy. The most common reason for this is dirty condenser coils. Located at the bottom of the fridge under the door, the condenser coils need to be vacuumed to get rid of the dust and dirt that prevents them from working effectively. However, if you clean the coils and the problem continues, call in a refrigerator repairman as it might indicate a bigger problem.
  2. Puddle under refrigerator: There are a variety of reasons that your fridge might be leaking onto your floor, the most common is that your icemaker line is leaking. Thankfully, there is a shutoff valve, usually located under your sink. You can stop the puddle from growing with the shutting off the line and then call a repairman to get it replaced.
  3. Puddle in refrigerator: If you find a puddle in your refrigerator but do not see what is causing it, the problem might be a clogged drain tube. This isn’t too hard to fix, the first thing to do is unplug your fridge. Then locate the drain plug near the bottom back of the main compartment. Clean the drain tube by forcing a 50/50 solution of bleach and warm water into it with a turkey baster.  Repeat a few times and then clean your drain pan (located under your fridge). The puddle should not appear again.

And, of course, there a variety of other problems that are difficult for most homeowners to fix and are much better left to a professional.  Refrigerators do have toxic coolants that can be harmful if not handled properly.  Some situations that need a professional’s attention include damaged condenser coils, if outer shell of refrigerator is sweating, or if you hear a hissing noise coming from the inside of your fridge.  For more information about common refrigerator problems, check out this article in Popular Mechanic.