Has your refrigerator stopped working? Don’t worry. Read ahead to know all the steps to be taken in such a situation.
Since I travel so much, it’s always great to be home. There’s nothing like getting to raid my own refrigerator at two in the morning. ~ Amy Grant.
As a refrigerator keeps food safe, we are used to packing it with loads of stuff, to ensure that we don’t feel any shortage of food over a period of time. So, imagine the loss of food material if the refrigerator stops working. Even Amy Grant would have to sleep hungry at two in the morning, since she won’t have anything healthy to eat. This is when the question arises: What should you do when a refrigerator stops working?
What to Do If Your Refrigerator Stops Working
Before proceeding, remember that before fiddling with the electrical parts, you should ensure that the power supply is off. These are the simple steps you need to follow to check out and fix your refrigerator.
Motor or Bulb
Check whether the motor itself has turned off, or only the bulb has burned out. You will understand if the motor is running, with the help of its sound, which you must have become accustomed to over the years. You can change that faulty bulb with a new one from the same electronic appliance store from where you had purchased the refrigerator. Take care that you carefully unscrew the bulb before plugging in a new one. Also, it may have happened that the sensor to detect the opening and closing of the door may be malfunctioning, due to which the refrigerator is not lighting. You may need to call a qualified serviceman to check the internal wiring.
Check the Plug and Fuse
If you are sure that the motor is not running, check the plug. There’s a possibility that the plug may have just got disconnected, and turned off the fridge temporarily. Take out the plug completely, and plug it back in the outlet properly. Then switch on the fridge, and check if the motor is running. If the problem still persists, check the fuse box to see if it tripped due to some overloading. It may happen due to the huge number of electronic appliances we tend to use nowadays. Refrigerators are mainly responsible in adding to such overload. Check and try replacing the fuse if it is out of order.
Move the Food
This step applies if you are sure that the fuse has not tripped, and there is actually some problem with the refrigerator itself. Take out all the perishable food items like meat, seafood, vegetables, or ripe fruits immediately, and make a provision for them to be shifted in a spare refrigerator (if you have one), or ask one of your neighbors to make some space for these items in their refrigerator. Most perishable foods will not last beyond a few hours, if not refrigerated immediately. All the canned foods can be safe outside for the time until you repair your refrigerator. If the door is closed after the refrigerator has stopped working, it can maintain the temperature for up to 4 hours. However, if you are late, it’s better to dispose off the perishable items.
Check the Individual Parts
Check the individual components of the refrigerator, like the thermostat, condenser fans, compressor, etc. There are chances of a heavy frost build-up on the evaporator coils. In case of the condenser, with the help of an ohmmeter, check its windings, and see if it is getting power. Make sure that the plug is removed before proceeding with this step.
Call a Qualified Serviceman
If you find out that there is a heavy frost build-up on the coils, and the condenser is faulty, without wasting further time, call a qualified serviceman to get things sorted out. It will be better, if the serviceman is from your refrigerator vendor itself. If there’s a need to get any part replaced, and if it costs more with no guarantee, it’s better to replace the refrigerator. You will find out that a new refrigerator will be far better than your existing one, given the rapid and continuous advancement in the refrigeration technology.
These tips on what should you do when a refrigerator stops working, can go a long way in ensuring that your food items are not wasted, and most importantly, stays safe.