How to determine if a refrigerator is faulty yourself? Diagnostics at home
There are several fairly simple ways to determine if a refrigerator is faulty yourself. To do this, you need to check the operation of the light bulb, the condition of the cord, the position of the door and the rubber band for sealing. Some breakdowns can be repaired yourself. The most common cases are described in this material.
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Refrigerator won't turn on
Refrigerator malfunctions are often caused by the fact that it does not turn on. The reasons for this phenomenon may be associated with different components of the unit. If a problem is detected, it is recommended to proceed as follows:
- Check if the light is on. If it was working fine before but now shuts down, the problem is most likely with the power cord or plug that connects to the outlet. You can make minor repairs yourself.
- During normal operation, the bulbs check the thermostat. Find 2 wires suitable for it, remove them from the terminals and connect them together. If the installation starts to work after this, it is enough to change the thermostat.
- You can also check the defrost button (if available).
- Next, you need to take an ohmmeter - if you don’t have one, you’ll have to call a technician. If you have a device, you need to disconnect and ring the relay (starting, protective). If there is a break, the part must be removed and replaced with a new one.
- Next, check the electric motor of the compressor. You can determine the fact of the malfunction yourself, but replacement is usually carried out by a technician. If you don’t have the skills, doing your own repairs to a two-chamber Nord refrigerator or other models can lead to new malfunctions.
The unit turns on but does not produce cold
It also happens that the refrigeration unit turns on normally (the light comes on, a characteristic sound appears), but does not provide the desired temperature. This indicates a serious breakdown, the causes of which may be:
- Freon leak - normally the condenser should heat up. You can easily verify this by touching it with your hand (the temperature is high, it is better to work with gloves). But if after prolonged use it is warm or even cold, it is clear that it can break in the refrigerator. The problem is related to a freon leak, and you need to call a technician to carry out repairs.
- Damage to the thermostat - if the device is replaced with another, the system will work normally. Depending on its condition, you may not need to purchase a new one, but make repairs.
- Reduced motor performance - as a rule, a similar problem is observed in old refrigerators.
Not cold enough
Refrigerator breakdowns can also lead to the fact that it begins to produce too little cold. If the unit is old, you can try to completely defrost it, rinse it and wipe it dry, then turn it on again and let it work for 1-2 hours without food. If this does not help, you can diagnose the problem in other ways:
- Check the thermostat - if the sensor is faulty, the system will not work intensively enough. They replace it with a new one and evaluate how well the unit freezes.
- Lack of tightness - inspect the seal and replace it if necessary. You also need to make sure the door closes properly. If it is led, you need to adjust 2 diagonal rods, which are located under the panel itself.
Too much frost
If the temperature drops too much, the unit is clearly freezing; the reasons for the refrigerator breakdown may be as follows:
- First of all, you need to adjust the thermostat by turning its knob slightly downward.
- Excessive cold is also observed when the fast freezing function is turned on - you need to remove it for a while and wait 30-40 minutes.
Thus, simple refrigerator malfunctions and their elimination can be done at home. But in some cases, breakdowns have more complex causes that can only be diagnosed by an experienced technician. If the situation is not completely clear, it is better not to take risks and not repair the installation yourself. This can cause damage to other parts of the refrigerator, making repairs even more expensive.