Why does the refrigerator freeze food?

One of the most common problems with a refrigerator is that the temperature inside the refrigerator compartment drops to the point where food is literally frozen. This happens in any part of the chamber, regardless of the location of the product. Only professional craftsmen are often able to cope with such a problem. But in some cases, the cause of the breakdown is trivial and can be easily fixed on your own.

What to check first?

The first thing to do is check the thermoregulation lever. It may have gone wrong or the wrong temperature was initially set. It should be in the range of 2–3.5, and in the newest models of refrigeration chambers in the range from +4 to +6 degrees.

Such an oversight happens quite rarely, but it’s worth checking, as there have been precedents. If it turns out that the problem is in the thermostat, it will not be difficult to fix the problem yourself. To do this, simply set the required temperature.

Important! Most modern models of household appliances have a super freeze button. This point also needs to be checked immediately, since someone at home could accidentally turn on this mode and the food began to freeze.

There are several other reasons why a refrigerator can severely freeze food stored in it. However, professionals still advise checking the settings of the household appliance first. Misunderstandings especially often happen with new equipment, when the owners do not yet know how to use it and set up the necessary modes.

Causes of malfunction

Experts identify six reasons for the malfunction. Each of them can damage a new or used refrigerator and spoil the food stored in it. Let's look at each version of the breakdown:

• incorrect settings of the thermostat lever (this has already been mentioned above; the owner could accidentally set the wrong mode or set the temperature in the chamber too low);
• damage to the sealing gasket on the refrigerator door (signs of such a malfunction may include an unfrozen puddle near the door and ice on the chamber wall; you can restore the integrity of the seal yourself; even a person without special skills can handle this);
• clogged drainage holes (under the boxes for vegetables and fruits there are special drainages, which sometimes tend to become clogged, then condensed water, flowing down the back wall, enters the drainage and freezes there, simultaneously freezing nearby products; the problem can be dealt with by cleaning the drainage system douching);
• freon leak (manifested due to microcracks or blood clots found in the cooling system; an experienced technician will be able to quickly and accurately fix the problem);
• failure of the thermostat (you need to ring it with a special tester and, if it does not respond, you will have to replace it with a new one; a specialist who works with similar household appliances can handle the problem);
• sticking of the control valve (it should regulate the switching of modes, but this does not happen, the failure of the valve is to blame, you will need to find it and replace it with a new, working valve).

Important! If a person is not confident that he is able to cope with a breakdown on his own, it is better to contact a special service staffed by experienced craftsmen. Otherwise, self-repair may result in an even more complex breakdown.

The indicated recommendations and causes of malfunctions are suitable for almost all models and companies that produce refrigerators. The only exceptions can be ultra-modern models with a large number of third-party modes and innovative cooling systems.

DIY repair methods

You can start repairing a refrigerator with your own hands only if a person is confident in his own abilities and has at least a vague idea of ​​the internal structure of a household appliance. Turning the thermostat or replacing the rubber seal is not difficult; almost anyone can do it.

It’s another matter if the cause of food freezing is damage to the control valve or a freon leak. The work can hardly be done independently. If such a situation arises, you need to look for a reliable workshop where experienced specialists will quickly and efficiently carry out repairs.