The compressor is one of the most important parts of a refrigerator. It maintains the cold air flow by releasing the warmth. So, your refrigerator would not be able to keep the temperature cold if the it isn’t working properly. Therefore, if you are facing issues with your refrigerator, check your compressor first.
Now you might ask, how would you know if your refrigerator compressor is bad? Here are a number of signs that’ll occur when your compressor will stop working.
How do you know if your refrigerator compressor is bad?
These are the signs:
- Noise coming out of it
- Too much frost
- Symptoms of relay
- On and off of the repeat
- Heated compressor
- Slowing of the fan
- Sudden increase of the electricity bill
The compressor of a good refrigerator usually lasts for more than a decade. But anything can happen during that time that might cause it to stop working. The following signs will help you to identify whether your compressor is working properly or not.
Noise coming out of the compressor
If your compressor is not working properly, whenever you’ll pass the refrigerator, you’ll most likely hear a faded sound around the area. It usually sounds humming, much different from the regular sound of the refrigerator. Generally, we don’t notice this sound as it’s very gentle. If you are unable to notice the sound, most likely your compressor is not running. A lot of different types of sound may occur if your compressor isn’t in a good condition. Usually, a compressor makes a buzzing sound when the temperature of the refrigerator rises. The compressor automatically stops when the refrigerator reaches a certain temperature. If the sound is too loud then there must be something wrong with it. If you hear a striking sound when a compressor turns off then make sure you call a professional for further clarification.
Increasing electricity bill
The electricity bill can rise for many reasons. If you’ve increased the usage of electrical equipment or bought a new electrical gadget then there’s a logical explanation for a higher electricity bill. But if you are unable to find any reason behind your increasing electricity bill then check the compressor of your refrigerator. A bad compressor can cause your electricity bill to rise. Whenever a compressor goes bad, it takes more time to cool the refrigerator which eventually raises the electricity bill.
Heated compressor
If your refrigerator is excessively hot then there’s a possibility that your compressor has gone bad. Usually, the outer parts of the refrigerator should be around 45-55 degrees Celsius. The temperature of the compressor depends on the refrigerant. If the compressor has enough refrigerant and the refrigerator is still hot on the outside then you might have to change the compressor entirely. But a lot of the time compressors get overheated because of insufficient refrigerant. A leakage in the line may lead to the insufficient refrigerant. Because of the shortage, the compressor has to work more than usual which produces unrestrained heat. If this goes on for a long time, it might have to change the refrigerator and bring a new one.
Slowing of the compressor fan
The fan of the compressor is one of the most significant parts of the refrigerator as it maintains the temperature and blocks excessive heating. Nowadays, companies offer spare fans to keep electrical appliances cool. If your compressor is completely silent or is too noisy, make sure to call a technician.
Overworking of the compressor
A compressor tends to work more during the hotter months. When there’s a huge difference between the outside temperature and the inside temperature of your refrigerator, the compressor needs to work harder. During that time, the compressor automatically produces excessive heat for all the extra work. In order to save the compressor from this heat, the fail-safe technology turns off the compressor for a short period. Then the compressor starts again to keep the refrigerator cool. If you are noticing too much turning off and on of the compressor then call a professional for further checking.
Too much frost
A lot of the time refrigerators end up having frost all around but whenever you see frost on the head of the compressor, then take it as a sign. If you are noticing too much frost in your freezer unit, there’s a chance that your compressor is struggling to keep up.
Symptoms of relay
Take out the compressor and begin the relay. Bring it closer to your ears and vibrate it a little bit. If you hear clattering sounds then this means that your compressor relay is faulty and it needs to be changed. The relay of the compressor generates electricity to the main elements which help to run the refrigerator. If your relay is faulty then the refrigerator will stop functioning.
If the refrigerator is not cooling
If your compressor is still running but the inside of the refrigerator is hot then this shows your compressor isn’t working properly. If your food items are going bad then this is the right time to call a professional for servicing.
Professional’s tips to find out the faults of the compressor
Despite the signs, many people fail to understand whether the compressor working properly or not. It is completely fine to feel hesitant while checking as you are not an expert. But keep in mind that it’s very to find out the faults of a compressor by just listening to the sound. You don’t have to be a professional to figure that out. Nowadays companies produce refrigerators where the compressor barely makes any sound so it becomes much easier for everyone to detect a faulty compressor. If your fridge is relatively new and you are hearing weird noises coming out of it, there’s a higher chance that the compressor is facing some issues. Before you call a professional, you need to be sure about your doubts. This will save both your money and your time.
Here are some of the ways through which you’ll be able to test the compressor:
- Turn off the power and unplug the refrigerator.
- Find out the connected panel.
- Take out the screws to detach the panel.
- Once you have taken out the panel, find out the starter switch. After you’ve found it out, make sure to unplug it.
- Bring the switch close to your ear and shake it a bit. If you hear a clinking noise then it means that the switch is damaged. If you don’t hear any sound, that means that your compressor is faulty. Starter switches are quite budget-friendly compared to the compressor. So, make sure you check it properly.
These are some of the tips given by the experts which help you find out whether your compressor is bad or not.
Bottom line
Compressors can be very expensive depending on the brand and the model of your refrigerator. If you’ve identified the flaws of your compressor then instead of trying to repair it, call a professional. Repairing or replacing the compressor is not as easy as detecting the flaws. If you have a warranty then quickly call the manufacturer as it will help you to save a lot of money.