What To Know Before Fixing Your Refrigerator

Hundreds of dollars worth of food are in your refrigerator right now. Any problem now can spell disaster for your grocery bill. Take a look at what you should know before fixing that faulty refrigerator.

A Cleaning Job Might be the Answer

It’s a fact that the refrigerator may not need major repairs in the first place. Cleaning certain parts can be the answer. Wiping or vacuuming the dust from the rear coils should be your starting point.

Refrigerators tend to overheat and malfunction with dirty coils. Run the appliance after cleaning it to see if the problem has been solved.

Think about looking at the water filter or seals on the doors too. Small problems often have simple answers. Cleaning these areas can fix problems that might seem more complex otherwise.

Age Can be a Factor

Appliances seemed to last forever when you bought them in the 1970s or 1980s. They were built with tough parts that could take a beating. A refrigerator might be in its second decade of service. Currently, appliances are built with sensitive parts that can break down after only a single decade or less.

Before you fix a refrigerator, think about the Whirlpool refrigerator parts that it might require. If the parts cost about half the price of the entire appliance, buying a new unit is preferable.

Always Check the Circuit Breakers

When the refrigerator seems to have lost all power, think outside of the box. There may not be a problem at all. In fact, it may have tripped a circuit breaker. Take a look at your main electrical panel. Verify if the circuit is being powered at all. The appliance may be perfectly fine if all you need to do is flip a switch.

The Latest Models are Complex

Refrigerators of the past used to be an arrangement of mechanical parts. Their repair processes were relatively straightforward. Today’s appliances are now complex systems with computer components. You might think that the appliance only needs Whirlpool refrigerator parts, but a computer module broke down. It probably requires replacement instead of a repair.

Calling professionals for a service call is typical for modern appliances. Unless there’s a simple solution to the issue, the appliance may have a complex problem involving printed circuit boards.

Consider Supplemental Use

You have a faulty ice maker, but the rest of the refrigerator is completely operational. Fixing the ice maker can be an expensive endeavor. If the appliance is relatively old, think about putting it in the garage as a supplemental unit. Store extra food in the garage while purchasing a new refrigerator with a working ice maker in the kitchen.

Some repairs aren’t worth their cost when you have an older unit. Do the math so that any repair is appropriate for the situation.

Keep up with regular maintenance, such as vacuuming the coils on the rear, so that the refrigerator has a long life. These small tasks can ward off expensive repairs. You’ll protect your grocery investment too.