Refrigerator Repair: Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Problem: Refrigerator Is Leaking

Do you have water on the kitchen floor? What about pools developing on the inside bottom of the refrigerator? Leaky refrigerators are usually easy to fix, as there are only a few possible culprits: door gaskets, defrost drain, and drain pan.

Repair: Clean or Replace Refrigerator Door Gaskets

The soft rubber-like door gaskets may leak water at the bottom if they do not properly seal.

• Clean the seal and the refrigerator section that the seal touches with warm, soapy water.
• If that does not work, replace the door gaskets entirely.

Repair: Defrost or Unblock Refrigerator Drain

Check if the defrost drain that leads out of the freezer is clogged.

• Knock out any visible obstructions.
• Use hot water to break up any blocks farther down the tube.

Repair: Clear Out or Clean Refrigerator Drain Pan

The drain pan at the bottom of the refrigerator may be so full of water that the water has begun to spill out.

• Clear the drain pan of water.
• While you have the drain pan removed, clean it with warm, soapy water and a soft cloth. Do not use abrasives.

Problem: Refrigerator Is Too Loud

Refrigerators make sounds. Expected and normal are the sounds of ice clattering into the storage bin and refrigerant hissing through lines. Even new refrigerators can make sounds. But buzzing, humming, whirring, and vibrating noises are not normal, so try these fixes:

Repair: Level Refrigerator

Your refrigerator has leveling legs. As your home ages and your kitchen floors sag, the fridge must be balanced again.

• Use a wrench to turn the legs. It is recommended that doors be able to shut on their own when opened halfway (45 degrees).
• Adjust the legs with the door halfway open and keep changing until the door swings shut.

Repair: Place Refrigerator on Soundproofing Mat

Special dense foam mats can be purchased online and placed under the refrigerator, reducing vibration that passes through the legs onto the floor. This fix is especially valuable if people below you complain about refrigerator noise. You'll need to slip the anti-vibration pads under each of the fridge's four feet.

• Ask a helper to tip back the refrigerator while slipping the pads in, then repeat for the other side.
• Do not stand on the tipped side, as the fridge can tip over onto you.

Repair: Adjust Refrigerator's Icemaker

If your refrigerator emits a buzzing sound every 10 to 15 minutes, with each buzz lasting only about five seconds, the icemaker may try to make ice but cannot because the water is turned off.

• Stop the fridge from buzzing by turning the icemaker off (with the on-off switch) or raising the ice sensor arm.
• Check that the supply valve, usually found under the sink, is turned on.
• Check behind the refrigerator to see if the line is still attached and not leaking.

Repair: Replace Refrigerator Evaporator Fan Grommets

The fan is responsible for distributing air from the coils to maintain an even temperature. This fan may be rattling due to worn or broken rubber grommets. Inexpensive grommets are available online. You can access the evaporator fan inside your freezer compartment.

• Unplug the unit, then remove all items and shelves from the freezer.
• With a screwdriver, open the access door at the back of the freezer and remove the fan.
• Remove the old grommets and replace them with the new grommets.
• Replace the fan and tighten the screws.

Problem: Refrigerator or Freezer Are Not Cold Enough

Is the milk spoiling faster than it should? When you put your hand on the wire rack, does it not feel as cold as it should?

Repair: Adjust Refrigerator Temperature Settings

While this fix may seem obvious, it's common for an accidental adjustment to a higher temperature, especially when some fridge temperature settings are confusing.

• Find the thermostat inside the refrigerator.
• Turn down the thermostat as low as possible until the fridge's compressor clicks on.
• Turn the thermostat up to the required temperature.

Repair: Inspect Refrigerator Door Gaskets

Refrigerator door gaskets (or seals) must form a perfect seal to keep in all the cold.

• Door gaskets become dirty regularly.
• Clean the seals with warm water.
• Smear a thin layer of petroleum jelly on the cleaned seals.
• If this does not work, replace the seals.

Repair: Check Refrigerator Box for Blockage

Tall items may have been placed in the refrigerator or freezer, blocking the flow of cold air. Move all tall items away from the back. No items should be near or around the air vents inside the refrigerator box.

Repair: Clean Refrigerator Condenser Coils

Dirty condenser coils will reduce your unit's cooling abilities. For homes that have pets or a significant amount of traffic, it is recommended that you clean the coils every two to three months.​

• Move the refrigerator away from the wall and unplug it.
• Remove the grille at the bottom, typically by pulling it straight back. It should unsnap.
• Use a household or shop vacuum with a long attachment thin enough to reach underneath—carefully vacuum around the coils, watching your progress with a flashlight.
• Move the vacuum attachment carefully. If you push too vigorously, you risk snapping a coil—an expensive fix requiring a technician.

Repair: Add More Items to Refrigerator

Freezers and refrigerators that are low on food items (especially large containers of liquids such as milk jugs) do not do as good a job at staying cool as those packed with more items. Cool items help retain and maintain the cold. 

• Add two or three gallons of water in plastic jugs as a quick fix and allow them to chill.
• Replace chilled water as needed when you purchase more food.

Problem: Refrigerator Is Too Cold or Freezes Over

You want your refrigerator and freezer to be cold. But is it getting to be too much of a good thing? After you have tried readjusting the thermostat, here are some other repairs.

Repair: Check Refrigerator Damper

Cold air may be continually rushing into the compartment, unchecked by a damper stuck in an open position. The damper is located between the cooling and freezing compartments and is controlled by the thermostat. 

Repair: Replace Refrigerator Thermostat

Refrigerator thermostats are easily obtainable online. Find your model number on the inside of your door or the back, then order a compatible thermostat.

• Unplug the refrigerator first, then open the cooling compartment.
• Using a Phillips head screwdriver, remove the cover at the top of the cooling compartment (inside the box). Usually, no more than a couple of screws are holding this in.
• Using the same screwdriver, remove the plastic control assembly cover.
• Lift the cover down gently, as it is attached to the refrigerator with wires. The thermostat will be a bronze-colored metal device attached to copper wires and a plastic capillary tube.
• You may find it helpful to take a photo of the wire arrangement to duplicate it with the new thermostat. Pull the wires straight out by hand and remove the tube.
• The new thermostat installation is a one-for-one replacement: two black wires doubled up and attached to one terminal, one orange wire, and one green ground wire.
• Attach the capillary tube.
• Replace the assembly covers with their matching screws.

Problem: Ice Maker Isn't Working

Most ice makers are more straightforward machines; generally, all are built the same way. Sometimes the connections get jostled, and often the best thing to try is to unplug all the connections and reconnect them firmly.

Repair: Remove Saddle Valve Clogs

When a saddle valve clogs, the worst scenario is, it leaks terribly and/or water stops flowing entirely. When this happens, replace the saddle valve. You can do it yourself, but the best bet is to call a plumber to fix it because it requires cutting into the metal pipe. It's quick for a pro to do, doesn't usually cost too much, and they have the tools to do it.

Repair: Defrost Water Supply Line

Sometimes water freezes in the water supply line, stopping water flow. This problem is one of the most straightforward fixes.

• Unplug the fridge and pull it away from the wall.
• Turn off the water supply valve (usually under the nearest sink).
• Spray warm water over the water line, defrost it with a hair dryer, or let the refrigerator remain unplugged for two hours.
• Wipe away all the parts with water and a clean wash rag.

Repair: Clean Mineral Deposits

Ice machines are prone to mineral buildup and scale, usually occurring in communities where hard water is a problem. If you're noticing smaller or misshapen ice cubes, a smaller amount of ice, or a total lack of ice coming from your dispenser, mineral buildup can be the cause. 

• Make a solution of half water and half vinegar.
• Wipe down the ice maker.
• Make a paste with baking soda and a little water, and scrub the areas that have visible scale marks.

Repair: Replace Inlet Valve

The water inlet valve is an electronic device that supplies water to your fridge for making ice cubes. Sometimes the water supply can freeze, the electromagnet coil goes bad, or a filter in the valve goes bad. To fix or replace it:

• Unplug the fridge and pull it away from the wall.
• Turn off the water supply valve (usually under the sink) that supplies water to the fridge.
• Remove the rear lower access panel from the refrigerator's back.
• Remove the tube that goes to the water valve and place a container under the tube to collect the residual amount of water in the valve and tube.
• Remove the screw holding the valve's mount from the refrigerator.
• Holding the inlet valve, remove the tube on the valve's outlet. Then, remove the solenoid's electrical contact wires. Remember which wires go where; perhaps take a photo before disconnecting.
• Reconnect the new valve to the refrigerator, and repeat all the steps in the opposite order as the old valve.

Problem: Refrigerator Is Leaking

Refrigerators with water supplied to them for an ice machine or water dispenser can get clogged water supply lines, or the tubing can get knocked away from its housing.

Repair: Check the Water Supply Lines

If you're encountering a leak, stop the water flow to the fridge (if you have water supply lines going to the refrigerator to operate an ice maker or water dispenser). Turn off the water supply valve (usually located under the kitchen sink).

• Follow the water supply tubing from the wall to its housing in the water supply inlet valve in the refrigerator. Make sure those connections are secure.
• If water seems to be coming from the valve, it could be faulty (see above: Repair: Replace Inlet Valve).
  

Repair: Level the Appliance

Refrigerators come with condensation drip or water drain pans at the fridge's bottom. Usually, this water evaporates away, but sometimes a refrigerator goes off-kilter, tilting somewhat, and water spills onto the floor.

The refrigerator likely requires re-leveling. Refrigerators come with adjustable feet to make leveling a fridge easier.

• Access the adjustable feet by removing the front cover grill.
• Level it using an air-bubble level to gauge its evenness from side to side and front to back.
• For more details, see "Level Refrigerator" (above under Problem #2).

Problem: Refrigerator or Freezer Isn't Cold Enough

If a refrigerator or freezer is not cooling, check the simple things first: the fridge is plugged in, the temperature dial is set on a low temp, and too many items aren't blocking the vents at the back of the fridge and freezer.

Repair: Clean the Fan

If a condenser fan is blocked with dust or debris, it can't spin freely. The fan is located at the back of the fridge, at the bottom, near the floor.

• Clean the fan by unplugging the fridge and pulling it away from the wall.
• Make sure nothing is stuck in the condenser fan, clean it off, and spin it by hand; it should spin freely and should not stick.
• If your fridge has cooling coils instead of a condenser fan, vacuum the coils at the back or the bottom of the refrigerator to remove dirt and dust that can sometimes adhere to the coils.