The refrigerator is made up of many parts working together. If any of them goes bad, the functioning of the whole system is affected. Electrical appliances can face many problems due to continuous working or other reasons. If your refrigerator is not working properly, i.e., Not producing enough cooling or not regulating the defrost cycle, you might think that compressor is faulty.
You should know how to diagnose a defective compressor and fix it to save your time and ensure accurate and timely performance of the appliance.
What is a refrigerator compressor?
When you hear the name of the compressor, know that we are talking about the heart of the refrigerator. A compressor acts like a motor and a pump. The refrigerant maintains the temperature inside the fridge's compartments, and the compressor controls its flow. The compressor causes the pressure of the refrigerant to increase and pushes it towards the coil. Then comes the work of evaporator or condenser.
How does a refrigerator compressor work?
Different compressors work on other principles. We will discuss the general working principle but first, learn about types of compressors.
- Reciprocating Compressor
- Rotary-Vane Compressor
- Rotary-Screw Compressor
- Centrifugal Compressor
At first, the refrigerant is sucked in by the compressor. Then the pressure on it is increased with the help of a piston, which causes compression. The refrigerant becomes hot, and heat can be sensed while pumping it.
How to diagnose refrigerator compressors?
If your fridge is showing trouble in performance, it might be because of the defective compressor. But we highly prohibit self-inspection. The refrigerant is not an environment-friendly chemical; any accidental release can harm you and others. Some symptoms will inform you about a bad compressor.
- Loud noises
When the compressor is working normally, it will produce uniform and low noises that are not unpleasant to your ears, but loud noises can be heard if there is some trouble with the motor or springs.
- Defective relay
A compressor relay controls the power supply to your refrigerator; if it malfunctions, it can cause a lot of trouble since the power supply will be disconnected. If you want to check the relay, pick it and shake it. If you hear or feel anything moving inside, it means there is some breakage, and the relay is not working properly.
- Clicking
A problematic relay can cause irregular clicking on and off sounds of the compressor as well. The compressor might click off even before cooling down of refrigerant, or it might not work at all.
- Overheating
Overheating means that the temperature of the compressor, while it is working, is higher than usual. This happens when the compressor is old and problematic or if there is leakage of the refrigerant. Lesser refrigerant causes overworking of the compressor, and the fan stops working. You can feel the temperature by touching it slightly.
How to fix the refrigerator compressor?
If you want to fix your defective compressor, make sure to seek help from a refrigerator repair service. A technician from refrigerator repair will reach out and inspect your compressor and repair or replace it as needed.
Bottom line
Don't worry if you sense some trouble with your refrigerator, instead get in contact with a fridge service so that you don't have to face much loss.
