Your refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in your home. You need your refrigerator running properly in order to keep your food fresh and frozen items frozen so that you can have plenty of meal and beverage options. Like everything else, though, there are a lot of common refrigerator problems that can impact how well your refrigerator functions, affecting the state, quality, and longevity of your food. Here are seven of the most common refrigerator problems you may encounter to help you uncover the culprit behind why your refrigerator isn’t functioning as it should.
#1. Water Leaks
Water leaks are one of the most common refrigerator problems, but also, a dangerous one, because that water can cause people to slip, fall, and injure themselves. Water leaks can be tricky because they have a number of potential causes.
Your refrigerator may be leaking because of a blocked defrost drain, either from food particles or other debris, which can cause ice to buildup and water to leak out of your freezer and fridge. You can try to drain this from the inside through using warm water and something like a pipe cleaner to get the clog out.
Another common cause of water leaks is a frozen or clogged water supply, which can impact your icemaker and your water dispenser. You can unplug your refrigerator, make sure its shut-off valve is closed, then check for breaks and tears in your water supply line. If you notice any clogs or breaks or tears, contact your local refrigerator repair specialist to come out and take a look. Your water supply line may need to be replaced.
#2. Freezer Isn’t Cold Enough

Your freezer should keep things nice and frosty, but if your ice cream is melty when you take it out, this common refrigerator problem can be both annoying and concerning for the longevity and freshness of the food you freeze. If the back wall of your freezer isn’t cold, there’s probably a problem with your compressor. If it is, you want to see if you can hear the evaporator fan running or not. You want airflow through your freezer, and if it isn’t there, or if it isn’t cold, you’ll want to contact a professional to come out and take a look.
#3. Refrigerator Freezing Food
When you go to get food from your fridge, is it frozen? This could be because of an issue with the temperature control thermostat, which affects the voltage to the evaporator fan motor and the compressor. If this isn’t working properly, this can cause your system to run more than it needs, which results in too cold temperatures and frozen food. If your thermostat is faulty, you’ll need to have it replaced.
#4. Water Dispenser Isn’t Working

Your fridge’s water dispenser is an excellent solution to clean drinking water, but if it isn’t working, this can be for three reasons. 1) Your water tube in the door is frozen. 2) The water inlet valve is faulty. Or 3) Your home’s water pressure is too low. You’ll want to check your freezer’s temperature and the water pressure of your home to determine the cause and whether you need to replace the part or not.
#5. Warm Fresh Food Compartment
As mentioned above with your freezer, if there isn’t sufficient airflow in your freezer, this can cause it to be too warm. Your freezer and your fridge are connected, so common refrigerator problems like a too warm freezer or fridge are connected, because the cold air comes from the freezer portion of your fridge. If there’s an airflow problem there, it’ll make your fresh food compartment warm up.
#6. Overflowing Ice Maker
One of the most common refrigerator problems is an overflowing ice maker. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to fix. This is usually because of low water pressure in your water inlet valve, which causes water to leak into your ice maker and thus overflow. You’ll want to check your water pressure and potentially replace the water inlet valve if the problem persists.
#7. Constant Cycling
Common refrigerator problems people complain about include a noisy fridge that cycles too often, which can also result in a spiking energy bill. This can be because of a buildup of dust or debris around the condenser coils or from the temperature being set too low. You’ll want to check your fridge temperature to ensure it’s max 40 degrees Fahrenheit. You also may want to unplug your fridge, find the condenser coils, and remove any dust or debris. If these don’t solve your constant cycling, call a professional to come take a look.

Do You Need Help With Common Refrigerator Problems?
These are but seven of the most common refrigerator problems. There are a number of other common refrigerator problems you may experience. If you have any questions about common refrigerator problems or if you need refrigerator repairs, don’t hesitate to call the trained experts at VanderDoes. We’ll answer your questions and get your refrigerator back in tip top shape. Contact us today to set up your refrigerator repair or to learn more about common refrigerator problems.
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