DIY refrigerator repair

Modern human life is filled with a wide variety of household appliances. Not all of them are so necessary, but you just can’t do without some, for example, without a refrigerator. It's a shame when such a necessary technique breaks down. Is it possible to repair the refrigerator with your own hands or will a specialist call be required? Let's look for the answer in our article.

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Equipment

The modern scheme of such equipment is presented:

• Thermostat cold storage chamber;
• Temperature compensation switch;
• Heater;
• Overheat protection relay;
• Compressor;
• Protective device against overcurrents;
• Contact on the door;
• A lamp.

Important! The basis of the protective relay against overheating is a bimetal plate. When heated to a certain temperature, it expands and opens the circuit. With decreasing temperature, the plate assumes its original size and the circuit closes.

The composition of a sealed refrigeration unit includes:

• Motor compressor;
• Capacitor;
• Evaporator.

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The principle of operation of the refrigerator

Most often, the motor-compressor is located below. This system is closed, in which freon circulates:

• When the motor-compressor is operating, the freon vapor is sucked from the evaporator and enters the cylinder.
• After - injection under pressure of hot vapor of freon from the cylinder into the condenser.
• Since the capillary tube has a small cross section, the pressure of freon becomes higher.
• Further, condensation occurs, as a result, liquid refrigerant accumulates on the final turns of the coil.
• Freon is in the evaporator and boils due to low pressure.

Thus, heat is absorbed from the refrigerator. Then the refrigerant is again in the condenser.

Important! The principle of operation of the protective device against overcurrents is based on an electromagnet. When supercurrents appear, the rod is attracted in the winding to the poles of the magnetic circuit. In this case, the opening of the contact and rupture in the mains. When the current is stabilized, with the help of a return spring, the rod returns to its original position and the circuit of the electrical network is closed. The heater is represented by an ordinary incandescent spiral.

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Diagnose problems

Before you repair the refrigerator indesit with your own hands, you need to determine what exactly broke.

Drainage

A bad sign is the appearance of water under the freezer or under the appliance itself. The reasons for this are:

• Clogged drainage;
• Overflowing condensate collection tank;
• Leaks in the drain pipe.

Compressor

It is recommended that a compressor check be performed. This part is very expensive, besides, repairing a refrigerator compressor is practically impossible and economically disadvantageous.

To find out if it is fixed, we perform a number of such actions:

1. First of all, we unscrew the bolts located below on the back cover.
2. Four wires are designed to connect the compressor power:
   • blue and brown - phase;
   • yellow and green - grounding;
   • black and blue wires are intended for the power itself.
3. During the test, all contacts are disconnected, and then only brown cables are connected, for which a metal copper jumper is used.
4. After the circuit is closed, power is connected.

Important! If the compressor does not start, it must be replaced.

No Frost System

In this case, the refrigerator is equipped with special equipment for dispersing air through the freezer and refrigerator. Thanks to this, icing does not occur.

The fan power is connected to the compressor power. To check, the back wall of the freezer is removed and connected to two fan contacts.

Important! If the fan does not start to turn on when the power is connected, it needs repair.

Fuse

It is made in the form of a small metal cylinder, welded into plastic. Its location is a freezer. This spare part is designed to control temperature drops and protect the heating element.

A simple multimeter is used for verification. If when you bring the device to the plastic, it shows the presence of current - fuse replacement is required.

Timer

Its type of part may be mechanical or electronic. There is nothing complicated in disassembling a mechanical one - you can do it yourself, but it’s better to entrust electronic diagnostics to professionals.

Important! In order to turn off the electronic timer, the electrical circuit shown on the back of the refrigerator is used.

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We repair the refrigerator

In some cases, you can repair the refrigerator yourself, without calling the master.

Freon leak

Most often, a refrigerant leak is visible to the eye. But if it could not be found, it is required to pump out freon through the tube on the compressor, which is usually sealed. Then air is injected. The pressure should be small. The air coming out of the breach will hiss.

To fix the hole, you need a soldering iron, otherwise you can’t cope. After repair, freon is fully pumped back into the system.

Important! In most cases, the repair of such a malfunction is best left to qualified craftsmen.

Change the thermal relay

Typically, a relay malfunction is indicated by the lack of cold in the chamber. For check:

• The wires are cut to the relay from the plug and from it to the refrigerator itself.
• Then they are shorted to each other.
• If the part began to work, the problem was found.

Important! Most often in this case, simply replace the thermal relay.

Food does not freeze

Diagnostics often do not show malfunctions. This suggests that the technical side has no problems.

Violation of the process of freezing products is due to problems with rubber gaskets between the camera and the door. The gap leads to depressurization and leakage of cold, which produces a compressor.

Important! In such a situation, the rubber contours are simply replaced. To fix them, use glue or epoxy.

Too cold

Sometimes the master may not properly adjust the refrigerator. There is a violation of the factory temperature. The implementation of adjustment work is unlikely to succeed - you will have to contact specialists.

Important! As practice shows, the temperature regime does not change immediately, but after the equipment has been operated for some time. In addition, very severe freezing can occur due to refrigerant leakage.

Noise and vibration

The appearance of noise and rattles indicate improper installation of the refrigeration unit, as a result - normal operation of the electric motor is impossible. Such a problem cannot be discarded, since there is practically no noise during the operation of modern equipment.

Important! To eliminate excess noise and vibration, equipment is exposed using a building level.

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Prevention

In order for problems with the refrigerator to occur as rarely as possible, you need to follow some simple rules:

• The regulator should not be in the extreme position (the coldest).Lowering the temperature in the refrigerator will be negligible, and the compressor will have to work at the limit, which will greatly reduce its service life. In addition, energy consumption will increase.
• Compressors often break down due to power surges. If such a phenomenon is not uncommon in your area, it is better to get a voltage transformer or uninterruptible power supply.
• If you need to defrost the refrigerator, you can not remove ice with a knife or other sharp objects. In this case, leakage of the system and refrigerant leakage may occur.
• The refrigerator is not designed to store vegetable oil. It tends to evaporate, which leads to a loss of elasticity of the rubber gaskets.
• Such a household appliance must not be installed near a stove or heating radiators. Because of them, the load on the compressor increases.

Important! During all diagnostic and repair work, the refrigerator must be disconnected from the power supply.

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Stock footage

Now you know how to detect problems with the refrigerator and how to deal with the simplest ones. If it seems to you that the repair of this device will cost too much - it's time to go to the store for a new one.