Power outages can cause quite a disturbance in your daily routine. When the power comes back on, you expect everything to return to normal within a few minutes. However, when your fridge not working after power outage, it can be distressing. This appliance is essential for keeping your food fresh, so when it stops working, it can lead to spoiled food and a waste of money. The fridge is one of the most important appliances in your home, so it’s essential to know what to do if it stops working. In this article, we will go through the steps to take when your fridge isn’t working after a power outage.
Check Your Fridge’s Power Supply
The first thing to check when your fridge not working after power outage is the power supply. The refrigerator should be plugged directly into an outlet once any extension cables have been removed. In the event that there had been a surge before the power outage, the extension lead may have been damaged.
Remove any extensions that your refrigerator may be using and plug it straight into an outlet instead. Ensure that the fridge is correctly plugged in, and the outlet is functioning correctly. If the outlet isn’t working, try plugging another appliance into it to determine if it’s the outlet or the fridge.
Inspect the Circuit Breaker
If the fridge is plugged in and the outlet is functioning, the next step is to check the circuit breaker. A power outage can cause the circuit breaker to trip, which could result in the fridge not working. Check if the circuit breaker has tripped and turn it back on if it has.
If the circuit breaker is functioning correctly, reset the fridge’s circuit breaker. To do this, locate the fridge’s circuit breaker, usually found at the back of the fridge, and turn it off for a minute before turning it back on.
Give Your Fridge Time to Regulate Temperature
After resetting the fridge’s circuit breaker, reset the fridge. This can be accomplished by disconnecting the refrigerator for around five minutes or by pressing and holding a number of buttons on the control panel of the refrigerator. Model to model vary, but generally speaking, most models have a similar combination. Give the fridge some time to regulate its temperature. It may take a few hours for the fridge to get back to its normal temperature, so avoid opening the fridge unnecessarily during this period.
Inspect the Fridge’s Defrost Timer
If your fridge is still not working, inspect the defrost timer. The defrost timer is responsible for regulating the fridge’s defrost cycle. If it’s faulty, it can cause the fridge to stop working. Inspect the defrost timer and replace it if it’s faulty.
Check fridge components
To determine whether the compressor engine or the complete electrical system in the refrigerator has failed, check several sections of the appliance. For instance, even if the refrigerator’s compressor and cooling fans may not be operating, other electrical components like the inside light, digital front faceplates, and bottom-mounted fans may be. These symptoms point to a specific refrigerator component that has failed and needs to be repaired by a qualified service expert.
1. Assess the Fridge’s Compressor Relay
If the fridge’s compressor relay is faulty, it can cause the fridge to stop working. Inspect the compressor relay, located at the back of the fridge, and replace it if it’s faulty.
2. Check and clean the Fridge’s Condenser Coils
Dirty or clogged condenser coils can prevent the fridge from functioning correctly. Inspect the fridge’s condenser coils, located at the back of the fridge, and clean them if necessary. If the fridge’s condenser coils are dirty or clogged, clean them with a soft brush or a vacuum cleaner. This will ensure that the fridge functions correctly and prevent future breakdowns.
3. Inspect the Fridge’s Evaporator Fan Motor
If the fridge’s evaporator fan motor is faulty, it can prevent the fridge from functioning correctly. Inspect the evaporator fan motor and replace it if it’s faulty.
4. Check Your Fridge’s Thermostat
The thermostat is responsible for regulating the fridge’s temperature. If it’s faulty, it can cause the fridge to stop working. Inspect the fridge’s thermostat and replace it if it’s faulty.
5. Check Main Control Board
The Main Control Board’s role is to control other components of your refrigerator. If restarting your refrigerator made no difference and you discovered that the compressor wasn’t working, you must make sure the control board is in good condition and functioning properly.
Wear and tear from years of use would be the main factor if the Main Control Board in your refrigerator failed or was damaged. The presence of moisture and high heat inside the control board is another factor that could cause it to malfunction.
You must swap out the main control board to resolve this. You must first consider purchasing the proper replacement part before proceeding. To determine which control board to purchase, check the manufacturing handbook of your refrigerator to discover what model it is.
6. Check Control Board Inverter
The control board inverter is an additional component in your refrigerator that is located next to the main control board. Although this inverter serves the compressor alone, it functions similarly to the main control board. As necessary, it powers the compressor and coordinates its operations. The compressor won’t switch on even after you’ve tried all the prior troubleshooting techniques. The Inverter Control Board may very well be the source of the issue.
You should replace the control board inverter to resolve this. You must first consider purchasing the proper replacement part before proceeding. For information on the model of your refrigerator and the control board inverter to purchase, consult the manufacturing manual for your refrigerator.
Keeping Food Safe
During a power outage, it’s essential to keep the doors of your refrigerator and freezer closed as much as possible to prevent cold air from escaping. If your refrigerator is full and the doors remain closed, the food inside can stay cold for up to 4 hours. A freezer, on the other hand, can keep food frozen for up to 48 hours if it’s full or 24 hours if it’s half full. If the power outage is prolonged, it’s best to transfer the food to a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs to keep it cold.
It’s also important to have a food thermometer on hand to check the temperature of your food. Refrigerated foods should be at 40°F or below, and frozen food should be at 0°F or below. If the temperature of your food goes above these thresholds, it’s best to discard them. It’s also crucial to avoid eating food that has been in contact with floodwater, as it may be contaminated with bacteria.
Call a Professional: When to Take Your Fridge to the Experts
If all the above steps fail to fix your fridge, it’s time to call in a professional. A professional fridge repair technician has the expertise and tools to diagnose and fix complex fridge problems.
In conclusion, power outages can cause your fridge to stop working. However, with the above steps, you can troubleshoot and fix most fridge problems after a power outage. Always follow safety precautions when working with electrical appliances and call a professional when in doubt.
