The Cause And Effects Related To Start Component Failure
Most refrigerators I look at with failed start components have the same cause- “Dirty Condenser Coils”. These days refrigerators have condenser coils down underneath with the compressor and a fan has been added to cool them down by passing air over them at ambient room temperature. This process is so critical that not only will your refrigerator fail to get cold enough but eventually it would cause the compressor to burn out if dirty coils are gone unchecked.
When we see a blanket of lint across the whole condenser we call it completely plugged. Lack of cooling at this stage makes the system work harder to cool inside the refrigerator. The result is longer run times for the compressor which creates more heat. “Do you see where I’m going with this?” The problem is cyclical and perpetuates. Eventually the compressor will only shut down during defrost cycles. Barely long enough to cool down before restarting. You may have noticed a buzzing sound followed by a click before the refrigerator quit altogether. That would be the compressor trying to start but it was too hot. The click is the sound of it’s thermal cut-out.
Every couple of minutes the compressor will try and start again. Once this cycle begins it also perpetuates until finally the start components burn out. Having allowed this problem to go on until reaching full fruition has often resulted in a burned out compressor. The best way to avoid costly repairs is to mark your calendar for checking your condenser coils once every six months.