3 Signs Your Refrigerator Needs Fixed, but you may not need to spend $

Posted by By Eric G. Stark on 8th Sep 2018

                         

Three co-workers of mine at McCombs Supply all own Frigidaire top mount refrigerators and all had the same issue: The fridge wasn't cooling. 

Big problem, right? Call a technician. Buy new parts. 

No, no and no.  

You don't need an expensive repair bill or spend money on replacement parts. Wait, McCombs Supply is in the replacement parts business. This seems like odd advice. Don't buy a new appliance part when the fridge isn't cooling? 

But it is true. 

Why spend money when you don't need to? Sometimes a simple cleaning, lubing can make all the difference. 

That was the case for my co-workers. They were prepared to buy a replacement part to fix the cooling issue. Instead another coworker, Jose, suggested taking the evaporator motor out and applying some lube. 

Evaporator Motor

The evaporator motor, which sends cool air down through the refrigerator, can start to squeal or stop working altogether if a baring gets tight. 

When the evaporator motor wasn't running, Jose removed it and spun the motor and it "took off," meaning it started running. It worked.

This told him something, likely the baring, was stuck or tight. He applied some lube, reinstalled the motor and it immediately began working and cooling the fridge.    

No replacement part needed. No repairman necessary.  

Simply applying some lube can extend the life of the motor without replacing the motor.

Other helpful tips that won't dent your wallet include, leaving the door open a crack when storing a refrigerator not in use. 

You can leave a brand new fridge closed because it never had food in it. But an older fridge that has had food in it can attract mold, even it is now empty. 

So leaving the door open and putting some newspaper inside can help. 

Want to prolong the door gasket on a fridge you are using or storing? Clean the door frame and put some Vaseline on the door gasket. 

Keyword: Some. Don't go crazy with the Vaseline. A little dab will do the trick. Cleaning the door frame and applying a small dab of Vaseline around the gasket can help make sure the door doesn't stick and the gasket rips. 

A little cleaning and preventive care can save you money with buying a replacement gasket. 

Signs Of A Breakdown

If you hear your fridge making noise, something is not working correctly. Okay, that seems like a no-brainer, right? 

Here are some other signs that you have an issue with your refrigerator. 

Defrost TImer

  • Spoiled food. Sure, it is natural for food to spoil over time, but if your food is spoiling sooner than it should, the fridge’s settings could be faulty. A number of parts, including the thermostat, could be to blame and may need replacing.
    The 482493 defrost timer will help eliminate any icy build up inside your unit. 
  • Higher utility bill. If your energy bill increases, your fridge could be blame. Newer models (less than 10 years old) are more energy efficient.
  • Running continuously. If the cooling systems inside the refrigerator is  running continuously, a component has likely failed.  

    Note: McCombs sells replacement refrigerator parts.


    About Us

    McCombs Supply Company, Inc.

    In business since 1953, McCombs Supply Co., Inc. is a third-generation family-owned business that specializes in low prices and fast, reliable shipping.
    Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, McCombs Supply Co., Inc. offers replacement repair parts for dishwashers, dryers, microwaves, range-ovens, refrigerators, washing machines, HVAC, commercial refrigeration, commercial cooking, pellet stove parts and more. Some of our manufacturers we distribute for include – Backer-Chromolox, Broan-Nutone, Exact Replacement Parts (ERP), EZ Flo, Fasco, Mastercool, ICM, JW Harris, Packard, Robertshaw, Sealed Unit Parts Company (SUPCO), White Rodgers, Englander, Breckwell, Harman, Lennox, Napoleon, St. Croix and Quadra-Fire.

    We supply contractors, service technicians, housing developments, hospitals, retirement communities, institutions, and do-it-yourselfers.

    Today, we have nearly one million SKUs in our system. We are constantly upgrading our cutting-edge technology to serve our customers better.
    Copyright 2018


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