Refrigerator problem
Refrigerator Running Constantly
The compressor never cycles off, and the cabinet may still be holding temperature.
What this usually means
A refrigerator is meant to cycle. One that runs without stopping is losing heat as fast as it removes it, or it has been told to keep going by a control that is not seeing the truth. Importantly, the food may still be perfectly cold — which is why this fault is often ignored until the electricity bill or the noise makes it impossible to ignore.
Five observations that narrow it
Answer these before anyone visits. Each one removes a whole branch of the diagnosis, and they cost nothing.
Is the food still at the right temperature, or has it started to drift?
When were the condenser coils or the front grille last cleared?
Has the room the appliance stands in become much warmer?
Is there frost building anywhere inside?
Has a door been left open recently, or is one not closing fully?
Causes, cheapest first
In roughly the order a technician rules them out. The expensive answer is at the bottom because it is usually the last one true, not the first.
Dirty condenser coils or a blocked grille
lowestBy far the most common cause, and on a built-in it is the front grille rather than anything at the back.
Door seal leaking
lowA continuous small inflow of warm air means the appliance never catches up.
See refrigerator door not sealingCondenser fan failing
lowHeat is not being carried away from the coil, so the compressor runs on without effect.
Defrost heater stuck on or thermostat faulty
moderateThe appliance fights its own defrost cycle, which also shows as a compartment that is warmer than it should be.
Low refrigerant charge
highestA slow leak leaves the system running continuously and still losing ground, and it usually arrives after months of gradual decline.
Check these before you book
- Clear the front grille or vacuum the rear or underside coils.
- Check there is clearance around and behind the unit.
- Test the door seal by closing it on a sheet of paper and pulling; it should drag.
- Note whether the food is still cold, because that changes the urgency completely.
- Note how warm the room has become, especially in summer.
How urgent is this?
Not urgent while the food is still cold, but it is the early stage of several faults that do become urgent. Worth booking before it becomes a cooling call.
What fixes it
The work behind the causes above, with what it costs relative to the rest.
Compressor and Sealed System Repair highest
The expensive end of the list, and the one where the type of refrigerator decides whether to do it at all.
Evaporator and Condenser Fan Repair low
Two fans, two completely different failures — one stops the cold arriving, the other stops the heat leaving.
Refrigerator Door Gasket and Alignment Repair lowest
The cheapest job on the list, and the real cause of a great many expensive-sounding symptoms.
Refrigerator Maintenance and Condenser Cleaning lowest
The one visit that prevents more calls than any other, and the cheapest thing on this list.
Related problems
Refrigerator Not Cooling
The compartment is warm but the appliance still has power and still makes noise.
Refrigerator Door Not Sealing
A gap of a few millimetres is enough to frost an evaporator and run a compressor continuously.
Frost Building Up in the Refrigerator
Ice on the back wall, around the door, or over the whole freezer — and each location means something different.
Refrigerator Making a Loud Noise
Buzzing, clicking, rattling or knocking — the kind of noise narrows it more than the volume does.
Back to your everyday
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