Diagnostics of malfunctions and repair of the compressor in the refrigerator with your own hands

If a refrigerator suddenly breaks down in your home, you cannot ignore this nuisance. Often a breakdown happens at the most unexpected moment. Calling a master can cost a lot, but, alas, no money. There is only one way out - DIY refrigerator repair. The main thing is to correctly diagnose the breakdown and clearly follow the advice of professionals.

Interesting facts of history

Creation of the first household model electric refrigerator happened in 1913. This model used highly toxic cooling agents. In 1926, Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard introduced the design of an absorption refrigerator that used harmless alcohol fuel.

In the same 1926, the Danish Christian Steinstrup presented a harmless and silent model of the refrigerator. General Electric

patented this invention, after which already in 1927 the first known Monitor - Top model was released. More than a million refrigerators of this model have been sold.

Since 1930, freon has been used in domestic refrigerators. In the 1940s, freezers appeared in refrigerators. In the 1950s, the defrost function became available.

How the refrigerator works

Before how to repair a refrigerator it is necessary to understand the basic principles of its structure and operation. Cold production is produced four main components:

1. A condenser is a unit responsible for the transfer of heat.
2. An evaporator is a mechanism that removes heat from a chamber.
3. A compressor is a unit that generates the required pressure difference.
4. Refrigerant (freon, freon) is a colorless gas that transfers heat to the condenser from the evaporator.

The operation of the refrigerator is coordinated by built-in electrical appliances:

• start-up relay that regulates engine start;
• thermostat responsible for automatic on and off;
• electric motor of the compressor;
• defrosting system that prevents frost formation on the evaporator;
• door opening sensor, which is responsible for turning the light on and off when opening or closing.

The walls of the refrigerating chamber are cooled by a compressor, which, thanks to an electric motor, pumps out the refrigerant, and the condenser pumps this gas. Radiators cool the gas and return it to the evaporator. When the thermostat fixes temperature rise in the chamber, the relay starts the compressor. The refrigerant has a negative boiling point, which allows it to take away the available heat inside the refrigerating chamber, boil, give off heat to the outside world and turn into a liquid again.

If you have a need for do-it-yourself Indesit refrigerator repair or troubleshooting models of any other brand, you can safely use the tips of this article for any modern refrigerators. We did not notice much difference in the principles of operation, troubleshooting and troubleshooting between the different models.

Diagnostics and replacement of parts

Before how to fix a refrigerator yourself, you need to find out the exact cause of the breakdown. This will allow you to estimate the size Problems and the possibility of its self-elimination. Maybe it will be technically impossible to make repairs with your own hands and you will have to use the services of a service center.

Before starting work, it is necessary to remind that any actions for the diagnosis and repair of electrical devices must be carried out, having previously stopped the current supply. Consider common refrigerator breakdowns, methods for diagnosing them, as well as the correct options for solving these problems.

Compressor breakdown

The most serious problem that can show up during troubleshooting is compressor failure. We can confidently say that DIY replacement of the compressor in the refrigerator, like its repair, is impossible and, most likely, you will have to change the refrigerator.

To check the compressor's serviceability, you need to unscrew the bottom rear cover, under which it is located. You can immediately see the group of contacts with which the compressor is connected to the power supply. The green and yellow wires are ground, the first brown and blue are mains powered, the second brown and black are powering the compressor.

Disconnect all wires and close the two brown contacts. Then we plug it in. If the compressor does not work, you will have to buy another refrigerator.

Troubleshoot fan problems

The vast majority of modern refrigerators are equipped with a No Frost system. The next step in the diagnosis will be to check the fan that accelerates the cold air in the freezer. The fan is always connected to the compressor, so that in the event of a fan breakdown, the evaporator tubes are not prematurely frozen.

It is necessary to open the freezer and remove the back wall with the fan located on it. It has only two contacts, you need to supply power to them. For this, a piece of any cord is quite suitable. If the fan does not work, it must be replaced.

Temperature fuse

The fuse is located in the freezer. It is a small metal cylinder encased in transparent plastic. It must be disconnected and checked with a standard tester, in case of malfunction, the fuse will need to be replaced.

Replacing the thermostat

The thermostat is responsible for maintaining the required temperature inside the refrigerator compartment. Depending on the temperature reading, the thermostat turns on and off the electric motor of the compressor. In the event of a breakdown, the refrigerator will either stop working or will work non-stop. How to repair

The thermostat is located inside the refrigerator compartment. It can be distinguished by the presence of a temperature controller. You need to remove the thermostat and short-circuit the wires that fit to it directly. In the event that the motor is running, the thermostat needs to be replaced.

Malfunction of the starting relay

The main reason for the failure of this relay is power outages. In this case, the refrigerator compartment simply stops working.

The relay is located on or near the compressor. It can be distinguished by its plastic body. You can diagnose a malfunction by the presence of melted contacts or carbon deposits on the case. It is necessary to disconnect the relay, having previously fixed the connection diagram of the contacts. Replacing this part shouldn't be a big problem.

DIY repair work

There are some types of faults that you can repair yourself.

Leakage

From this fact, we can conclude that there was a breakthrough of the drainage pipe. The drainage system delivers excess condensate volume to a special tank. If a crack appears in the pipe, condensation will flow to the bottom of the refrigerator.

It is necessary to pull out the rear panel at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment. Under it you can see a plastic tube connected to the drain hole. It is necessary to find the place of water leakage and carry out the soldering work. Alternatively, you can simply replace the pipe by hand.

Sometimes there is a shift in the drainage pipe. In this case, you just need to put it in place.

Drainage channel cleaning

It may also be necessary to clean the drainage pipe. The best way to do this is to use a soft, long-handled brush. Do not use metal-coated brushes or chemical cleaners to clean the drain.

The recommendations in this article are about diagnosing and replacing entire parts of your refrigerator. Only professionals can repair components such as a thermostat or relay. Probably, ordinary people do not need this, because today in every city there are many specialized stores where you can buy almost any part.

This article provides examples of the most common breakdowns. Of course, there are many nuances of diagnostics and repair that you can write a textbook about. You may not have received a comprehensive answer, how to repair a refrigerator with your own hands. Video on the Internet will help you understand the questions that arise.