How to Repair a Refrigerator

A malfunction in your refrigerator can be annoying. If not diagnosed correctly, it can also lead to spoilage of your food items.

Fixing a Leakage Problem

Detecting the Problem - Locate the source of the leak. You may need to move the fridge away from the wall to view the rear area.
Possible Condensation - Check the door seals and side panels for any droplets or beads of moisture. If you find any, you may have a condensation problem.
Traces of Water - Water on the floor could mean a leak in the water line or a possible crack in the drip pan.

Checking the Refrigerator Doors - Make sure the doors shut completely and are never left ajar. If the door is shutting incompletely, check and adjust the front screw legs with the help of adjustable pliers.
Door Gaskets - Check the door gaskets for damage. Make sure that there are no gaps or cracks which could lead to cold air seepage. If you find a problem, you will need to replace the gaskets. If you do not find any damage, you could try cleaning the gaskets with warm soapy water.
Door Frame Heater - Ensure that the door frame heater (if your fridge model comes equipped with one) is turned on.

Removing the Grill - Remove the grill located at the bottom end of the fridge.
Locate the Drip Pan - With a flashlight, look for the drip pan. It will be located at the top of the black condenser coils.
Checking Leakage - Fill up the drip pan with water to check if it is leaking. If it is, order a replacement pan.
Cleaning the Drip Pan - If you do not find any kind of leakage, wash the drip pan with warm soapy water and then reinstall.

Locate the Defrost Drain - The defrost bin is usually located under the vegetable bin or near the freezer compartment floor.
Inspection - Using a small screwdriver, scrape out any settled debris from the drain hole.
Clear the Clog - Fill up a meat baster with hot water and squirt this through the drain. This will ensure that it gets completely unclogged. If the drip pan starts to fill up, it is an indication that the drain is now unclogged.

The door gaskets should be kept clean by washing them twice a year with warm soapy water.
Make sure that the fridge is unplugged before starting any repair work on it.