Why does Your Fridge Freezer Blow the Fuse?

Like all electrical appliances, your fridge is vulnerable to the whims of electricity. This means that you can occasionally expect your fridge freezer to blow its fuse. Your fridge’s fuse can blow due to any the following reasons:

• A power surge causes a temporary increase in the electricity travelling through the circuit. Some fuses are designed to withstand short bursts of high electricity, while others are not.
• Overtime, the fuse itself may simply weaken.
• Circuit overload caused by multiple appliances plugged into in the same power source. When the circuit draws too much power, the internal safety system in fuses breaks an internal wire to prevent overheating and possible fire.

Your fridge freezer should generally not cause the fuse to blow. If the fuse keeps going phut then the most likely explanation is a circuit overload.

Read these troubleshooting tips for blown fuses so you’re better informed when you call the technician.

1.     The circuit load

A technician will check the AMP of the fuse connected to the fridge freezer’s circuit. The AMP rating signifies the amount of load that the circuit can handle. To calculate the actual load on the fuse, technicians have to measure the power drawn by all devices/ appliances connected to the fridge freezer circuit.

If the total power drawn by these individual devices exceeds the maximum load that the circuit can handle, relocate some of devices to another circuit to free up some load.

After relocating devices, keep the fridge unplugged for some time before switching it on again.

2.     The electrical socket and power cord

If the above-mentioned process does not work, unplug the appliance and check the electrical socket and the power cord for any damage. An electrician can replace any damaged cords or wires.

Why does your fridge freezer blow bulbs?

The other part of your fridge that can blow is the bulb. The bulb can blow for several reasons, not least of which is faulty bulbs. Cheap bulbs don’t last as long as more expensive bulbs which are better quality. The elements in cheap bulbs are very thin, so any surge in power can make them blow. Even in the world of fridge freezer bulbs, you get what you pay for, so try to buy the best quality you can afford.

If the bulb wattage isn’t the type specified by fridge-freezer manufacturer for your model it could overload the electrical socket and blow the bulb. Always use the bulb specified in the owner’s manual and make note of the wattage.

Another possible cause may be found in the light socket. It may be that there’s an electrical short in the socket itself. The repair for this isn’t DIY as it requires expertise. It’s far better to contact an appliance repair specialist rather than trying to give it a go yourself. This is especially important if your fridge-freezer is still under warranty, since tampering with faulty parts could result in your warranty being voided.

If you need to replace the bulb, the first thing you need to do is switch off the power. Your owner’s manual should contain complete instructions on how to replace the bulb. Once you’ve replaced the bulb according to the instruction manual don’t forget to switch the power back on!

Please remember:

Appliances should be serviced regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions found in the product manual. If you have a problem with an appliance, call an NICEIC or Gas-Safe registered appliance engineer to repair your appliance. Don’t forget that if your appliance is not working optimally, you should also have it serviced to prevent causing damage to the appliance.

5 Simple Checks for Freezer not Freezing

Having your kitchen freezer break down can be expensive both with regard to the frozen food that spoils and the cost of having your freezer repaired.

If your freezer suddenly stops working or becomes ineffective, perform the following quick checks:

1. Check for excessive ice in the freezer: Excessive ice in the freezer prevents the cold air from circulating. If you see an unusual build up of ice in the freezer, defrost the freezer completely. Now plug in the freezer to check if it is working as before.Remember, this may only be a temporary solution. As a normal process, self-defrost freezers turn off the compressor for a few minutes every 6-12 hours. Repeated excessive build up of frost in the freezer means that the freezer’s auto-defrost system is not working. Therefore, either the defrost heater, the defrost thermostat, or the defrost timer have a fault. This needs the attention of a professional appliance repair person.
2. Check the thermostat: Perhaps the thermostat is stuck. Try turning it up and down again, and see if it clicks when you turn it. Set the temperature at the level recommended in the appliance manual and use a fridge thermometer to check if the problem has been resolved. If not, then you may have to replace the freezer thermostat.
3. Check if something is blocking the freezer fan: Excess loading of the freezer renders the cooling system ineffective. Remove any food items that may have been stacked against the freezer fans. Also, if you cannot hear the fan operating when you open and close the doors, then you need to call a technician.
4. Check the freezer door seals: If you see that the freezer door is not closing completely, check for damage of the freezer door seals. Sometimes simply cleaning the freezer door for any debris that may have accumulated can solve the problem. In case the freezer door gasket is damaged, it would need to be replaced by an appliance professional.
5. Check the coils: All freezers have coils. These coils contain the refrigerant that absorbs the heat inside the freezer. If there is dust on the coils, the cooling function of the coils is affected. Unplug the fridge and very gently clean the coils with a vacuum cleaner or a dust magnets. If you are not sure how to do this, call a repair person.Your freezer may also not freeze for the following reasons:
   • There is a gas leakage, or a blockage that is restricting the gas flow in the fridge freezer
   • A noisy compressor indicates damage to the compressor motor. This part can be expensive to replace. Depending on how old your freezer is, it may be a wise decision to buy a new freezer.

Please remember:

Appliances should be serviced regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions – found in the product manual. If you have a problem with an appliance, call in a NICEIC or Gas-Safe registered appliance engineer to repair your appliance. Don’t forget that if your appliance is not working optimally, you should also have it serviced to prevent causing damage to the appliance.

5 Quick Checks for Fridge Freezers Not Working

The fridge freezer is an essential appliance for a fully functional kitchen. Good fridge freezers are silent hard working machines that operate round the clock to safely store your food supplies.

However, at times a few glitches may cause your refrigerator to stop working or become ineffective. Common symptoms are:

• It stops cooling
• The fridge light does not come on
• The appliance starts making some strange noise that you have never heard before.

Before, assuming that there is a major electrical problem with your appliance, we recommend you do the following quick checks.

1. Check the power cord: If your refrigerator stops working or if the light does not come on when you open your refrigerator door, the problem is likely due to a loose power cable. Pull the fridge away from the wall, and check whether the plug is firmly fixed into the socket. In addition, unplug it and inspect the electrical cord. Have it replaced immediately by an electrician or technician if you suspect any damage. Also, ask the electrician to check for any blown fuses in your house or tripped circuit breakers in the appliance’s circuit breaker box.
2. Turn power off / reset: If the electrical cord is not the problem, you can try turning off the power to the fridge and starting it again. Also, check the appliance manual on how to reset your fridge freezer to ensure that there is no problem with the settings.
3. Check the seals and the gaskets: If the light remains on when you close the refrigerator door, the problem is most probably on the door seals and the gaskets. Check the door seals for cracks and rips. If the seals and gaskets are broken, an appliance engineer should replace them.
4. Check the thermostat: It is possible that the thermostat temperature has been accidentally turned up, causing the interiors to be warmer than usual. Ensure that the thermostat is at the ideal temperature recommended by the manufacturer.
5. Check the freezer: The refrigerator and the freezer have different controls and can malfunction separately.

• The freezer fan may be blocked.
• Condenser coils located beneath or behind the appliance may have collected debris. This would prevent the freezer from cooling properly.
• There could be a problem with the defrost timer. The refrigerator compressor goes silent when it is in automatic defrost mode, which lasts between 30 minutes to an hour. If the compressor motor does not start after this time, the defrost timer may need replacement.

Please remember:

Appliances should be serviced regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions – found in the product manual. If you have a problem with an appliance, call in a NICEIC or Gas-Safe registered appliance engineer to repair your appliance. Don’t forget that if your appliance is not working optimally, you should also have it serviced to prevent causing damage to the appliance.