Appliance Repair: Why is My Refrigerator Freezing My Food?

A malfunctioning refrigerator can cause a multitude of problems, especially when your appliance begins to freeze your perfectly good food. Discovering the source of the defect can save you money not only on potentially wasted groceries but also on having to purchase a new fridge. Listed below are 4 reasons why your refrigerator has suddenly turned into a freezer.

Check The Temperature

Before you begin to panic, check your refrigerator’s thermostat to see what it’s set to. In many cases, the thermostat may have been accidentally bumped causing the knob to move. Luckily, simply readjusting the thermostat’s knob should solve your fridge’s freezing issue.

The Vent

A vent that supplies cold air is located in the back of most refrigerators. While Keeping your fridge well stocked for maximum efficiency is always recommended, placing food too close to the vent can cause it to freeze. If the only items freezing are the ones placed near the back, try moving them, so they are at least 5 inches away from the back vents. If that doesn’t solve the problem, a more serious malfunction may be the cause.

Faulty Thermostat

If you checked and the temperature is set appropriately, you may be dealing with a defective thermostat. To determine if this is the case, simply fill a cup with water and place a cooking thermometer inside of it. Either turn the temperature in your refrigerator up or down and set the cup on one of the appliance’s shelves. Close the door and allow the water to sit in your fridge for at least 6 hours. Once enough time has elapsed, take the cup out, if the water’s temperature does not match the changes you made on the refrigerator’s thermostat, the part is most likely faulty, and will need to be replaced by an appliance repair technician.

Defective Damper

When your fridge is freezing your food, the air damper may either be broken or stuck in the open position. An air damper opens and closes to allow the proper amount of cold air to enter your appliance. If it’s not operating correctly your refrigerator can grow too cold, causing the food inside of it to freeze and become inedible.

If you’re battling a malfunctioning refrigerator and you’re in need of a professional appliance repair technician, please contact us, and we’ll be happy to diagnose and fix your appliance today.