Did you notice that your refrigerator isn’t cooling anymore, and the food in your fridge is getting stale? Are you wondering if it’s possible to make the refrigerator cool again by resetting the refrigerator compressor?
This guide will show you simple steps to restore your refrigerator by resetting the compressor. Now, let’s get right into it!
There are ways to reset your refrigerator’s compressor to work well again. One way to reset the compressor is to unplug the refrigerator from the charging source for some minutes. The next thing to do after unplugging the power source is to turn off the control panel of your refrigerator.
How Do You Reset the Compressor of a Refrigerator?
There isn’t a hard-and-fast rule to consider when trying to reset your refrigerator’s compressor. There are simple steps you can follow to reset your refrigerator’s compressor.
However, ensure to follow the steps accordingly as each one is important for you to do.
#1. Unplug the Power Source
To unplug the power source of your refrigerator, all you need to do is to remove the cord from the power outlet.
Ensure that you do that carefully and not forcefully so that you don’t end up distorting the power source.
However, when you disconnect the power source, you’ll notice a weird sound from the fridge. Don’t panic because that sound is normal and will wear off after some time.
Also, please don’t attempt to connect the refrigerator to its power source without waiting a few minutes. That would distort the whole process because every step counts.
#2. Turn Off the Control Panel
To do this, you’ll find a control panel inside your refrigerator; turn it off by setting it to the “off” or the “zero” mark.
After completing this task, connect the fridge back to its power source by plugging the cord to the outlet on the wall.
#3. Reset the Temperature of the Fridge and Freezer
The next thing to do is reset the fridge and freezer temperature control. However, changing this control depends on the brand of your fridge.
I recommend changing it to 40 degrees Fahrenheit as this temperature works well for all freezer types.
#4. Wait for the Temperature to Stabilize
You should wait at least 24 hours for everything to stabilize, so please take your time.
How Do I Get My Refrigerator Compressor to Kick On?
One way to know that your fridge’s compressor isn’t working is that the refrigerator will stop making ice.
You may also notice that the fridge makes a weird noise that doesn’t seem normal. A simple way of easing this problem is to check the compressor and try kicking it.
This section will show you quick and easy ways to kick-start your refrigerator’s compressor.
#1. Appropriately Position the Fridge
Shift the refrigeration from its position away from the wall so that you can appropriately access the power outlet on the wall.
If you don’t do this step, it’d be hard for you to disconnect the power source of the refrigerator. This step would also help you clean dirt from behind your fridge.
#2. Unplug the Power Source
After moving the fridge from the wall, the next thing to do is to disconnect the power source.
Doing that will mean you’d unplug the freezer’s cord from the power outlet on the wall. You may hear sounds coming from the fridge when you turn it off.
That’d be normal because machines make noises when you turn them off; a refrigerator isn’t an exception.
#3. Turn Off the Control Panel
The next thing you’ll need to do is turn off the refrigerator’s control panel. You find the control panel inside the fridge; turn it to the “zero” or “off” mark to turn off.
However, if your fridge comes in combination with a freezer, you’ll need to turn them off together.
#4. Reconnect the Power Source
This step is where the kicking on of your refrigerator’s compressor starts properly. All you need to do here is to reconnect the fridge back to the power outlet on the wall.
#5. Temperature Reset
Here, turn on the temperature in the control panel either to the highest or the point you desire. I’d say you put it on the fifth mark if it’s on a scale of one to nine.
#6. Reposition the Fridge
You can now push back the fridge to be close to the wall as you wish. However, please don’t push it too close to the wall so that adequate air can flow behind appropriately.
#7. Time to Wait
Wait for at least 24 hours for the kick-on to complete. Please do not rush this process because it determines the reset’s success.
What Causes a Refrigerator Compressor Not to Start?
When your refrigerator fails to start, several factors contribute to it. However, those factors can work singly or in combination to ensure that the refrigerator doesn’t work.
Try excluding each factor individually so you can rule out the cause of the malfunctioning refrigerator.
#1. Overload Problems
The overload acts on the sensor of the compressor, thereby protecting the compressor as power moves in.
However, when the overload system develops a fault, it becomes difficult for your refrigerator to start.
If the overload relay is overheating or arcing, your refrigerator won’t ice even when the working sound of the fridge is normal.
#2. Relay Issues
The relay connects the compressor’s start capacitor to the motor windings. It does that while waiting for the compressor to reach normal speed. Hence, a problem with the relay would render the refrigerator functionless.
#3. Start Capacitor
The refrigerator’s compressor will not start if the start capacitor is not functioning properly.
The main things that cause abnormal functioning of the start capacitor are arcing and overheating. So, check to ensure that the start capacitor is working fine.
If the start capacitor is malfunctioning, replace it with a new one and check if the refrigerator is working better.
However, if your refrigerator is still failing to start, get a professional dealer for expert care.
#4. Temperature Control panel
The control panel for the regulation of how cold your fridge and refrigerator can get is inside the fridge. If that panel is on zero or completely off, your refrigerator won’t ice.
Hence, check that the cold and temperature control panel is at its maximum to exclude this factor as a cause.
#5. Electronic Control
The cooling system of your refrigerator may be under the control of an electronic control board, especially if it’s a new fridge.
However, changing this control panel is expensive, so you’ll need to exclude other causes before resorting to this factor as a cause.
How Long Does It Take for a Refrigerator Compressor to Reset?
It’s normal for you to worry about how long it takes your refrigerator’s compressor to reset. However, if you get all the resetting steps right, you won’t have to wait a long time.
It takes approximately 45 minutes between disconnecting the power source of your refrigerator and turning off the control panel.
That’s to ensure the adequacy of the control system of the fridge. Also, it takes another minimum of 24 hours after resetting the temperature control panel of the freezer to what it should be.
That means you’ll need to be patient for at least a day and some hours for your refrigerator’s compressor to reset.
However, even if you feel impatient, it mustn’t be less than 24 hours waiting for the fridge to reset.
You should also wait for at least 45 minutes after unplugging the fridge from its power source; before attempting to change the control panel to what is desirable.
Any distortion in time will scatter the whole process and give your fridge’s compressor less chance of restoration.
How Do You Know If Your Refrigerator Compressor Is Bad?
When your freezer’s compressor goes bad, that fridge won’t work again because the compressor is like its primary unit.
If that happens, you can only replace the compressor because trying to fix it will be unsafe and expensive. In this section, I’ll show you ways to know if your refrigerator’s compressor is going bad.
- The compressor’s regulator fails, turning on and off intermittently.
- The freezer would stop icing.
- You’ll notice an unusual sound from the compressor.
- The compressor would overheat.
- Your electricity bills begin to shoot up.
Conclusion
A major way you preserve your meals is by storing them in your fridge and refrigerator.
So, what do you do when your fridge refuses to respond, and everything begins to melt down? Herein are steps to help you reset your fridge’s compressor and keep it working.