The refrigerator. It's the central hub of the family at dinner time as kids grab their drinks and mom grabs ingredients to fix that night's meal. It's perhaps the only appliance in your home that runs 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, But, just like your computer having problems, your refrigerator can have problems as well. How do you troubleshoot these kitchen dilemmas? Let's take a closer look to find out.

One problem your refrigerator may have is water underneath it. You notice a puddle growing and you're not sure of it's source. If you have an ice maker in your refrigerator, this could be the culprit. Usually, it means the line to the ice maker has sprung a leak. In order to stop this from occurring, look for the shut off valve on your appliance. It may be under the sink or in your basement, directly located under the refrigerator. If you don't do this, it may cause water damage.

On another note, it's possible to have water inside the refrigerator. There may be a puddle of water on the bottom, and you shouldn't ignore it. First, unplug your refrigerator. Then, locate your drain tube and make sure it's not being blocked. It should be toward the back or bottom of the appliance. If it is blocked, grab your turkey baster, inserting a 50/50 solution of bleach and warm water into the drain. That's it; you should be on your way to draining the water.

Another refrigerator problem to look out for is when the main refrigerator unit warms up. The freezer temperature stays the same, but the refrigerator temperatures drastically changes. This is a red flag to an air flow problem. There is a fan located in the freezer called the evaporator fan; it circulates air from the freezer to the refrigerator through a diffuser. When the diffuser becomes clogged, however, this air becomes blocked. This often happens when the refrigerator door is left open too long, which may lead to spoiled food.

Moreover, frost may appear in the fresh food compartment. While this may cause confusion among some, it is often a common problem. Moisture has gotten into the freezer and or fresh food compartment. This may be due to the door being open for too long or the diffuser may be blocked with ice. Frost and moisture may also occur when there is too much humidity in your refrigerator or the seal on your door is not tight enough.

These common refrigerator problems are annoyances but they are easily fixed. To avoid encountering them, closely maintain your appliance, always making sure everything is in working order. If you have children, you may want to stress the importance of always keeping the refrigerator door closed. Not only will this keep your food from spoiling, but it will teach them good habits as they grow older. You may even want to get the kids involved in helping with the refrigerator repairs, if that is something they enjoy.   

Refrigerator Parts