Is It Normal For A Refrigerator To Run Constantly?

If you are frequently in your kitchen and it seems like your refrigerator is always running, you may find it a bit odd. After paying it a little more attention, you may find that your refrigerator is actually always running. Is this a problem?

Yes! Your refrigerator may run once or twice per hour, but there should definitely be breaks in there when it doesn’t need to run. The issue is that running constantly means there is a problem, sucks up energy, and is hard on the refrigerator itself. So if your refrigerator won’t stop running, here’s what to check in order to stop it.

Door Gasket

The gasket is the seal that keeps cold air in. However, over time, it can break and wear down. Typically, if the seal is worn enough to keep the refrigerator running all the time, you will be able to feel that cold air slipping out when the door is closed.

Condenser Coils

It is possible that the coils on the back of your refrigerator have gotten too dirty. They are charged with dispensing heat from your appliance, and if insulated with too much dust, they may struggle to do that. This forces your appliance to stay on longer.

Defrost

The defrost is used to keep your freezer frost-free. It is actually a heater that runs to melt things down before shutting off. If it malfunctions, be it the heater itself, the timer, the control board, or the thermostat, it can leave the defrost running all the time. This creates a conflicting situation in which the refrigerator is trying to heat and cool at the same time.

Some of these issues are easier to resolve than others. If you found your refrigerator or other appliance problems are a bit beyond your DIY skills, contact us today. The professionals at Central Valley Appliance Repair can help you get all your appliances fixed up fast.