Are you curious about how hot should a fridge compressor get? It’s good that you’re interested in this detail since it could affect your refrigerator’s efficiency.
Your compressor plays a vital role in cooling the interior side of the fridge, and its temperature should not be above 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
You might notice that the inside of your fridge is cool to provide the food the temperature it needs. And when you start to feel the sides of your unit, it feels warm. Also, the back interior of your fridge composes of various components, and the temperature here is high. The warmth comes from the compressor.
This fridge component is essential to the overall function and ongoing processes inside the refrigerator. And you don’t want it to get defective because it will cost you a lot of money to repair it. So, let’s know more about this fridge part and know how to maintain it.
Facts About Your Fridge Compressor
We wouldn’t know how to maintain and increase the life expectancy of the fridge compressor without familiarizing ourselves with some information about it. You already knew earlier how hot should a fridge compressor get, but we’re going to elaborate on it further. Now, we’re going to share with you essential facts about this fridge component. And here they are:
Fact #1. How it works
Before discussing other aspects, we need to understand how this part works and contributes to the whole unit. Whenever the thermistor senses that the temperature rose inside the fridge, it will signal the compressor. Once the message reaches the compressor, the refrigerant will enter the process.
Based on the component’s name, it compresses the liquid and releases it in gas form.
And this gas will cool as it travels on the coils. After that, the expansion valve will force it through a small hole. This hole will release it as a refreshing mist.
It will continue to travel through the coils, and its temperature allows the release of heat from the components where it passes through. This heat is the warmth that you feel on the sides of your fridge. The cycle will continue since the compressor will reuse the mist until the refrigerator reaches the desired temperature.
Fact #2. Maximum temperature for your compressor
As we mentioned earlier, the maximum temperature for your compressor should only be 300 degrees Fahrenheit. If it rises over that, the overall cycle may not be successful. This is because the heat might not put pressure on the refrigerant. Instead, it will make it evaporate.
The same situation will also occur to the oil, which is essential to power the compressor. This liquid lubricates the mentioned component and reduces friction. However, the temperature rise will degrade the oil.
As a result, the compressor will force itself to work despite the resistance, and it will overheat.
Fact #3. You can check the temperature through the sense of touch
Since the compressor is on the rear interior of your fridge, you might not be able to check its temperature by yourself. So, you can try examining it on the outer side, but it won’t be accurate. On the other hand, if you have a habit of feeling the warmth on the sides of the refrigerator, you might notice that the heat is tolerable.
So, try touching it, and if the warmth feels the same and doesn’t burn you, then you’re good to go.
However, if you feel the sides feel hotter than usual, then you should take immediate action. Start by unplugging your fridge and let it defrost for a couple of hours. The problem might be due to frozen components or other defects. If it still feels hot after defrosting, you might want to call in a professional.
Fact #4. Advanced method of checking the temperature
Make sure you’re familiar with electrical components and other household appliances before proceeding. Or you can have an adult supervise you, and they should also have some knowledge about the fridge. Now, you’re going to unplug and move the refrigerator a few feet away from your wall.
To access the compressor, first, you need to unscrew the panel on the bottom back part of the fridge. The compressor usually looks like a spherical compartment with a lot of pipes on the side. Feel the tubes and find the hottest one, which is the discharge line. This line discharges heat, and use your thermometer to determine the temperature of the heat released from the pipes.
Fact #5. Other causes of warm compressor
We already mentioned that warm compressors might be hot because they’re overheating due to insufficient oil. Other factors to consider are inadequate ventilation and airflow. So, if you can observe earlier, there might be a lot of debris and dust balls on your panel. This dirt might prevent the fridge from ventilating correctly.
It’s A Wrap
And this part is where the article “How hot should a fridge compressor get?” ends. Avoid fixing this situation on your own, except if you’re familiar with this kind of problem. We still don’t recommend it since it’s risky, and you might damage it further.
Instead, you might want to observe it for 24 hours before calling a certified technician. We hope that there’ll be no serious issues regarding your fridge and it should work efficiently. If you need to change the compressor, then know how much is a fridge compressor. Best of luck!