One of the appliances you use the most around your house is the refrigerator. It’s what keeps ingredients, snacks and other foods cold until you use them. A working refrigerator keeps those foods safe and at the right temperature. Given this appliance’s importance, it’s essential to know the signs that yours is acting up. This article helps you decide when to repair a refrigerator or replace it.

Too Hot

The first (and earliest) warning sign is that your refrigerator is too hot. When the refrigerator is too hot, the temperature inside is high enough that it puts your food in the danger zone. Even if you cook the food, it can still make you sick.

Though you can try turning down the temperature, a hot refrigerator may have bigger problems that only a professional can fix. Make sure you keep the area around the temperature gauge free and clear.

Lots of Frost

Most refrigerators have an attached freezer, even the small ones used in apartments and dorm rooms. In addition to the warning signs the refrigerator itself exhibits, check the freezer compartment for lots of frost or ice buildup. Not only can frost cause ice to form on the door, but it can take over the freezer.

Faulty seals are a common cause of frost buildup because they allow warm air from outside to penetrate the freezer. Excessive frost and ice can also happen when the door won’t shut or stay closed.

Condensation Buildup

Condensation buildup is something you might see both inside and outside of the fridge. This term refers to any moisture you see, which can range from small droplets of water dripping down the door to pools of liquid on top of or under your food. Condensation often develops when the refrigerator can’t reach a low temperature or when it has problems circulating the cold air.

Loud Noises

When the refrigerator runs, it usually won’t make a lot of noise. You may hear soft humming, but it’s no cause for concern. However, you should worry if you hear loud sounds coming from the fridge or freezer.

Most noises originate from either the compressor or the fan motors. Both clanging and knocking sounds are common. If you think your fridge has a bad compressor, try listening closely to the appliance. You should hear the compressor kick on, which tells the motors to run.

Living without a working refrigerator is hard because you can’t keep food fresh and safe. When yours begins dying, you might see condensation buildup or excessive frost, hear strange or loud noises, and notice the inside is too hot. Call Natural State Appliance Repair if you live in Fayetteville, AR to schedule a refrigerator repair.