4 Refrigerator Odors Signaling Repairs Are Needed

When you open your refrigerator on a daily basis, the last thing you want to deal with is a big whiff of a bad odor. While a majority of the odors get attributed to old food or leftovers, sometimes the odor source may come from the fridge itself.

Once you have cleaned out the whole refrigerator, you may discover the odor still persists. Keep reading to learn about four odor indicators and why an appliance repair company may be needed to help properly repair the appliance.

1. Drip Pan Odors

When condensation builds up around a refrigerator, you do not want moisture and water leaking out onto the kitchen floor. To help prevent the leaks, many refrigerator companies have implemented a drip pan system in the fridge.

Over time, the drip pan may fill with water. Depending on the presence of other germs and bacteria, mold could form on the pan and create harmful odors in the kitchen. If you believe the drip pan may be the cause of the odors, consider hiring an appliance repair technician to empty and clean the drip pan.

The drip pan location may be hard to reach and a trained professional will ensure no other problems are leading to excess condensation or drip pan issues. Once clean, the odors should dissipate and the technicians may give you trips to prevent the same thing from happening again.

2. Refrigerator Temperatures

Even if food and leftovers are pretty fresh inside the fridge, you may find odors still linger and food spoils more quickly than you expected. If odors are often present from food inside the fridge, you may have problems with your refrigerator temperatures.

Multiple problems may occur from a temperature standpoint and a full inspection will help diagnose how the problem occurred. For example, the temperature sensor in the fridge may be off. For example, a refrigerator may read an internal temperature of 30 degrees when the fridge is actually 40 degrees. The differences in temperature make an impact on the food quality.

The fridge may also have problems with the fans or cooling unit. A technician will examine the parts, replace parts, and ensure the fridge becomes operational. The plastic on the inside of a fridge may absorb odors, so once the fridge gets repaired, a home method like the use of coffee beans or a box of baking soda will help get the odors away.

3. Water Line Leaks

If your appliance has water and ice capabilities, one of the odor problems may be associated with the water line coming into the fridge. Water lines are often thin. When the fridge moves or gets bumped, the water line could get pinched and create a leak directly from the line.

A small leak could lead to major odors, including the buildup of mold or mildew. An appliance technician has the ability to pull out the fridge, find the leak, and repair the water line to prevent future odors and water messes.

4. Burn Smells

While an oven or toaster provides most of the burn odors in a home, your refrigerator may also emit similar odors. When a burn smell comes from your fridge, the culprit is often the electrical wiring or an overheating element on the appliance.

For example, the interior light on the fridge may not shut off properly or have a bulb issue. The wiring may overheat and create the burn smell. Any time you smell a burning odor from the fridge, you should unplug the appliance immediately and call an appliance professional for help.

The professional will help repair the electrical wiring and prevent disasters like an appliance fire.

To help eliminate all the odors found in your fridge, contact us today at Appliance Repair Solutions. We will help diagnose and repair your fridge with our years of professional experience and expertise.