It is inconvenient to have a fridge that turns off and on constantly. But it is a pointer that the fridge is faulty. Learn what to do if your Whirlpool fridge turns off and on too often.
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Whirlpool Fridge Turns Off and On Constantly – What to Do
It may be a power supply problem if a Whirlpool fridge turns off and on constantly. Check the power cord to be sure it is fully and correctly connected to the dedicated wall outlet. It is one of the easiest solutions and is likely to be the cause of the problem. You may have knocked it loose, or someone else may have tampered with it. Inspect the connection and make the necessary adjustments if it applies.
While correcting the connection, check the power cord for signs of damage. The terminals may be burnt, or the wire length may be twisted or broken. If any of these applies, you may have to replace the fridge’s power cord.
Otherwise, check the wall outlet; it may be burnt or unable to produce sufficient voltage to power the appliance. You will need an electrician to check the outlet or use a multitester to check the voltage output. If there is s drop in voltage, determine whether or not there are other appliances connected to the same circuit.
A fridge needs a dedicated circuit to properly function; if there are recent connections, they may explain the sudden issue with your Whirlpool fridge. Let the electrician inspect the connections and make the necessary adjustments.
1. Circuit Breaker
If the above does not fix the problem, the next place to check is the circuit breaker, which is usually outside the house. It helps if you can label the breakers to locate the correct one for the fridge and other appliances. The fridge should have a dedicated breaker, so check the fuse for the breaker. If the fuse is blown, replace it. Otherwise, check to see if the breaker is off. Reset it and wait to see if that fixes the problem.
2. Temperature Control Thermostat
The temperature control may be faulty, causing the fridge to cycle on and off. While it is true that the fridge runs all day, it only cools for specific minutes per time. Other times, it cycles off to allow for the defrost cycle or to prevent the evaporator coils from becoming too cold. It is the temperature control that handles these cycles by detecting when the temperature is high or low. Then, it alerts the control board, which turns on the cooling system or the defrost system accordingly.
You will find the thermostat inside the fridge, behind the control housing on the ceiling. Check the user manual to find the exact location of the component, depending on the fridge model. Turn the thermostat from low to high and wait for a click. If there is no click, you may want to check for continuity using a multimeter. Replace the thermostat if there is no continuity.
Disconnect the fridge from electric power and move out the foods and shelves in the area of the temperature control housing. Next, try pulling down the housing to remove it. If that does not work, there may be screws securing it; check for visible screws and unmount them to remove the housing. Disconnect the wire harness to the temperature control and any other wires to the housing. Unmount the screw on the control so you can remove it.
Now, install the new control in the place of the old one. Connect the wires and other wires you may have disconnected from the housing. Fix the control housing back into the fridge and secure it with screws if applicable. Then, reconnect the fridge to electric power and wait for it to run for some time to see if the problem persists.
3. Adaptive Defrost Control Board
The defrost system is typically controlled by a control board. This board, called an adaptive defrost control board or ADC board, governs how the timer, thermostat, and heater work in the defrost system.
While it is not the first component to check, it is likely to cause the fridge to turn on and off. To test it, unplug the fridge for a few seconds, plug it back, and monitor it for some time. If the problem temporarily stops, the ADC board may be faulty.
Replacing the Board
To replace the board, you must locate it on your Whirlpool fridge. Consult the user manual for the exact location of the board, but it is usually inside the freezer. Disconnect the fridge from electric power and empty the freezer of its contents. Unscrew the control housing in the freezer and remove it.
Next, find the control board after removing the housing, taking care not to damage any fragile component in the housing. Detach the wire connectors from the ADC board; make a note of where each wire connection goes; you can take pictures of the connections for reference. After these disconnections, unscrew the board from the control housing and insert the new control board in its place.
Secure it with the screw and attach the wire connectors. Now, fix the control housing back in the freezer and put the freezer contents back in place. Use professional help if these steps seem complex or you cannot locate the ADC board; contact the Whirlpool Service Center and request service or hire an independent technician.
4. Defrost Timer
The timer has the job of advancing the defrost system in and out of a cycle. Typically, it turns off the compressor and fan motors at specific times to run a defrost cycle. But if it becomes defective, it may run all the time, and one tell-tale sign of a bad timer is a fridge that does not cool as it should. It means the defrost cycle always operates without letting the cooling cycle run.
You may want to determine the type of defrost timer your Whirlpool fridge has and its location. Professional assistance may be the best step if the timer system is complex. You can also use the manual for the fridge to fix the timer if it is faulty. To determine whether or not it is defective, locate the timer and turn it in the direction it should go; it usually moves in one direction for older models.
Wait for the fridge to begin defrosting and for the timer to advance it out of the cycle within thirty minutes. If the fridge does not respond or the timer does not automatically advance out of the defrost cycle in thirty minutes, the timer is faulty and needs a replacement. You can replace it yourself or hire a technician for the job.
5. Condenser Coils
You may have noticed that many fridge problems are solved by keeping the condenser coils clean. This problem is no different; dirty condenser coils can cause your Whirlpool fridge to turn off and on too often. Typically, the coils transfer heat out of the system after the refrigerant absorbs heat from the warm air in the fridge. This heat transfer keeps the unit running efficiently.
However, if dirt impedes the heat transfer, the fridge overheats. Overheating may affect the compressor and cause it to turn on and off frequently. Therefore, clean the coils once or twice a year. Manufacturers recommend cleaning them as often as they get dirty, but most of them do not need constant cleaning. Besides, they are fragile and must be handled with care, which means you may not have to clean them often.
If you want to clean the coils, use a vacuum cleaner or a condenser coil cleaning brush. In some cases, a small rag or old toothbrush with soft bristles works. You may also want to clean under the fridge to make the area clean and prevent dirt from sticking to the coils soon after cleaning them.
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Whirlpool Refrigerator Compressor Turns On and Off – Quick Fix
A refrigerator compressor that turns on and off may have a faulty start relay. The relay supplies the necessary power for the compressor to start and stabilize before it pulls out of the circuit and allows the compressor to run. Without the relay, the compressor may run for some time, but it will quickly lose its capacity to function. Other parts to check are the thermostat, condenser coils, and the refrigerator’s power cord.
Check out this article on Whirlpool refrigerator compressor issues for steps to troubleshoot the components and correctly fix them. You may need professional assistance, especially if the problem stems from the compressor. A malfunctioning compressor can turn on and off and eventually stops working altogether.
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