Whirlpool Refrigerator has been known for producing quality products. They have also earned a reputation for being one of the most reliable manufacturers of refrigerators, air conditioners, and other appliances.
But, like all refrigerator brands, they do have their share of problems.
To make matters even more complicated, many of the Whirlpool refrigerator troubles that people experience could have multiple reasons behind them.
The most common Whirlpool refrigerator problems include not cooling, making a loud noise, the refrigerator won’t turn on, leaking water, the ice maker won’t work, and the list goes on.
It’s very important that you learn to recognize when a Whirlpool refrigerator is going to give you trouble.
Therefore, to help you find the solution, we have compiled a list of Whirlpool refrigerator troubleshooting steps to fix the issue yourself.
Keep reading till the end to find out the real reason behind your problem.
Table of Contents
- Whirlpool Refrigerator Troubleshooting Steps
- 1. Refrigerator Not Cooling:
- 2. Loud Noise From Your Fridge:
- 3. Poor Ice Production or Quality:
- 4. Refrigerator Won’t Turn ON:
- 5. Refrigerator Leaking Water:
- 6. The water dispenser is not working properly:
- 7. Faulty Temperature Thermostat:
- 8. The Refrigerator Motor Appears to be Running Excessively:
- Conclusion
- Steven Settles
Whirlpool Refrigerator Troubleshooting Steps
Here are the things you should check for while troubleshooting your Whirlpool refrigerator.
But before we go into the details, here is the table that summarizes common Whirlpool fridge issues and their easy fix.
Whirlpool Fridge Problems | Quick Fix |
---|---|
Not Cooling | Check the compressor, thermostat, and coils. |
Loud Noise | Inspect compressor, fan motor, and insulation. |
Poor Ice Production/Quality | Clean or replace the ice filter. |
Won’t Turn On | Check the power supply, control board, and wiring. |
Leaking Water | Inspect door seals and water valves. |
Water Dispenser Not Working | Unclog or replace the water valve. |
Faulty Temperature Thermostat | Reset or replace the thermostat. |
Motor Running Excessively | Test and possibly replace the fan motor or compressor. |
1. Refrigerator Not Cooling:
The most common problem users face is the Whirlpool refrigerator not cooling.
But, before you start looking for the cause of the problem, first check whether the compressor is working properly. If it is, the problem is not the compressor but somewhere else in the system.
Now it’s the time to dig deeper and find the cause of your problem.
To help you do this, here are some of the possible causes:
- Poor insulation or lack of insulation around the unit. This could be because of a faulty fan or a loose connection.
- A faulty thermostat. A faulty thermostat can cause overheating of the system, which results in poor cooling.
- The defrost timer isn’t working.
- Damaged evaporator coils.
- Damaged condenser coils.
- A damaged compressor.
- Faulty fan.
- Insufficient storage capacity.
These are all the possible causes of cooling failure in a refrigerator. If you are still unable to find the issue, call the Whirlpool customer support number or visit the nearest service center.
2. Loud Noise From Your Fridge:
Loud noise is a common problem in Whirlpool refrigerators.
But before you start thinking that your refrigerator is no longer working, check whether the compressor is working.
If it is not, you should know that there could be other reasons for the loud noise.
- Faulty thermostat.
- Damaged compressor.
- Faulty fan motor.
- Improperly installed insulation.
You can troubleshoot these problems individually to fix the noise.
However, if you’re unsure about the cause of your noise, then it is best to schedule an appointment with a local appliance repair service.
3. Poor Ice Production or Quality:
When your Whirlpool refrigerator is not making ice or the ice has a lot of spots and is smaller than expected, chances are that the unit has a clogged ice filter.
Indeed, the ice filter is the only part of the refrigerator that has a mesh screen that catches the ice particles and stops them from flowing into the unit.
The clogging of the ice filter is often caused by dirt, crumbs, and other foreign particles that make their way through the screen of the ice filter.
If you believe this is the case, it’s time to clean out your ice filter.
The best way to unclog your ice filter is to run the refrigerator with water. The particles caught in the ice filter will fall out when the water melts the ice.
When you’re done with the clog, simply drain out the water from the unit to dry out the ice filter.
4. Refrigerator Won’t Turn ON:
If the Whirlpool refrigerator doesn’t turn on, you might think that the problem is related to the power supply.
But, before you start looking for a power supply problem, first, check if the system is operating properly. If it is, then there is no problem with the power supply.
However, if the system is not working properly, it could be because of one or more of the following problems:
- Improperly connected wires.
- Improperly installed insulation.
- Poorly fixed insulation.
- Defective power supply.
- Defective control board.
- Power outage.
- A faulty relay.
You should always check these things before you contact the Whirlpool customer support number to have your refrigerator fixed.
5. Refrigerator Leaking Water:
The cause of the leak can be anywhere in the refrigerator. This might happen if the pipe within the refrigerator has a break or a leak.
The first thing you should do is inspect the door seal, and it is possible that moisture will sneak inside the fridge and cause a leak.
If you see water leaking on the floor, then you will need to check the door seals and the refrigerator insulation.
If you notice any damage to the insulation, then you will need to replace it.
The refrigerator door seal can also be damaged, leading to the water leaking through it. If this happens, you will need to replace the seal.
Next, check whether you have a leak by looking at the water levels in the refrigerator.
If you notice that water has accumulated at any point, then you should investigate.
The next step is to determine whether or not the water valve is jammed. This is because it is possible for the water to leak due to the fact that the water valve has malfunctioned.
You may also try turning off the water to check whether the leak is still visible.
6. The water dispenser is not working properly:
If your refrigerator water dispenser isn’t working properly, you will need to look at the water valve.
This is because if the water valve is defective, it will result in a leak. The other possibility is that the water valve could be clogged with sediment or rust.
To fix this problem, you will need to drain out the water from the water dispenser.
7. Faulty Temperature Thermostat:
If your refrigerator is not cooling, then it’s most likely that the temperature control mechanism is defective.
To verify this, follow these steps.
- Turn off the power and unplug the refrigerator from the wall outlet.
- Now, wait for 5-10 minutes.
- Reconnect the refrigerator and turn the power back on.
- If the temperature is still not properly set, you need to replace the temperature control thermostat.
8. The Refrigerator Motor Appears to be Running Excessively:
If your refrigerator appears to be running excessively, then you will need to check the fan motor.
You can test this by unplugging the refrigerator from the wall outlet. Then wait for 20 minutes and plug the refrigerator back in.
You will notice if there is a noise coming from the fan. If there isn’t, then you will need to replace the fan motor.
If the refrigerator is still running excessively, you will need to replace the compressor.
Related:
Conclusion
You will be glad to know that this brief guide will help you troubleshoot most of the problems that you are likely to encounter in your Whirlpool refrigerator.
This way, you’ll have a better idea of what’s causing your refrigerator to break down.
You can use this Whirlpool refrigerator troubleshooting guide to have a better idea of how to repair a number of common refrigerator problems.
If you find any information wrong or if you want to add something, please let us know by using the comments section.
Steven Settles is an ISCET-certified master in appliance repair. He has aced the National Appliance Service Technician Certification Exam, showcasing his exceptional diagnostic and repair skills. With an in-depth understanding of the latest repair technologies and a keen eye on evolving industry standards, Steven is a go-to expert for any appliance issue.
My fridge has multiple problems.
-is making a noise and
-the door doesn’t seal/close
-occasionally water leak
My Whirlpool model Wy S588FIHZ00 side by side freezes things in the refrigerator that are near the air flow openning. A coke can and a pickle jar are the latest victims.
That might be the cause of this messy problem?
how do
you change the bulb in the fridge of whirlpool arc 5531
Hello Eleanor,
I hope you are doing good!
At your neighborhood hardware shop, you may buy specialized bulbs for appliances, which are typically 25 or 40 watts. It’s probable that unplugging your refrigerator and replacing the bulb will take care of the issue.
I replaced the filter. It doesn’t recognize the new filter. Is there a reset procedure?
Problem: items on top shelf of frig / left side next to freezer….
freeze, even tho they are in the frig.
I have had a Whirlpool Counter-Depth French Door Refrigerator (model WRF954CIH) since late September 2017, and today, it suddenly stopped producing ice and the water dispenser controls don’t work (it does not dispense water, nor ice, and pushing buttons don’t work), but the ‘control lock’ is NOT activated. It’s like the door has no power. The rest of the fridge is working fine, but we can’t get water or ice from the fridge.
I will try your troubleshooting recommendations (#3 & #6) to see if they fix the issues, but can’t figure out what to do about the lost power to the dispenser controls. Will it require calling a repairman?
Thanks!
Shirley Bird