Universal Refrigerator runs constantly

If your refrigerator runs constantly or your fridge is running constantly, start with the obvious: check the room temperature and keep the appliance in the recommended 60 to 95 F range because hot, humid air makes any fridge work harder. Next, if fans and the temperature sensor (thermistor) check out, the compressor itself can be inefficient and may be the reason you have the refrigerator compressor running continuously. Also confirm the freezer is cold enough—if the freezer temperature is above about 10 F the fridge compartment will struggle to cool. Make sure doors are closing fully; a stuck bin or misaligned door lets warm air in and forces the unit to run longer. Frost build up from a bad defrost heater or a faulty defrost thermostat will also make the refrigerator run continuously by blocking airflow through the evaporator coils; you can test those parts for continuity with a multimeter. Enter your model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact replacement part for your model and get step-by-step parts and repair guidance.

01 - Room Temperature is Hot

Normal operating temperatures for a refrigerator are between 60 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit (16 and 35 degrees Celsius). The hotter and more humid the air is the less efficient the refrigerator will be, causing it to run more. If possible, keep the refrigerator within the recommended operating temperatures and as cool as possible.

02 - Universal Refrigerator Compressor

The compressor is the component that pumps refrigerant through the sealed system to cool the appliance. If you've determined the fan motors are all working and the thermistor is accurately monitoring the air temperature, it's possible the compressor itself is inefficient, resulting in it running continuously, although this is not a common problem.

Enter model number to search for the required part specific to your product

Need help finding your model number?

Shop all Universal Refrigerator Compressor Parts

Highly Likely

03 - Freezer Temperature is Above 10 Degrees F (-12C)

Since the refrigerator compartment gets its cold air from the freezer compartment for many model types ("Top Freezer", "Bottom Freezer", and "Side by Side" models, for example), the refrigerator compartment will take longer to cool down if the freezer is not cold enough. As a result, the compressor may run constantly. The freezer temperature should be set between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 to -15 Celsius).

Highly Likely

04 - Door Not Fully Closing

Check to see that the doors are closing properly. If a door bin or food item is keeping the door open slightly the refrigerator may not cool properly, which can cause the refrigerator to run constantly.

Highly Likely

05 - Universal Refrigerator Defrost Heater Assembly

The defrost heater assembly turns on several times throughout the day to melt away any frost that may have accumulated on the evaporator coils. If the defrost heater assembly is defective, the refrigerator will not defrost, and frost will continue to accumulate on the evaporator coils. If the evaporator coils are frosted over, the refrigerator will work harder to remove the heat. As a result, the refrigerator will run constantly in an effort to cool down. To determine if the defrost heater is defective, use a multimeter to test it for continuity. If the defrost heater does not have continuity, replace it.

Shop all Universal Refrigerator Defrost Heater Assembly Parts

Common

06 - Universal Refrigerator Defrost Thermostat

If the refrigerator runs constantly, the defrost thermostat might be defective. Several times a day the defrost heater turns on for a few minutes to melt away any frost that may have accumulated on the freezer or refrigerator evaporator coils. In order for this to work, the defrost thermostat has to sense that the coils are cold enough. If the coils are cold enough the defrost heater will turn on. If the thermostat is defective it may not be able to sense the temperature of the coils and then won't turn on the defrost heater. If the defrost heater doesn't turn on, the frost will build up on the coils and eventually no air ...will be able to travel through the coils to provide cooling . The defrost thermostat can be checked for continuity. It should have continuity when it reaches the low temperature of its operating range.

Shop all Universal Refrigerator Defrost Thermostat Parts

Common

07 - Universal Refrigerator Control Board

If the refrigerator runs constantly, the control board might be defective. A few times a day the control board is supposed to turn off the cooling system and turn on the defrost heater to melt away any frost that may have accumulated on the freezer evaporator coils. If the control board is defective it could cause the system to never cycle into defrost.

Shop all Universal Refrigerator Control Board Parts

Common