Your weekly grocery bill is expensive enough as it is, so you may not be particularly happy if you had to throw out some of last week's spend. This is not the first time that this food had gone bad, and it would seem to point to an issue with your fridge, so you may be even more worried about the prospects for repair. However, before you jump to conclusions, ask yourself certain questions to see whether the 'fix' is relatively simple or whether you will need to bring in an expert. Where should you begin?
Don't Assume
As you may know, your fridge is made up of several different components, and the compressor is basically the heart of the operation. Most people worry that this unit could be faulty and in need of repair, but other individual components or even some basic cleaning could mask the issue.
Cleaning It Up
You should first check to see if the coils at the rear of the unit are in good condition. If it's been some time since you cleaned back there, then they may have accumulated dust and dirt which could be exacerbated by the elevated moisture levels. Clean this area carefully using a vacuum hose, and while you are at it, check the overflow tray. This may be contaminated or blocked, and this will certainly cause the unit to malfunction. In the worst-case scenario, the motor and compressor could run too hot and could fail with costly consequences.
Dodgy Thermostat
After that, check the efficiency of the thermostat. If it is not working as it should, then it may be preventing power from being sent to the compressor and doing a number on your food. Turn it down as far as it will go and see if that makes a difference, but if it doesn't, you may have to replace it.
Faulty Relays
The compressor will be protected by a small component known as a relay. These are basically simple switches, and they send power to the compressor, only as and when needed. They can sometimes fail, especially if you had a recent power cut, but they are relatively cheap to replace.
Calling in Support
If you're still struggling to get to the bottom of the issue and even after you have cleaned carefully, then you should bring in a refrigeration repair technician to help you. They will have the tools and the know-how to get everything back to normal, so you can protect your weekly grocery spend.