How To Fix A Mini Fridge Freezer | DIY in 2022

Think about how long you’ve used your mini-fridge before you buy a replacement. It’s possible that others who own the same refrigerator as you have had the same issue. You should always try to master how to fix a mini fridge freezer yourself unless it is obviously broken beyond repair.

Not every problem with your refrigerator can be solved with a quick fix, but you might end up saving both time and money if you attempt it. Most mini-fridge problems can be fixed by using some simple troubleshooting and repair steps.

The cause of a mini fridge’s inability to cool is similar to that of a regular fridge: it might be a combination of factors. The compressor may have broken or there may be a problem with the seals.

If your refrigerator stops making cold air and doesn’t seem to be working, you can fix it by checking its evaporator coils, condenser coils, power supply, temperature control, and ventilation system.

But either way, these are the most likely causes of your mini-fridge not cooling. No matter how big or small the problem is, you should always see if a fix or replacement is on the way.

If you think you can fix your refrigerator yourself, try following this guide. There are several simple fixes you may try before contacting a repairman to come fix your refrigerator.

Here are our suggestions to check the following items for a quick fix of your mini fridge –

Fix the Power Supply Cord

Although it may seem obvious, the first step is always to check that the power cord is connected to the outlet where the mini fridge is located. Verify the cord is securely connected and has not become unplugged due to the compressor’s movements.

Replace the wall receptacle if the plug is too loose for it to fit perfectly and see if it improves the appliance’s stability. The wire and the wall outlet it is plugged into must be checked for damage. As a defective socket might be the cause of the issue, trying a different one might help.

You might be shaking your head at the very idea, but fixing a mini fridge can be as simple as replacing a few parts.  If your refrigerator isn’t cooling properly, the most obvious solution is to make sure the power is always on.

And last, if you suspect a tripped breaker in the electrical panel, go there and have a look. If there were any electrical problems, this safety switch would have automatically flipped to the off position.

Check to see whether turning it back on has any effect on the refrigerator; if the fridge begins to hiss once again, this is a good indication that electricity is being supplied to it.

Fix Your Circuit Breaker

If the problem isn’t with the plug, check the breaker box to see if it has been tripped. If it has, you will be able to tell since the black button will be in the “off” position, and it will seem differently from the other breakers that are functioning regularly.

Turn the breaker back on and reconnect the refrigerator if it has been turned off. The presence of a buzzing noise indicates electricity is being supplied; wait several hours to check if it has begun to cool down. 

Good news if it does! If it doesn’t work, you’ll need to check the fuses and see if anything else is wrong.

Fix the Outlet

Using a multimeter or socket tester, verify that power is being supplied to the hole when the breaker is turned on. This should help you get your mini fridge to turn on.

If not, or if the results point to a problem like low current or an ill-founded outlet, you should have an electrician come out and fix your home’s wiring. If you need to keep drinks and snacks cold while waiting for repair service, you might try plugging the refrigerator into a different outlet.

Avoid Using An Extension Cable

Mini-fridge problems might be traced to the use of an unauthorized extension cable. The high power consumption of compressors might shorten the lifespan of extension cables.

Instead, use a separate wall socket to power your small fridge or beverage cooler. If it works, you can get rid of the extra cord. Otherwise, leave the refrigerator connected to the wall and check the breaker.

It’s typical to find a mini-fridge sharing an extension cable with a variety of other devices, but this isn’t the most efficient use of the cord’s capacity. 

Even in small refrigerators, the compressor consumes significant amounts of energy, which can lead to internal overheating and eventual cable failure.

You’ll need to rearrange the space so that your refrigerator can be plugged into the wall. Never plug a small fridge into an outlet that is already being used by another appliance; doing so might result in a fire or overheated equipment.

Get rid of the power strip or extension cable right away if you think it may be the source of the problem.

Fix the Thermostat

The thermostat should be checked if the refrigerator has electricity but is not producing sufficient cooling. It’s simpler than you would think to accidentally raise the thermostat. Close the refrigerator right back after you’ve fixed the temperature to your liking. 

Please give it a few hours before checking to see whether your fridge is back in operation.

Your refrigerator’s thermostat may be faulty if you never again hear the compressor turn on with the familiar humming sound and sensations of vibration. As a result, it will be unable to activate your fridge over a cable connection.

You might be keen to reattach the wires or even replace the complete thermostat on your own if you’re skillful and have the right tools. If that’s not the case, you should get help from an expert.

If your refrigerator’s compressor is continually operating but the inside temperature isn’t dropping, the problem isn’t the thermostat but the gasket or cooling system.

The thermostat may need to be replaced if your refrigerator isn’t cooling properly. It may be as easy as reverting a previously unnoticed setting once an inadvertent alteration occurs.

There should be audible signals, like a buzzing or the clicking of the compressor, indicating it is back on and functioning, but if you don’t hear them, it is possible that it is damaged or has been detached from the refrigerator.

Changing out a thermostat is a job that may be accomplished with a few common household tools. If you’re not sure of your ability, however, a mechanic may be hired for a low price and the task will be completed.

Your mini-evaporator fridge’s ventilator, compressor, and cooling fan motor all receive power from the same source, which is monitored by the thermostat. When it breaks, your refrigerator will no longer be able to chill the food within.

Here’s how to make sure your thermostat is working properly:

• Pull the plug on the tiny fridge.
• Find the thermostat.
• Raise the thermostat’s setting from its current low level. At its maximum setting, a clicking noise should be audible. The thermostat is functional if you hear the hissing noise; otherwise, continue investigating. 
• Check the thermostat with a multimeter if you don’t hear a buzzing noise.
• Lack of continuity in a thermostat means it has to be replaced. If, on the contrary, there is continuity, then everything seems to be operating normally, and you may move on to examining the next likely cause.
• If the thermostat is replaced, you must verify that the issue with the air conditioner has been resolved.

Fix the Door Seal

In order to keep food cold, your refrigerator’s compressor will need to operate virtually nonstop if the door seal isn’t tight. Before shutting a door, you may see how well it seals by inserting a piece of paper halfway through it and observing for any air leaks.

Try taking the test using paper. There should be some resistance while removing the seal, which indicates that it is functioning properly. 

Your refrigerator’s door gasket requires replacing if the paper falls out easily. Before dismissing the possibility of a door issue, make sure to check it from every angle.

If your refrigerator has a door lock, you might try using it to prop the door open temporarily. Again, take the paper assessment, but this time make sure the door is locked. Keeping the door locked on a regular basis will ensure that the paper stays inside.

“The refrigerator’s lid gasket or rubber might be at the root of the problem.”

Firstly, see if you can clean the gasket well, getting into all of the crevices; then, once that’s done, give the paper test another go after letting it dry.

Investigate it from every angle to pinpoint the source of the damage or leak, and if you can’t discover an obvious one, get professional assistance. It’s an inexpensive modification that may extend the life of your dependable mini-fridge by years.

Fix the Condenser Coils

The condenser coils are often situated in the back of compact refrigerators and beverage coolers. If your refrigerator doesn’t vent out the front like a slide-in type, leave at least three inches of clearance behind it and around its sides.

If the condenser can effectively exhaust its heat, your refrigerator will have an easier time creating cold air. To ensure correct spacing, look up your model number online to get an owner’s handbook.

Next, inspect the condenser coils to determine whether they have become soiled. Dust and cat hair accumulate over time and can drastically reduce the cooling performance of your refrigerator. These may be hidden away at the back of your mini-fridge or behind a grate on the floor.

To keep the coils in good operating order, dust them with an electrostatic duster twice a year and set a reminder on your phone. If your refrigerator seems to perk up after a thorough cleaning and additional clearance for air, you should keep an eye on this to make sure it doesn’t develop problems again.

Your refrigerator’s condenser coils are responsible for transferring heat away from the refrigerant. You can probably pin the blame for your mini-problems on these coils.

If the condenser coils in the rear of your fridge are dusty, the fridge may not be able to cool properly. The dust on them forces them to work harder than usual to maintain a cold temperature in your mini-fridge, which might cause the fridge to overheat.

To clean the coils, all you have to do is:

• Disconnect your mini-fridge from the wall and turn off the power.
• You need to track down the condenser coils. Let them thaw and then clean them well if they are covered in frost. Make sure to wipe them down with a moist towel if they are dirty from dust.
• After cleaning, you may switch on your refrigerator again and check it over the following several hours to see whether the problem has been resolved. Your mini-fridge may not be cooling for another cause, so go on to that if that doesn’t work.

Fix Interior Vents for Blockages

Mini fridges rely on appropriate air circulation, and clogged vents might prevent that from happening. To check that the vents are not blocked by food or frost, remove all of the shelves’ contents and contents from the refrigerator.

If there’s ice blocking your vents, you can get rid of it with a blow dryer. It’s important to leave some breathing room when restocking the fridge with food and drink by not jamming everything in there at once and ensuring that air can circulate freely around the vents.

Because a refrigerator’s operation depends on cold air, problems arise when this air is blocked. Mini-fridges are great for short-term storage, but they can’t chill the interior if the vents are blocked by ice and leftovers.

To solve this, heat the vents with a hairdryer to remove any ice and clean them with a sponge to remove any debris.

Avoid storing perishables in immediate contact to the refrigerator’s vents and instead leave some distance between the food and the vents to allow cool air to circulate freely.

Defrost the Freezer

Additionally, ice buildup in the freezer of your tiny fridge might prevent airflow. Actually, if your freezer is completely frosted up, you might not even detect the vents.

Take the food out of the tiny fridge and unplug it so it can thaw. Frost forms when water vapor in the air freezes and collects on surfaces like the inside of a refrigerator or freezer. When you open the mini-fridge, they slowly disappear.

“Don’t forget to clean out the defrost discharge pan and give everything a good drying off before putting it back into use.”

It’s most probably because of a defective defrost schedule if heavy ice buildup lingers to be an issue. You may either purchase a replacement component and have an appliance repair technician install it. Or, you can try to install it yourself if you know the specifications.

It’s important to make sure there are no clogs in the water line leading to the defrost drain. To restore water flow, try flushing any obstructions with hot water with a bulb baster.

Whenever it comes to fixing a mini-fridge, sometimes all that’s needed is a good defrost. Building up ice and frost is a typical problem with compact fridges since they usually have a tiny freezer compartment.

The contents of the freezer must be removed and stored in another cold storage unit while the freezer defrosts. If you unplug the refrigerator from the wall, it will take many hours to evaporate.

Before turning on the refrigerator again, be sure that the defrost discharge pan has been emptied.

Fix the Fans

If your compact refrigerator suddenly stops cooling, take a moment to relax and calmly go through the instructions outlined below before you start freaking out. It’s possible that a simple fix will save you from buying a new refrigerator.

A mini-fridge relies on a number of fans to keep things cool, and difficulties may arise if even one of them stopped working.

First, you may quickly examine the two most important fans to determine whether they’re the cause, and if you can’t fix the problem on your own, professional help will be needed.

If your refrigerator is one of the many that has a condenser coil in the base, rather than in the back, the fan will be there, too. Contaminants and grime may become stuck in these fans and must be removed.

Second, inspect the evaporator fan in the fridge’s rear panel and give it a good dusting. If you find that several of the blowers are broken, you may need to buy a new fan.

Figure 5 – Check The  Evaporator Fans & Condenser Fans

Condenser Fan

Thereafter, there is a possibility of a faulty condenser fan, which would take further examination. To keep the condenser coils from freezing, warm air is blown over them by the condenser fan. 

The coils won’t keep cold if the fan stops running, which means your refrigerator might not be able to reach the desired temperature. In order to ensure that the condenser fan is working properly, you should:

• Please turn off your small fridge.
• Discover where the condenser fan is and remove its protective housing. Once you’ve done that, you may give hand-cranking the fan a shot. 
• Get rid of anything that is blocking the fan. 
• If there is nothing blocking the fan’s path, then the motor may be tested using a digital multi – meter.
• If the motor passes the continuity test, go on to the next potential cause. The condenser fan has to be changed if there is a break in the fan’s continuity.
• After replacing the fan, make sure the mini-fridge is functioning properly. If that’s not the case, continue on to the next explanation.

Evaporator Fan

Your mini-fridge may or may not feature an evaporator fan, depending on the brand and type. With the aid of this fan, cold air may be moved from the mini-freezer fridge to the refrigerator proper. 

If it breaks, your mini-fridge may have trouble maintaining a chilly temperature. To ensure that the evaporator fan is working properly, do the following:

• Get the freezer door open and listen to see whether the fan is working. If it isn’t producing any jarring noises, it’s probably alright; you can skip forward to the next likely cause.
• Turn off the refrigerator and take the cover off the evaporator fan if the fan isn’t spinning.
• Next, you may test if something is blocking the fan by moving it. If there is something blocking the way, take it out and then see if the fridge is still functioning.
• Assuming there is nothing blocking the fan’s path, a multimeter test of the fan motor should reveal any problems.
• If you get continuity from the engine, you know it’s good to go on to the next part. The evaporator blower unit must be replaced if there is a break in continuity.  After replacing the fan, make sure the mini-fridge is functioning properly. 

Fix The Start Relay

The refrigerator’s compressor may be kicked into gear with the aid of a start relay. If this fails or is destroyed, the refrigerator will not be able to cool.  A multimeter is the right equipment to use to determine if the start relay is receiving power.

If you can’t discover any electricity, you’ll need to repair this component. But, if you lack electrical expertise, you should not try to do it on your own.  Compressor operation is aided by both the start relay and the start winding.

If it breaks down, your mini-fridge will have trouble maintaining a chilly temperature. The following procedures will test the relay for the starter:

• Discover the start relay, which is often found near the compressor.
• Put the starter relay through its paces with a multimeter test.
• The start relay must be changed if it lacks continuity. However, if there is continuity, everything is functioning as it should, and you may move on to investigating the next likely cause.
• If the start relay is replaced, the cooling issue should be rechecked after installation. 

Fix The Compressor

The refrigerator couldn’t function without the compressor, which forces the refrigerant through the condenser tubes. If the compressor fails, your refrigerator will not cool, therefore it’s important to inspect it quickly for any visible problems.

It’s time for a new compressor if the old one isn’t rotating or generating normal noises.

Since they are among the most costly components of a refrigerator and are difficult to repair, you would be better off just purchasing a new mini-fridge.

The compressor creates refrigerant, which is pushed throughout the fridge to maintain a consistent temperature. One of the first things to check if your mini-fridge isn’t cooling is the compressor.  To check the compressor, do the following:

• Turn off your tiny fridge.
• The refrigerator’s compressor may be found in the appliance’s rear.
• It is recommended that you check the compressor using a multimeter. You may test the compressor by connecting the probes to the pins on its side.
• If an open circuit is detected using a multimeter, the compressor will have to be changed. Because of the complexity of the problem, this repair must be performed by an expert technician with the proper training and equipment.
• When weighed against the price of a new mini-fridge, changing the compressor may not be worth the hassle. If there is no open circuit in the compressor, then the refrigerator is not cooling for another cause.

Fix The Faulty Start Capacitor

The compressor’s starting process is aided by the start capacitor. If it breaks, your mini-fridge won’t be able to chill since the compressor won’t start. Here’s how to make sure your start capacitor is working properly:

• Shut off your dorm fridge.
• Check the compressor’s connection to the start capacitor.
• Using a multimeter, check the starting capacitor.
• In the absence of continuity, the start capacitor must be changed. Otherwise, if there is continuity, it’s functioning normally, and you may move on to investigating the next possibility.
• If the start capacitor is replaced, the cooling issue should be rechecked after installation. Examine the following cause if your mini-fridge still won’t cool.

Fix The Defective Thermistor

The thermistor in your refrigerator reports temperature readings to the control board, which then determines whether to activate or deactivate the necessary cooling mechanisms. These instructions will guide you through testing the thermistor:

• Shut off your compact refrigerator.
• Find the thermistor, and if you’re having trouble finding it, refer to the handbook.
• Use your multimeter to check the thermistor.
• The thermistor should be changed if there is a break in continuity. If there is continuity, however, everything seems to be operating OK, and you may move on to investigating the next likely cause.
• After installing a new thermistor, you should check to see if it has resolved the cooling issue. Examine the following cause if your mini-fridge still won’t cool.

Fix The Defective Main Control Board

There is still the remote possibility that the main control board in your mini-fridge is broken. Depending on how much you care about your mini-fridge, you can either try replacing the main control board to see if it solves the problem, or you can go out and get a new one.

FAQ on How To Fix A Mini Fridge Freezer 

1. How Do I Fix My Galanz Refrigerator?

Turn off the fridge.  Let’s hold on for the next 5-10 minutes.  Put the thermostat all the way to OFF, or 0.  Switch back the plug on the fridge.  Change the thermostat to your preferred temperature.  To get the appropriate temperature, wait and let it cool. For servicing on Galanz, please contact support.

These all could be the possible reasons for a mini fridge freezer if it isn’t cooling properly. Try to find the actual problem and fix it by yourself. Hope this guide will help you fix your mini fridge freezer and save you from buying a new one.