Your Refrigerator Shows Error Codes Or Warning Lights

Is the warning light on your fridge lit up but you don't know where the fault is? Here we explain to you what might causing this kind of problem and how to avoid it occurring.

THE POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR THIS FAULT:

• The fridge is overfilled

• The door seal is worn

• The gutter heating element is defective (frost-free appliances only)

• There is an issue with a thermal fuse or the defrost thermostat (frost-free appliances only)

• The sensors are defective

• The thermostat is damaged

• The circuit board is faulty

• The compressor is faulty

• The coolant is unable to circulate properly

WARNING
Before you do anything to your appliance, make sure you disconnect it from the power supply.
There is a risk of electric shock.

The fridge is overfilled

If you fill your fridge all in one go, such as when you come back from shopping for example, this means you are putting too many items in your refrigerator/freezer all at once, which will cause it to take longer to freeze/cool down. The temperature in the interior will increase and cause the appliance to go into warning mode or display a fault code. We recommend you lower the temperature in the fridge via the thermostat before going shopping, then return it to the right setting two hours later when you put your food inside.

The door seal is worn

The door seal is damaged or not sitting tightly and firmly in the right position when the door is closed. If this is the case, warm air in the room where your fridge is located will penetrate inside the appliance and raise the temperature of the refrigerator or freezer compartment, which will cause a warning light to show or a fault code to be displayed. Check the condition of the seal and clean it. Replace it if it's damaged or showing any signs of wear.

Purchase a door seal for your refrigerator

The gutter heating element is defective (frost-free appliances only)

On freezers equipped with frost-free technology, the water produced during the defrosting process trickles into a gutter, which in the majority of cases will be fitted with a heating element. This produces heat to ensure the water doesn't freeze in the gutter. If the heater is defective, the water in the gutter could turn to ice. This can cause a warning light to show or a fault code to be displayed. You can check the heating element using a multimeter in ohmmeter mode. Simply place the meter's two probes on the element's terminals (after first disconnecting its electrical connectors). If there is no continuity (null value), you will need to replace it.

There is an issue with a thermal fuse or the defrost thermostat (frost-free appliances only)

Refrigerators or freezers equipped with frost-free technology are fitted with thermal fuses (either with or without a thermostat), which serve as thermal protection devices that trigger when the temperature in and around the cavity where the evaporator is located gets too high. If the defrost thermostat is not working properly, it will not signal that the temperature is at the right level, and this will lead to a warning light being shown or a fault code being displayed. You can check the condition of these components using a multimeter (after first disconnecting their electrical connectors). You will need to replace any that have no continuity.

Purchase a thermal fuse for your refrigerator

The sensors are defective

The sensors on the fridge and the freezer detect the temperatures in the appliance's various compartments. They also serve to turn off the heating elements at the end of the defrost cycle. If any are defective or giving incorrect readings, the appliance may display a fault code or show a warning light.

The thermostat is damaged

If the thermostat is faulty, it will no longer be able to regulate the temperature in your fridge, causing it to become either too cold or too warm. This could result in the appliance displaying a fault code or showing a warning light. You can check the temperature of the compartments yourself using a thermometer. It should be no higher than -18°C in the freezer and no higher than 4°C in the refrigerator. If, despite your attempts to set the thermostat correctly, the temperatures stay the same and remain outside the recommended range, you may have to replace the thermostat.

Purchase a thermostat for your refrigerator

The circuit board is faulty

The circuit board controls most of your appliance's functions. If it's faulty, it may interpret the data incorrectly and struggle to regulate the temperature inside the refrigerator. This will cause an alarm light to show or a fault code to display. If you have already tested everything else described above, you may have to replace the circuit board; you can either do this yourself or call on the services of a manufacturer-approved engineer.

The compressor is faulty

If the compressor is defective due to either its internal flaps being worn or oil from its motor finding its way into the coolant circuit, the compressor will struggle to circulate the fluid, which could result in a warning light showing or a fault code being displayed. If the compressor does turn out to be the source of your problem, you will need to seek the advice of a professional.

The coolant is unable to circulate properly

Oil from the motor can sometimes get into the coolant circuit. When this occurs, it will create a blockage in the circuit, preventing the fluid from circulating properly. If the fluid cannot circulate efficiently, this could result in some of the coolant gas (in fluid form) escaping, which can lead to an excess build-up of frost. The fridge will warm up due to this loss of gas, which will eventually cause it to show a warning light or display a fault code. If you have a coolant-related problem, seek the advice of a professional engineer.