How much refrigerator compressor cost

If done poorly, the refrigerant gas might build up and cause an explosion. It might also escape and pollute the environment. Most technicians will agree that replacing the whole refrigerator itself may be wiser than repairing or even replacing the compressor. After all, every subsequent repair will make your refrigerator more liable to break. The total repair cost is more than half of what you need to buy a new refrigerator.

We will give you a few factors to help you decide whether replacing the compressor of your refrigerator will be worth it or not. A properly maintained refrigerator can last you 10 — 15 years. Lean towards repairing a younger unit especially those still within warranty than an older one.

After all, if you repair a really old unit, it may eventually breakdown soon enough. If it underwent a major repair once in its life or is being repaired constantly in the last few years, then it will be more economical to just replace the whole refrigerator.

If the compressor breaks down after the warranty has lapsed, then just replace the refrigerator — at your expense now, unfortunately. The coils let out heat to the surrounding. As the gas cools, it turns to liquid. Then, the refrigerant liquid flows to the expansion valve. This valve forces the liquid out and it turns into a cold mist that evaporates and moves through coils in the freezer.

These coils are known as the evaporator coils and provide the air that cools your refrigerator and freezer. As the liquid moves through the evaporator coils, it draws heat from the freezer and refrigerator. Afterward, the liquid moves back to the compressor. Then, the compressor applies pressure to turn it into a hot gas. This cycle repeats itself all the time to keep your refrigerator cold.

The compressor is the first thing people think of when their refrigerator suddenly stops. There is a simple task you can carry out to determine if your compressor is faulty or not.

This will save you a lot of time, stress, and money. This process is described in the steps below:. It is often held in place by a few screws. Using a screwdriver, remove the screws by turning them in a counterclockwise direction.

Then, take out the side panel. Under the panel, you would find a device known as the starter relay switch. Unplug it from the refrigerator compressor. When you have the starter relay switch in your hand, shake it. If you hear a rattle, it means the relay is bad and you will need to replace it. More often than not, it means your compressor is bad and you will need to replace it for the refrigerator to work again.

Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site s , as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Before you replace the compressor, unplug the refrigerator from the AC socket. Not doing so can lead to electrocution during the process.

Once the fridge is off, empty the content and transfer them into a cooler filled with ice. The compressor, which looks like a pot, is usually located at the bottom of the fridge. It is often hidden by a metal guard that can be removed by a screwdriver. Remove the metal guard and take out the old compressor. Afterward, check around the compressor for a capacitor.

The capacitor provides starting power to the compressor. Carefully detach the wiring connecting the capacitor to the old compressor. Next, remove every other hardware connected to the compressor. To ensure that the new compressor fits your refrigerator, purchase a compressor of the same model as the old one. Because compressors are not so cheap, you may discover that the price is higher than that of a new refrigerator. In such a case, you may just want to get a new refrigerator.

Reconnect the capacitor to the new compressor. Refrigerators are also dangerous to work with, so never attempt to do it yourself. Based in Colorado Springs, Colo. Walch spent 40 years working in the electrical trades and holds an Associate of Applied Science in applied electrical engineering technology from Alvin Junior College.

By Jerry Walch Updated December 15,