If a Maytag Refrigerator Keeps Running, Here are some things to check

In normal circumstances, a refrigerator will turn on its cooling function every few hours or so to maintain its temperature.

Several faults can cause the refrigerator to get stuck on and run all the time. This uses a lot of power and is disturbing due to the loud noise it creates.

This guide will help you diagnose the cause of your fault and tell you how you can fix it.

The following models of Maytag refrigerator are covered by this guide:

12001294

12001302

ERCQ24-001A/P55420-3C

ERCQ30-001A/P55420-4C

ERCQ36-001A/P55420-5C

ERCQ42-001A/P55420-6C

MSD2552VEA00

MSD2552VEA01

MSD2552VEB01

MSD2552VEW00

MSD2552VEW01

MSD2552VEY00

MSD2552VEY01

MSD2554VEA01

MSD2554VEB01

MSD2554VEQ01

MSD2554VEW01

MSD2554VEY01

MSF25C2EXB00

MSF25C2EXM00

MSF25C2EXS00

Turn the Thermostat Down

The first thing to try is adjusting your thermostat. The thermostat is located in the fresh food section on the control panel.

The refrigerator should be set at or below 40°F, and your freezer should be at 0°F. A thermostat that is set too low can make your refrigerator run more often.

But, if your refrigerator is running constantly without stopping, the problem is probably that your freezer temperature is set too high. A freezer too high above 0°F will continuously warm the refrigerator. This prevents it from reaching temperature and causing it to run constantly.

Clean Out the Condenser Coils

To cool the refrigerator, a refrigerant flows through a closed system. During this process, the refrigerant becomes hot and passes through a series of condenser coils underneath the refrigerator.

These coils dissipate the heat away from the refrigerator. Over time dust, dirt, and pet hair can get stuck in the coils and create a buildup. When this happens, it insulates the coils and makes it harder for them to dissipate heat. To make up for the inefficiency, the refrigerator will remain on at all times.

You can solve this problem by cleaning the condenser coils. Here’s how to do it:

1. Turn off your refrigerator at the wall or the fuse box or unplug it.
2. Remove the kick panel underneath the refrigerator at the front. Pull each side of it out and toward you and then remove.
3. Use a stiff brush to brush the coils and dislodge dirt, dust, and hair.
4. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove the dislodged material and clean in and around the coils.
5. Replace the panel and turn your refrigerator back on.

You should clean the condenser coils every few months to prevent such buildups from occurring.

Clean the Condenser Fan

The condenser is cooled by a fan at the rear of the refrigerator. If this fan gets filled with dust, dirt, and other debris, it can stop it from working correctly.

When the fan isn’t working, the condenser struggles to stay cool, and it will run constantly to make up the difference. Giving it a clean can fix the problem.

Follow these steps to do this:

1. Unplug your refrigerator or turn it off at the wall.
2. Take your refrigerator out from the wall so you can access the back comfortably.
3. Use a ¼-inch nut driver to remove the screws holding the lower left access panel in place, and then remove the panel.
4. Use a vacuum cleaner to clean in and around the fan and surrounding area.
5. Use the vacuum cleaner to clean the vents in the access panel.
6. Replace the access panel.
7. Put the refrigerator back in place and turn it back on.

Defrost the Evaporator Coils

The evaporator coils are the part of the system that physically cools down the refrigerator and freezer. Inside these coils, the refrigerant expands into a cold gas. As they work to cool everything down, frost accumulates on the surface of the coils.

The frost stops the coils from operating efficiently, so refrigerators run regular defrost cycles to remove it. If the defrost system isn’t functioning, the frost will continue to build up, reducing the efficiency of the evaporator coils.

When this happens, the refrigerator will run constantly, as it won’t be able to get down to temperature. The first step toward fixing the defrost system is to clean the fan that cools the evaporator system.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Unplug your refrigerator.
2. Remove the food from your freezer and put it somewhere cool. You can use ice packs if you don’t have a second freezer.
3. Remove all shelves and drawers from the freezer.
4. If your model has an ice maker, use a ¼- inch nut driver or Phillips-head screwdriver to remove the screws holding this in place. Remove the ice maker. If your model does not have an ice maker, remove the cap in the top left corner of the panel.
5. Use a ¼-inch nut driver to remove the four screws holding the back access panel in place.
6. Remove the back access panel and turn it over. You should see the fan.
7. Use compressed air and a toothbrush to clean all the dust, dirt, and debris from inside the fan and around the area.
8. Replace the access panel and put the screws back in.
9. Put your shelves, drawers, and food back in your freezer, and switch it back on.

Check for Frosted Evaporator Coils

If the problem still persists, it is likely that there is an electrical or mechanical fault with some component of the evaporator coils’ defrost system. If this is the case, you will see a large buildup of frost on the evaporator coils.

Here’s how to check:

1. Unplug your refrigerator.
2. Remove everything in the freezer – shelves, drawers, and food.
3. Use a ¼-inch nut driver to remove the screws holding the rear access panel in place.
4. Remove the panel. You should be able to see the coils in the space behind the panel.

If there is a significant buildup of frost on the coils, contact a professional refrigerator repair technician and tell them there is a fault in the defrost system for your evaporator coils.

These are the most likely reasons that your Maytag refrigerator will keep running all the time. If the solutions provided don’t solve your problem, you should contact a professional appliance repair technician. They will be able to locate the source of your fault and fix it.