How Often Should a Fridge Cycle On/Off

One of the most important appliances you’ll have to invest in when building your dream home is a refrigerator. It stores household necessities like fruits, vegetables, eggs, dairy products, and more.

Because it is such an essential part of your household, a refrigerator that is acting up or is starting to make some noise is a cause for concern and should be given immediate attention.

Refrigerators with an energy star efficiency rating cycle about 80-90% of the time. Some older models cycle about 50% of the time. If you’re not sure about your refrigerator’s compressor activity, then we’re here to address them for you.

How often a fridge compressor should cycle on/off

A refrigerator’s compressor should cycle about 4-5 times a day. The factors affecting how it runs and shuts off differ. These include how open you open the refrigerator, the amount of food in the fridge, as well as ambient room temperature. It is recommended to clean the coil at the back of the fridge since keeping it dirty will increase the normal cycle.

What affects a refrigerator’s run time?

It’s not immediately obvious, but every time your fridge is open, it causes the compressor to run more frequently and a tad longer. This is because warmer or humid air enters the fridge and your appliance has to compensate for the sudden change in temperature.

Opening it less should reduce the cycle of the compressor.

Does climate affect how my refrigerator runs?

The climate in your country contributes to the amount of time your compressor runs. If the climate is hot during the summertime, then expect your condenser to run more often to compensate for the high ambient temperature around your kitchen. If the climate is colder, then your fridge shouldn’t run as hard.

Should I keep my refrigerator full all the time?

Another factor that subtly contributes to the compressor’s run time is the amount of food that’s stored in the fridge.

If you have a lot of food items inside, then it is your refrigerator’s job to make sure each item is cooled. It’s best to remember that as a rule, the more food is inside the fridge, the harder it is for your compressor to maintain your desired temperature. It can make the motor work too hard, causing it to fail eventually.

And if that happens, your food is sure to spoil. Putting too many items inside the fridge also prevents air from circulating to keep the food cold.

How do you know if your refrigerator compressor is faulty?

It’s hard to guess whether your fridge is having problems by just listening to the sound it makes. Since modern refrigerators run about 80-90% of the time, it will be hard to tell if your compressors are overworked.

Thankfully, there are telltale signs that are simple enough for you to observe before deciding to contact a professional to have an issue (or non-issue) fixed.

If you have a faulty compressor, you would notice that your food doesn’t last as long and is more prone to spoilage. This means your fridge may not have had the same cooling effect it had when it was new.

Your fridge should also be able to maintain temperatures between 35-38 degrees. If you notice that your fridge is already at its lowest temperature setting and it is still above 38, then it could be a faulty compressor that’s causing the problem.

What causes the fridge to constantly cycle on/off?

Cleaning the condenser coils at the back or bottom of the bridge is recommended especially as they get covered with dirt, hair, or other debris over time. A condenser coil that cannot properly dissipate due to these factors will find it hard to condense the gas refrigerant into a hot liquid and in turn, will constantly run to cool the fridge.

Worn-out gaskets also tend to make the compressor run non-stop. If the gasket is warped or worn out, the compressor will have to run more often as gaps allow warm or humid air to enter the fridge. It’s better to check the gaskets first before consulting an expert when inspecting a problematic refrigerator.

A faulty refrigerator thermostat can also contribute to your fridge malfunction. If the thermostat is faulty, it will not be able to trigger the defrost heater since it can’t monitor the temperature of the evaporator coils.

Using a multimeter to check for continuity should help with this case. Checking the fan motor to see if they’re working fine is also important to ensure all the bells and whistles are properly functioning when troubleshooting a refrigerator.

How do you maintain a refrigerator?

To ensure your fridge stays with you for the foreseeable future, regular maintenance is what you need. Maintenance helps you get a normal cycle and allows your fridge to consume energy efficiently. Not opening the fridge for too long and closing it every time you take something out works wonders in the long run.

When arranging food inside the fridge, proper airflow is also important so that air has a clear path through the vents. This ensures the thermostat will read the correct temperature to limit the cycles coming on.

What’s a normal refrigerator run time?

Experts say the average refrigerator run time is 30 minutes. This happens when the fridge is kept closed. In the case of large family households, the cycle may repeat more often depending on the number of members you have in your home mainly because of the tendency to open and close the fridge more often.

How long does a refrigerator run before shutting off?

A modern refrigerator runs 4-8 hours before shutting off and going into a defrost cycle. Maintaining your fridge goes a long way to lengthen its overall lifespan.

Conclusion

Your fridge should always be in top shape for it to maintain the freshness of your food. Don’t skimp out on the maintenance of your appliance so that it works as intended and for a long time.

Checking your refrigerator from time to time and making sure the contents inside are properly spaced out goes a long way.