5 Signs That Your Refrigerator Motor Is Burned Out

Signs of a burnt-out refrigerator motor are one of the most common questions consumers ask. The refrigerator is one of the most important household appliances we cannot live without in our daily lives, but over time, it becomes more and more difficult to maintain.

You may encounter a number of faults, some relatively simple, while others are complex and require a specialized engineer or technician. In the following lines, we will learn about the signs of a burnt-out refrigerator motor.

How to burn out the refrigerator motor, and what are the causes of a burning smell in it? refrigeratorThen we will learn about the components of the refrigerator motor, its working mechanism, and its types. Finally, we will answer the most important question regarding changing the refrigerator motor.

Signs of a burnt refrigerator motor

Refrigerator motors are prone to many malfunctions. They may stop working, overheat, or make strange noises. To determine the root cause of the problem, we must know the signs of a burnt-out refrigerator motor, which are:

1. Engine overheating

A severe rise in engine temperature may occur for two reasons:

The refrigerator is located next to a strong heat source such as an oven or stove. This problem can be solved by moving the refrigerator away from them.

The engine temperature may rise due to an internal fault, such as a burnt thermostat or a Freon leak. In this case, you should seek the help of a technician or specialist.

2. The motor runs non-stop.

Refrigerators are appliances designed to operate intermittently. The motor operates until the desired temperature is reached, then stops until the temperature drops and then resumes operation.

However, if the motor continues to operate continuously, it may be damaged.

3. Refrigerator noise is high

You may notice that your refrigerator is making a loud noise due to an internal motor malfunction or a broken refrigerator support spring. In both cases, you should consult a maintenance technician.

4. Motor stop speed

The refrigerator motor cools the refrigerator by converting liquid Freon into a gas. However, you may notice that the motor shuts down after a short period of operation. This could be due to a problem with the electrical current, or the accumulation of snow or dust around the coils.

5. Sudden engine stop

When the refrigerator motor stops, you must seek help from a technician, but first, make sure that the electrical connections and the power switch are in good condition.

burning smell in refrigerator

When unpleasant odors appear from your refrigerator, you must determine the underlying cause before contacting maintenance. The odor could be caused by food inside the refrigerator, or by a technical malfunction. Some of the most important causes we'll outline for you to explore include:

A burning smell may occur due to a faulty fan or dust buildup on the cooling pipes.
Refrigerator gas leaks, causing an ammonia-like smell that is harmful to humans.
The appearance of a disgusting and unpleasant odor due to the spoilage of some foods stored in the refrigerator.
Meat and poultry juices leak into the freezer and spread to the refrigerator.
A clogged refrigerator drain catch basin causes a musty smell.
Electrical faults in the refrigerator causing a strange smell.

How to burn out a refrigerator motor?

The compressor, also known as the refrigerator motor, is part of the refrigerator's compressor and is the primary factor in the refrigerator's refrigeration cycle. When any malfunction or defect occurs, the refrigerator stops performing its function. To preserve it forever, we must know the reasons that lead to the refrigerator motor burning out, the most important of which are:

Refrigerator motor overheating: The motor runs for long periods without stopping, which leads to the compressor overheating, damage to the insulation and motor coils, and the motor burning out.
The electrical voltage supplied to the refrigerator is higher or lower than the specified voltage for the compressor to operate, which leads to damage to the motor.
A leak of Freon, the cooling fluid, causes the motor to run continuously until it breaks down and burns out.
Blockage in the cooling circuit puts additional stress on the refrigerator motor, leading to it burning out and damage to the mechanical parts.

Refrigerator motor components

After learning about the importance of the motor and its main role in the refrigeration cycle in the refrigerator, we learned about its components and parts, which are:

Cylinder: It contains liner elements that help reduce wear on the piston and rings. The cylinder also contains a number of tubes through which water flows to cool the engine.
Piston: Its importance lies in preventing the leakage of coolant into the oil box that lubricates the crankcase and connecting rod.
Rings: For pressure and oil sealing, made of cast iron.
Connecting rod: Located in the middle between the crankshaft and the piston, it transmits the reciprocating motion of the crankshaft to the piston.
Crankshaft: Converts the engine's rotary motion into reciprocating motion that reaches the piston through the connecting rod.
Intake and exhaust valves: through which liquid enters the motor and compressed gas exits.
Compressor motor coils: These are two coils, one for starting and the other for rotating. We notice that when the starting coil is damaged, the motor stops working, but when the rotating coil is damaged, the thermal protector stops working and thus the motor may be damaged.

How does a refrigerator motor work?

Now that we know the components of a refrigerator motor, let's explain how it works. As we explained in the previous lines, the refrigerator motor is the primary engine that transports the refrigerant gas in a closed-circuit system from one place to another, as follows:

The refrigerator motor increases the pressure of the refrigerant gas and keeps it under as high a pressure as possible.
The gas pressure is high when it is prepared inside the compressor and exits through a closed path, then returns at a lower pressure than before, so the pressure raising process is repeated again.
The refrigerant gas needs to continue to have its pressure raised as it passes through what is called an expansion valve, which reduces the amount of refrigerant pressure.
A closed refrigerant flow cycle requires a constant supply of refrigerant from time to time due to the evaporation it undergoes.
The principle of operation of the motor in raising the pressure of the refrigerant gas is based on (gas laws), which state that when the volume of a gas decreases, its pressure increases (and vice versa).
Then comes the role of the piston, which moves in a cylinder continuously up and down.

Types of refrigerator motors

There are many types of motors used in refrigerators, the most prominent of which are the following:

Reciprocating motor: It has a piston that moves back and forth inside a cylinder to increase the gas pressure.
Helical geared shaft motor: It features two conical compression shafts that are screwed into the motor to increase the amount of compressed gas.
Centrifugal motor: It includes a fan inside the pressure chamber through which the gas is compressed using its kinetic energy.
Finned fan motor: It is so named because it has a finned fan inside that divides the inner chamber into two halves, one for drawing in gas and the other for expelling it.

Refrigerator motor change

The refrigerator motor is the heart of the refrigeration cycle. When it burns out or becomes damaged, the refrigerator stops performing its primary task of cooling and preserving food. Here, we wonder: Can the refrigerator motor be replaced?

We find that the answer is no. The refrigerator motor cannot be repaired because it is a closed type. To repair it, you must remove the compressor and disassemble its mechanical parts, then reassemble them, which is a difficult task.

In addition, the motor will no longer work as efficiently, so it is best to replace the refrigerator motor.