As a rule, refrigerators are the most dependable of all large appliances. Even so, they do fail to do their jobs adequately on occasion, and when they do, the results can be disastrous because expensive food can spoil in a hurry.

Though most problems call for a refrigerator repairperson, there are a few simple repairs you can handle yourself by checking the power, controls, condenser coils, and other parts outside of your refrigerator's sealed, hermetic system.

Remember that the best way to lengthen the life of a refrigerator is to clean the condenser coils once a year—or more frequently if they get dirty. It is recommended to clean condenser coils on certain types of refrigerators, such as side-by-side and built-in models, at least twice a year.

If you have a refrigerator with the black coils mounted on the back, these coils don't require semiannual cleaning.

For more about how to do this yourself, see the FREE HomeTips article: DIY How to Clean Refrigerator Coils.

For specific refrigerator problems and repairs, please refer to the links listed below.