What Makes a Refrigerator Compressor Run So Hot?
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Refrigerator Compressor Is Too Hot
If your refrigerator compressor is too hot, it is completely normal to worry that the fridge is about to fail. In a New City apartment or a busy home in Rockland or Westchester County, a broken fridge quickly turns into spoiled food and stress. We help local homeowners with overheating compressors every week, so this guide explains what is normal, what is not, and when you should schedule a professional refrigerator repair visit.
Is It Normal For A Refrigerator Compressor To Feel Hot?
The compressor is the heart of the cooling system. It pumps refrigerant through the coils and pushes heat out of the refrigerator. Because it works hard, the metal shell around the compressor often feels warm or even quite hot during normal operation.
Warm to the touch is usually fine. It can feel hotter right after a long cooling cycle or on very warm days. Concern starts when:
- The compressor feels almost too hot to touch
- It seems to run constantly without taking breaks
- Cabinet surfaces and walls around the compressor area feel very hot
- The fridge compartment is not staying cold
Those signs tell you the system is having a hard time getting rid of heat and may be working much harder than it should.
