Remember when you could just tap the side of a fridge to get the compressor going?

Had a 15 year old Whirlpool last week that wouldn't start, and the old timer I apprenticed under in Cleveland told me to try a firm rap with a rubber mallet on the compressor housing. It actually kicked on and has been running fine for three days now. When did these newer units get so sensitive that a simple mechanical fix like that just doesn't work anymore?

2 comments

2 Comments

jade471mo ago

That trick with the mallet on the old Whirlpool compressor is a classic. Newer units have inverter compressors and solid state starters, so there's no mechanical contactor to unstick. A tap won't fix a bad control board or a sealed module. You're basically dealing with a computer now, not just a motor.

jake_kelly241mo ago

Wait, isn't there still a relay on those inverter boards that can sometimes stick? I know what you mean @jade47 about it being a computer, but I've seen techs get lucky with a careful tap on the right spot on the board itself, not the compressor. It's definitely not a fix, more like a last ditch check before you order the expensive part lol. The old mallet trick was for sure more reliable though.