How To Reset A Frigidaire Refrigerator

Just like many other fridges, a Frigidaire refrigerator may suddenly stop cooling, leading to worry that your food might go bad. How can you solve such an issue? Can you reset it to solve the problem, and if this is possible, how is it done? We researched to provide the following information.

A Frigidaire refrigerator does not have a reset button. However, you can reset it using one or more of the methods below:

• Unplug your refrigerator
• Turn the defrost timer anti-clockwise
• Press the power cool and power-freezer buttons

Keep reading for more information on how a Frigidaire refrigerator is reset even without a reset button. Also, find out the reasons you would need to rest your fridge.

How To Reset Your Frigidaire Refrigerator

Frigidaire fridges are available in different designs and styles. Some have the French door design, whereby the freezer is at the bottom, and the refrigerator is on top. 

Another classic design is the side-by-side, characterized by two long continuous doors from top to bottom where the refrigerator is on one side and the freezer on the other side. Yet others have four doors.

Whichever style you choose, you will find the Frigidaire refrigerators have a wide range of features, such as water and ice dispensers, adjustable shelves, and much more. 

With technological advancement, you may find reset buttons in many fridges. However, most Frigidaire refrigerators do not have a reset button, but this does not mean you cannot reset it.

The following are some methods you can employ to reset your refrigerator:

Unplug Your Refrigerator

This should ultimately be the first method you try when your fridge stops working. Unplug your refrigerator from the electrical outlet. Leave it unplugged for at least 5 minutes. Remember to follow what your manual says, as it may require you to wait more minutes.

Plug it back after the stipulated time, and you will have just reset your fridge. After this, you might hear strange sounds like clunking, rustling, etc. Though, this should not worry you. The sounds are coming from the motor in the compressor that shakes as it starts working again.

But, if this method does not bring your fridge back to life, you can try the following method. 

Turn Defrost Timer Anti-Clockwise

This is another method to try resetting your fridge after the previous one has failed. Open the doors and look for the defrost timer, which is a white box. You can find it at the bottom of the back of the temperature control panel. 

It is responsible for controlling the amount of frost in your refrigerator. It automatically turns on to prevent an increase in ice by melting all the frost. When this gadget gets damaged, your fridge will suddenly shut down or stop cooling altogether. 

Now that you have found the defrost timer, look for its switch. It is a small hole that has a notch on it. Take a flat-head screwdriver, insert it inside the notch and turn it anti-clockwise. By doing this, you have reset your fridge, and it should start running again. 

As in the previous reset method, you are likely to hear some sounds as the evaporator fan starts to work.

However, if the timer is defective, you will still not have solved your problem. So, if it is still not cooling, you may have to call a technician to look at it and possibly fix it or replace it with a new one like the one shown below. 

View this defrost timer on Amazon.

Detach Rear Access Panel

If you can’t find your defrost timer, you may have to access it from the back of your refrigerator. Move your fridge away from the wall, check the back, and you will see a panel at the bottom.

With a 3/8 inch socket screwdriver, remove the screws holding the panel, and place it aside. Next, you will find the defrost timer beside the compressor.

Follow the steps as in the previous paragraph by turning the notch anti-clockwise. When you hear the sound of the evaporator fan, return the panel, and secure it into its original position by putting back the screws.

Below is a video that shows you how to reset the defrost timer:

Press Power-Cool And Power-Freezer Buttons

Another method of resetting your Frigidaire refrigerator is by holding down the Power-freezer and Power-cool buttons simultaneously. This is also known as a factory reset. 

However, this is not exactly a factory reset because such resets are done on gadgets that permit downloads. And since refrigerators do not receive downloads, they do not need a complete factory reset. 

Your fridge should be able to run again after this particular reset is done to resolve minor issues.  

Reasons To Reset Your Fridge

You do not always have to call a technician each time your refrigerator stops working. Sometimes, all you need to do is reset it. Below are some of the common reasons that require you to reset your fridge:

Randomly Changing Temperatures

If you are sure that no one is tampering with the temperature settings in your refrigerator, you need to reset the thermostat.

The temperature changes could be due to opening and closing your refrigerator many times. A power outage and changes in the weather are some other causes of the temperature fluctuations in your fridge. 

Resetting your thermostat could do the trick. Press it down for not less than 5 seconds. For battery-powered thermostats, flip the battery several times in different directions and then flip it back in the correct position. If it does not work, turn off the power at the circuit breaker for some minutes and then turn it back on. 

If it still does not work, do not hesitate to call your technician who will tell you what is wrong and repair the damage.

Food Is Quickly Going Bad

Is the food in your refrigerator going bad too quickly? The compressor may not be working. This gadget is responsible for the low-humming sounds that you hear.

Even before your food goes bad, when the sounds become faint or are too loud, it is a signal that the compressor is not working and will not adequately cool your refrigerator. So, try resetting your compressor before the food gets spoiled. 

Begin by unplugging. Switch off the controls or set them to zero. Next, reset your fridge and freezer controls to around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If your controls have settings from 1 to 10, set it at 4 or 5. You will have to be patient and wait for 24 hours for your refrigerator to stabilize. After this, it should continue working efficiently.  

The refrigerator Is Noisy And Kicks In And Out Of Operation

As seen earlier in this post, noises that are too faint or too loud could mean the compressor is not working. Chirping or squealing noises is likely a sign that the evaporator fan like the one shown below is not working. Resetting your refrigerator could easily solve these problems. 

Check out this product on Amazon.

Your refrigerator operating one minute and the next it is not could be due to a minor problem, which you can verify by resetting your fridge. But if this does not work, there could be a bigger problem, and you will need to call a technician. 

Moisture Droplets Outside The Fridge

Droplets on the doors and sides of your fridge may not be a very serious issue. It may be due to opening and closing the refrigerator door many times. Resetting it can restore it to normalcy.

Whereas, other major issues can cause the droplets to form, as always, when resetting fails, contact your technician to help you with this problem.

In Closing

Frigidaire fridges come in various designs and styles, but all have features to help you store your food efficiently. Despite the model you have, most of them do not have reset buttons.

There are several ways of resetting a Frigidaire refrigerator. You can start with the simplest, and if it fails, go on and try one or more of the other methods indicated in this post.

Remember, resetting is a way of running your refrigerator again because it has stopped working due to one reason or another. But, if this fails, you will need to call in a technician.

How long can your refrigerator stay unplugged? Find out more by clicking here: "How Long Refrigerator Stay Unplugged."

If you are wondering how long your refrigerator should run, click here to read our previous post: "Should Refrigerator Run All The Time"