The thermostat is one of the most important components in your refrigerator. As the unit that controls whether the compressor cycles refrigerant through the entire appliance, it essentially functions as the brain of your refrigerator, which means that a failing or faulty thermostat can wreak havoc on your fridge and put the contents at risk of spoiling. Thankfully, Frigidaire refrigerator thermostat replacement is an easy task as long as you have a compatible part, which is listed in your fridge owner's manual. Because of the way Frigidaire designs refrigerators, it's as easy as pulling it out and swapping in a new unit.
Video of the Day
Refrigerator Thermostat Functions
Much like a home thermostat, the thermostat unit inside your refrigerator keeps track of the temperature inside your appliance and can be set to determine the ideal temperature of the fridge. The thermostat works by sensing when the interior temperature of the refrigerator changes. When it gets too warm, it sends a signal to the compressor that pumps refrigerant through the fridge's cooling coils, and when the temperature falls into the appropriate temperature range, it stops the flow of electricity to the compressor to save power. Because a refrigerator's cooling works based on these signals, a fridge with a failing thermostat will be unable to adequately maintain its temperature.
Video of the Day
Frigidaire Thermostat Location
In most of their modern models, Frigidaire thermostat location is consistent. On most Frigidaire refrigerators, the thermostat is located in a housing unit at the top of the fridge compartment above the top shelf. If you have an older model or a fridge where this is not the case, search YouTube for Frigidaire refrigerator repair videos linked to your specific model to determine the thermostat's location. To access the thermostat and begin the replacement process, first unplug the fridge or turn off power to the fridge from the fuse box. Remove any items from the top shelf and then use a screwdriver to free the housing. Gently pull it down toward you, keeping an eye out for a bundle of multicolored cable plugged into the internals of the fridge. Unplug this.
Installing Your New Thermostat
With the thermostat housing in hand, remove the thermostat dial from the front of the housing, and then locate the Styrofoam block within the housing and remove it. This is used to secure the white capillary tube that helps the thermostat monitor your fridge's temperature. Carefully free this tube from the tabs securing it to the housing, and taking note of how it's threaded, bring it out of the housing unit. This white tube will link to the thermostat control unit. Using a pair of pliers, carefully remove the bundle of cables and the singular grounding cable from the control unit, and then free the unit from the two securing tabs. Remove and dispose of this control unit as well as the capillary tube attached to it. You may then install your new thermostat by connecting it to the cables, threading the new capillary tube into place, securing it with Styrofoam and reattaching the dial. Plug the cable bundle back into its port, secure the thermostat housing and restore power to the refrigerator. Your new thermostat should begin monitoring and cooling your appliance.