My old method for diagnosing fridge compressors was costing me money

I used to just listen for a hum and check for power, which led to three callbacks in one month last spring. Now I use my Fluke meter to check the actual amp draw against the unit's specs before I even think about a replacement. The change happened after I misdiagnosed a perfectly good compressor on a Whirlpool side-by-side, and the customer was NOT happy. It adds maybe two minutes to the job but saves so much hassle. Anyone else have a specific test they run now that they skipped before?

2 comments

2 Comments

johnson.ryan19h ago

Actually, that two minutes is cheap insurance against a wasted trip. A locked rotor can pull power without starting, which looks just like a dead compressor if you don't check the amps. Been burned by that exact thing before, and now the meter comes out every time.

sagey6923h ago

Honestly, that extra step sounds like overkill to me. If the compressor isn't running and you've got power to it, the diagnosis is pretty clear. I've been doing this for years and my callback rate is fine without pulling out the meter every single time. Those two minutes add up over a dozen calls a week.