Knowing if your fridge light stays on is tricky. Unless you’re Superman, you can’t see through the door, so this problem often sneaks by for some time without you noticing. Whether you’re using a Whirlpool Refrigerator or a GE model, you want your investment to last.
Why does my refrigerator light bulb stay on when the fridge is closed? Good question! There may be a few different answers depending on your situation. We’ve composed a troubleshooting checklist with helpful tricks and strategies for identifying and resolving this problem.
After reading this article, you will better understand what to do when the light doesn’t shut off as you close the fridge door.
Let’s review a few ideas to determine whether or not your light is turning off as it should be. Be sure that the process of checking your refrigerator LED lights doesn’t damage the fridge. There are a few simple and inexpensive ways to prove that the light doesn’t work.
The easiest solution is to press the button that the door hits when it opens and closes. When you do this, watch if the light turns on and off. The door should contact the button when closed, but you can measure the clearance between the two to see if the button is far enough to trigger the light. As part of the closing process, there should be a very firm door seal.
You could also record a video to see the light inside of the fridge as you open and close the door. Just prop your phone on a shelf inside, it won’t interfere with the door or the light!
If you don’t want to use your smartphone, or you don’t have access to one, you can use a camera with a self-timer and stick it inside the fridge. Then, you can set your camera to shoot the picture when the door closes. Remember to turn off the flash. If you get a dark picture, congratulations, your fridge light works!
Check the temperature of the light to see if the bulb is hot. Leave the door open and let the lightbulb heat up. Then close the refrigerator door for the same amount of time. The light should cool if it turns off when the door closes. If the light stays on, the bulb will be warm.
These strategies can also work for your freezer door light.
Open the fridge and check the food near the light source to see if it’s warmer than the rest of your groceries. If the food is hot, the fridge light doesn't turn off when the door closes, and the bulb remains on constantly. Touch the food closest to the light source. Then, compare the coolness to the other food away from the light.
When your food isn’t kept at the right temperature, it will expire. Therefore, if the refrigerator light doesn’t shut off, it negatively impacts your food quality. Besides, you don’t want to waste money by needing to stop by the grocery store more to replace the rotten items thrown away.
Take the bulb out, and you can better locate the issue. Fridge lights don’t provide any function apart from allowing you to see while you rummage for a snack. However, they can pose other problems if not
addressed immediately.
From there, you can better determine if the light is acting up. It might be as simple as replacing the bulb or bulb socket. Cover the area with tape before troubleshooting elsewhere to prevent other stuff from getting inside before replacing the bulb.
First, unplug the fridge before replacing or removing parts to avoid safety hazards.
Most fridges come with a sensor or a switch that monitors the light function when the door opens and closes. Find the sensor and either press or close it to see if the light works properly. If the interior light stays on, then your fridge requires maintenance.
Replace the door switch with another newer version bought online or at a home improvement store.
Replacing a refrigerator Door Switch
There might be some calcium build-up, making it harder to pry out. You can clean the parts with warm water and dish soap to get rid of any sticky residue.
The fridge has various small parts that contribute to the overall issue, which you can easily replace. Then, you can move to the control panel, and see if the complex components need maintenance.
Your fridge needs constant care, and you may have to call the manufacturer's customer service line for product help and support. Another option is to call your local appliance repair service if there is a problem. You can ask if the same brand appliances experience similar issues as your fridge. The technicians can provide helpful solutions with other knowledge if the previous tips didn’t work.
You may have to replace your fridge depending on the severity of the issue. If you troubleshoot the problems listed in this article, and still can't determine what’s wrong, then get a specialist to handle the problem.
You can take several steps before getting professional help with your fridge if you suspect the light doesn’t work properly. See if your food is warm and replace the bulb if necessary. The interior and switch controls inside might need some maintenance too. If your ice maker or water dispenser isn’t working, you might have a problem with the whole electrical system.
Replacing an entire fridge is very expensive and you’ll want to determine if you can handle the light issue before you opt for a replacement. But, don’t be afraid to call for professional appliance repair. The team will happily diagnose the problem and save you money in the long run.
