Can a Fridge Work Without a Compressor? What You Should Know

Refrigerators use compressors to distribute cold air that’s adjusted by a thermostat. Refrigerant moves through the compressor, allowing it to change to the set temperature. Once the compressor stops working, most of the parts in the refrigerator won’t work much longer.

A fridge can’t work without a compressor because it can’t move the refrigerant, reduce the refrigerator’s temperature, or push warm air out of the back of the fridge. A damaged compressor will hum loudly until it doesn’t work anymore. Fridge compressors usually last 10 years.

In this article, I’ll explain whether or not a fridge can work without a compressor, how the fridge can stay cold without it, and what causes a refrigerator compressor to stop working.

How Does a Refrigerator Work Without a Compressor?

If your refrigerator doesn’t have a compressor, it won’t be able to cool anything. The fan can still work, so you’ll likely hear air moving throughout the fridge or freezer. This ends up making your fridge smell like mildew.

USA Today explains that some wine fridges work without compressors by using solid-state coolers, carbon dioxide, and water. However, there aren’t any regular kitchen fridges that use this combination. Compressors provide more than enough circulation to cool a lot of cubic footage required for food storage.

Other than that, a fridge can’t work without a compressor. Once the compressor goes bad, your fridge should be turned off and repaired. The compressor is the main component that separates a refrigerator from a camping cooler.

If you think your refrigerator’s compressor isn’t working anymore, test the circuit breaker, control board, fan, and thermostat. The compressor is usually the most difficult and tasking part to replace, not to mention that it’s not as inexpensive.

Note: Portable fridges last a long time, but broken compressors can stop them from functioning correctly.

Below, I’ll show you what can happen if the compressor stops working in your refrigerator.

What Happens if a Refrigerator Compressor Stops Working?

If a refrigerator compressor stops working, the fridge will heat up and it won’t remove warm air through the bottom and back vents. Your fridge will feel as warm as the kitchen or whichever room it’s in. It’ll also be much louder than usual, which could make your fridge vibrate or hum.

Here’s how you can know if your fridge compressor isn’t working anymore:

• Check the voltage at the fridge control board. The control board should have either 120 volts or 220 volts. If it doesn’t have enough voltage from the breaker, swap the breaker. The compressor needs adequate power to maintain the fridge’s internal temperature.
• Monitor the refrigerant levels. If your fridge’s refrigerant gets too low, the compressor will run dry. This causes it to overheat, buzz, and break. On the other hand, if there’s too much refrigerant going through the compressor, it can leak, corrode, and break apart.
• Feel the air coming out of the vents. Each of the fridge vents should feel cold, especially if the thermostat is at its lowest setting. If the air feel the same as the room or warmer, check the thermostat, compressor, coolant levels, and control board.
• See if there’s warm air coming through the bottom of the fridge. Most refrigerator compressors push hot air from the bottom, though some of them have massive vents that push air out of the back of the appliance.

Damaged fridge compressors have similar symptoms as a fridge without a thermostat. They work together to keep your fridge cold. I recommend replacing the thermostat before changing the compressor since it’s much easier.

Can a Refrigerator Stay Cold Without a Compressor?

A fridge can’t stay cold without a compressor because there’s nothing to move cold air or refrigerant. Furthermore, a refrigerator without a compressor won’t remove the hot ambient air, making it even warmer than it should be.

So, why can’t your fridge work without a compressor?

• There’s nothing to cool the air going through the fans. You can have perfect refrigerant levels, functioning fridge fans, a healthy control board, and a top-notch thermostat. If the compressor is blown out, none of these parts will be able to do their jobs.
• The thermostat can’t set the compressor’s temperature. When the compressor isn’t working, the thermostat will send signals to make the fridge colder. Since the compressor can’t receive the signal or move the refrigerant, nothing will reduce the fridge’s temperature.
• Without a compressor, all of the food and drinks in your refrigerator will go bad. The fridge can’t stay cold, so it doesn’t do anything other than store your food like a pantry. Don’t eat food or drink anything from a fridge with a faulty compressor or thermostat.

Using a fridge without a compressor is a lot like using a washing machine without water. You can put your items in the appliance, but it’ll only work as a storage container.

Note: If the fridge fan doesn’t work, the compressor won’t do anything. This might make you think the compressor is broken, but it’s actually the fan’s fault.

What Ruins a Refrigerator Compressor?

Refrigerator compressors only last between 8 to 12 years. They can be ruined by wear and tear, transporting the fridge on its side, or bumping the fridge too hard. Furthermore, not having enough refrigerant or having too much refrigerant can ruin a refrigerator.

Similar to how a heating pad smells bad when the thermostat stops working, a refrigerator will smell gross when the compressor goes bad. The leftover moisture grows mold and mildew, making the fridge smell funky. Home Guides explains that refrigerators last 10 years on average, which is why it has a foul odor and a damaged compressor.

Follow these preventative steps to make sure your fridge compressor stays in good condition:

1. Never move your fridge on its side. I’ve moved a brand-new fridge on its side and damaged the compressor and coils before I was able to plug it in.
2. Check your fridge’s refrigerant levels annually. If they’re too low or high, add or drain some of the liquid.
3. Unplug your fridge during power outages. The sudden surge of electricity can damage several wires connected to the control board.
4. Keep the fridge 75% full at all times. When your fridge is empty, the compressor has to work extra hard. This makes it more likely to overheat.