Appliance Repair in 08518 · Willingboro, Burlington & Bordentown

Summer thunderstorms and winter nor'easters knock out power across this part of the Delaware Valley every year, and a long outage puts every refrigerator and freezer in the house at risk. A full chest freezer kept closed holds its temperature for much longer than a half-empty upright, and a refrigerator stays cold for only a few hours with the door shut.

When the power comes back, appliances do not always come back with it. Refrigerators with electronic controls may need a minute to restart, and some display an error code that clears after a reset. A voltage surge as power returns can damage a control board, which is one reason a surge protector rated for appliances can be worth the small cost. If a refrigerator hums but does not cool after an outage, give it several hours before deciding it failed, since it starts from a warm cabinet.

Food safety comes first. Keep doors closed during the outage, use an appliance thermometer to check temperatures afterward, and discard perishables that sat above safe temperatures too long. If you run a portable generator, keep it outdoors and well away from windows and doors, because its exhaust contains carbon monoxide.

If an appliance will not restart, unplug it for a minute, plug it back in and check the breaker panel for a tripped breaker. Note any error codes or unusual sounds. When you call us, mention the outage; it helps the technician know whether to look at the control board, the compressor start components or something else.