How can I tell if my fridge is broken?

Determining whether your residential refrigerator is experiencing a temporary glitch or is permanently broken involves checking specific operational symptoms. Clear indicators of a broken refrigerator include a compressor that emits a repetitive clicking noise every few minutes without starting up, interior compartments that remain warm despite the motor running continuously, a compressor housing that feels dangerously overheated while food spoils, or tripped circuit breakers in your main electrical panel every time the fridge attempts to turn on. You can troubleshoot power and temperature stability using an independent thermometer. You can verify that your refrigerator is broken when confirmed electrical power, clean coils, and reset procedures fail to make the compressor run or restore cold storage temperatures.