A complete guide to how refrigerators work

Refrigerators are an important appliance for every household. We need them to chill beverages and keep food fresh for as long as possible. 

Read this guide to learn how a refrigerator keeps compartments cold and explore the role played by various refrigerator parts, such as the water dispenser and the ice maker. 

Keep in mind that the make and model of a refrigerator may determine how it works.

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How a refrigerator works

The purpose of a refrigerator is to maintain the appropriate temperatures in various compartments, usually between 33–40°F, to keep food fresh. 

A refrigerator works via a process that cycles refrigerant vapour through its compressor, condenser coils and evaporator coils. Through this process, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the inside of the refrigerator compartment, helping cool its contents to maintain freshness.

How does a fridge’s water dispenser operate?

On many models, triggering the water dispenser activates a series of switches that open the valve system. This transfers water into the refrigerator’s water inlet valve and then through the water filter into the water tank where it can be poured into a glass or container of your choice.

A three-part filtration process typically cleans water as it passes through a functioning filter.

1. The first part removes larger particles, such as sand, via particle filtration. 

2. Then, medium-sized contaminants, such as sugars, are removed through a micro-filtration process. 

3. The last phase involves absorption filtration where a carbon filter helps absorb microscopic contaminants, like pesticides. 

The clean water is stored in a reservoir inside the refrigerator where it is cooled and ready to be dispensed.

How do the different parts of a refrigerator work?

Refrigerator components work together to help keep cold air circulating between the refrigerator and freezer. 

Keep reading to discover how three key refrigerator components (the compressor, thermostat and freezer compartment) work together to help cool and freeze food and beverages.

Refrigerator compressor

Typically, a refrigerator’s compressor is at the bottom or back of a model and is a core component of the cooling process. 

The compressor starts the cooling cycle by drawing in refrigerant vapour. Next, it compresses the vapour to increase its pressure and temperature. The compressor then releases the vapour into the condenser coils where it transforms from a gas to a liquid. This liquid cools as it moves through the evaporator coils and absorbs the heat inside the refrigerator. This refrigerant transitions back into a gas and travels to the compressor where the process restarts.

Refrigerator thermostat

Many contemporary fridges don’t use a thermostat. Instead, they use electronic controls and temperature sensors. This system combines with the compressor to start and stop cooling, helping your refrigerator maintain a consistent temperature. Sensors are designed to detect high temperatures, which notifies the compressor to release refrigerant to chill the refrigerator.

Once the refrigerator reaches the temperature that’s been set, the sensor tells the compressor to pause operations until the temperature increases. Once the temperature starts to rise again, the sensors signal to the compressor to restart the process.  

Refrigerator freezer

Freezers are an ideal compartment to keep foods frozen via the same process of circulating refrigerant that helps keep the refrigerator compartment cool. A model’s compressor increases the refrigerant’s temperature and pressure, then circulates it through condenser and evaporator coils where it transforms from a gas to a liquid, then to a gas again. As the refrigerant chemically changes, it absorbs heat and then circulates to cool the freezer compartment.

Shop Whirlpool^® Refrigerators

Whirlpool^® Refrigerators make your family’s favourite foods accessible and easy to organize. Select models are designed with innovative flexible storage options like the Flexi-Slide^™ Bin that smoothly moves from side to side for convenient storage or the Infinity Slide Shelf that slides back, providing more room. With French-door, side-by-side, top freezer,  bottom freezer and 4-door configurations, you can find the style that best suits your kitchen and household.