Serious question, why do we all hate on the 'tap test' for fridge compressors?

I had a 3 year old Samsung fridge in a condo downtown that wouldn't cool. Everyone online said the compressor was shot and to replace it. I was about to order the part, but my old boss from my first job always said to give the compressor a firm tap with a rubber mallet first. I tried it, hit it twice, and the thing kicked right on. That was 6 months ago and it's still running fine. Am I the only one who still uses this trick, or have we all gotten too quick to swap parts?

2 comments

2 Comments

seanlewis10d ago

Funny how the old school tricks get written off as superstition... that tap is basically a percussive maintenance reboot for a stuck relay. Modern techs just see a diagnostic code and order the part.

avery62910d ago

Got to wonder if it's really a fix or just kicking the problem down the road. That tap might free a stuck relay now, but what caused it to stick in the first place? Seems like a temporary band-aid on a part that's probably failing. I'd still be waiting for it to die for good.