The Light Bulb In My Whirlpool Refrigerator Will Not Work

When you open the door of your Whirlpool refrigerator, the inside lights should respond by turning on to help you find what you're looking for. If you open the door and nothing happens, your light bulbs may have burned out. The light bulbs inside a Whirlpool refrigerator are designed to last, but refrigerator lights can go through a lot of wear and tear with the number of times they must turn on and off. If your household frequently opens and closes the doors, your bulbs may wear out earlier than intended.

First, it's important to make sure the bulbs are actually burnt out. There's another reason the lights might not be turning on: the door switch may not be working correctly.

On most models, there's a small switch that is depressed when the doors are closed and is released when the doors open. This is what switches the lights off and on as needed. Toggle the switch a few times to make sure it isn't defective or stuck in the depressed position. If it appears to be responding properly, but the lights are still not working, it's time to change out the bulbs.

Whirlpool refrigerators use special light bulbs in their fixtures. You'll want to make sure you get the proper type of bulb as a replacement — the same wattage, shape and size. You should be able to find the type of bulb in the documentation that came with the refrigerator, and these bulbs can be purchased on the Whirlpool website or from any approved distributor of Whirlpool products.

Depending on the model of fridge, you may have LED lighting. Sometimes this LED lighting is not meant to be changed by the user. Be sure to consult the manual to see whether the customer is meant to be able to access the lighting or not. If you can access the LED lighting to change out the bulb, it's still important to be sure you replace it with the same type of bulb — some LED bulbs are not suited to damp environments like the inside of a refrigerator and will not last, according to Whirlpool. Be sure to read the packaging on the LED bulb and follow its instructions.

Changing out a light bulb inside the fridge is a straightforward process. First, you'll want to make sure you have the proper bulb as a replacement. Then you'll need to temporarily unplug the refrigerator or disconnect the power for your own safety when changing the bulb. It isn't a long process, so the interior of the refrigerator should remain cold enough for your food while the change out happens, but pay attention if the task takes extra time to complete.

Sometimes you'll find a plastic cover over the light bulb. This helps protect it from spills and debris and also helps to diffuse the light from the bulb, making the illumination easier on the eyes. You should be able to easily remove this plastic cover.

The manual for your specific model of refrigerator should have additional information if you need assistance. After removing the light shield, remove the dead bulb and replace it with the new bulb. Put the cover back in place and close the door before re-connecting the fridge to power.

If this does not fix the problem, the socket itself could be broken, or the internal wiring connections — or the entire fixture. If you have a multimeter, you can test some of these internal parts for continuity to make sure they are still receiving electrical current. If not, a Whirlpool technician can come to investigate the issue, replace any faulty components and help with other Whirlpool refrigerator problems and solutions.