Maytag Refrigerators

Most Maytag refrigerators in San Francisco homes are French-door or side-by-side cabinets, and they share a kitchen with a Maytag range or dishwasher more often than you would expect. The lineup below is the set of models we have documented, followed by what usually goes wrong with them and what you can safely look at before you book a visit.

The refrigerator lineup we work on

Five French-door models and one side-by-side make up the documented range. The MFI2570FEZ is a 36-inch French-door refrigerator listed with the 25 cu ft PowerCold series and is still sold new. The MRFF4236RZ is also a 36-inch French-door unit, in the 25 cu ft Max Cool series, and is current as well.

Three wider French-door cabinets, all 39 inches, round out that group: the MRFF4336TZ, the MRFF5336TZ and the MRMF5436TZ. Each belongs to an ENERGY STAR family. The side-by-side is the MRSF4036PZ, 36 inches wide and 25 cu ft. The width matters in a city kitchen, because a 39-inch cabinet needs a clear opening and a door swing that many older flats simply do not offer.

Where to find the model label

On a refrigerator the label is usually on the inside wall of the fresh-food compartment or along the door frame. Wipe away any condensation, read the full model line, and write it down exactly. The letters at the end of the number can change which replacement parts apply, so a photo of the label is worth more than a description of the cabinet. Our guide to finding a Maytag model number walks through the other places a label hides.

Common complaints from Bay Area kitchens

• The freezer holds but the fresh-food side warms up, often with frost on the back panel of the freezer.
• Water pooling on the floor or under the crisper drawers, which can point to a clogged defrost drain or a loose water line.
• An ice maker that stops producing, makes small cubes or jams.
• A humming or clicking sound that repeats, or a fan noise that rises and falls.
• A door that does not seal, leaving a gap you can feel with your hand.

Our articles on a Maytag refrigerator not cooling, a refrigerator leaking water, an ice maker that is not working and freezer frost buildup each take one of these and explain the likely causes in order.

Display messages and indicator lights

Maytag lists three refrigerator messages that we see in the field. A flashing letter F on a side-by-side display is treated as an error code, and our page on the flashing F message covers it. The H2O light and the PO message are also listed by Maytag. For all three, the maker names no specific cause, only reset and service steps, so we treat the message as a lead rather than a verdict. Write down exactly what appears and when it started.

Installation details that change the diagnosis

Water leaks and ice problems often trace back to the supply line, so a technician looks at how the saddle valve or shutoff, the line behind the cabinet and the filter housing were set up. Refrigerators in garages and enclosed porches see wide swings in ambient temperature, which changes how often the cooling system runs and how fast frost forms. Cabinets pushed tight against a wall or tucked into a cutout with no air gap above them tend to run hot and loud. If a French-door unit sits flush against a side wall, the door may bind before it opens fully.

Safe checks before you book

Keep to what is visible from the outside. Confirm the refrigerator is plugged in and the outlet has power, and check the breaker and any GFCI outlet nearby. Make sure the doors close fully and nothing, such as a tall bottle or a drawer, holds a door ajar. Look at the door gasket for tears or a wavy seal, and clean it gently. Clear the grille at the bottom of the cabinet of dust and lint. If the water line is visible, make sure it is not kinked and the supply valve is open. One controlled power reset is reasonable, but stop there.

Do not remove back or kick panels, and do not touch the sealed cooling system. If you smell burning or see sparks, switch the circuit off at the breaker and call us from another room.

What happens next

Book through Maytag refrigerator repair and have the model line from the label ready. We diagnose first, give you a written estimate, and repair nothing until you approve it. Landlords with several units can send us the models for each cabinet at once, which helps when a building has more than one generation of refrigerator.

Frequently asked questions