Whirlpool refrigerator won’t turn on after a power outage. Can you help?
Appliance ExpertHi, I’m Mike, your appliance troubleshooting expert. When you open the door, do any interior lights, display, or fans come on, or is it completely dead and silent?
Completely dead—no lights, no sound.
Appliance ExpertIs the refrigerator on a GFCI outlet or power strip, and did any breaker or GFCI trip during the outage?
It’s on a regular wall outlet, no strip; breakers and GFCIs look fine.
Appliance ExpertDo you know the model/age, and did anything else in the home show signs of a power surge (clocks blinking, other appliances reset)?
It’s a Whirlpool WRS325, about 7 years old; a couple clocks were blinking after power came back.
Appliance ExpertDo you notice any burnt smell or scorch marks around the control panel or rear, and is the power cord intact with no pet damage?
No smell or marks, and the cord looks fine—just totally dead.
Appliance ExpertThanks—based on a total power loss after an outage with a good outlet, the most likely failures are: a surge-damaged main control board, an open line/noise filter (power filter), or less commonly a failed user interface board or an open power cord/connector; a bad compressor start device wouldn’t kill all lights, so that’s unlikely. Safety: if you notice a burning smell, a warm outlet, or a breaker that trips and won’t reset, stop and call a licensed technician/electrician due to shock/fire risk. For this WRS325 at ~7 years, repair is usually worthwhile; typical fixes are replacing the control board (about $150–$350 CAD for the part) or the line filter ($30–$70 CAD) plus labor. If you’d like, I can walk you through a few safe, non-invasive checks to narrow it down—want me to guide you?