VERIFIED
The heart of the cooling system
The compressor moves refrigerant through the circuit that cools your food. If it fails to start or stops early, the temperature climbs steadily. E22 is tied to that start and run behavior on this family, although the model documentation defines it precisely.
Symptoms to notice
A low hum or a click every few minutes with no cooling following. A click every few minutes can be the start device trying and failing to bring the compressor up. A back panel hotter than usual. A cabinet that was cold at breakfast and lukewarm by dinner. Lights and display still working, which tells you the unit has power but the cooling circuit is not responding.
Contexts that match
E22 turns up after the refrigerator has been moved and not left upright long enough before plugging in, after a long storage period, or in homes with unstable voltage during evening peak use. Hot, closed-in alcoves in older apartment kitchens make a weak compressor give up sooner. The code alone cannot say whether the cause sits in the supply, the start components or the compressor itself, so the order of checks matters.
What gets checked first
- Voltage at the outlet and under load.
- The start device and overload protector.
- The wiring and connector to the compressor.
- The control signal that commands the compressor to run.
What you can safely do
Verify the breaker, plug a lamp into the outlet, clear dust from the bottom grille, and confirm the sides have air space. If the cabinet was recently moved, let it stand upright for several hours and try again. Do not touch the compressor or its wiring, and never try to add refrigerant or open any part of the sealed circuit.
What to do with the food
Move perishables to a cooler with ice if the cabinet is climbing past 40 degrees F, and keep the freezer closed to hold its cold for as long as possible.
The visit
The technician measures before recommending, and explains whether the repair involves an electrical part or something larger. Measuring the voltage while the compressor tries to start shows whether the supply holds up under load. A written estimate always precedes the work, and nothing is replaced until you agree.
Why a quick call helps
A compressor that struggles for days can overheat, and a food loss is expensive on top of the repair. Describing the hum, the clicking and the side-panel warmth over the phone lets the scheduler judge how soon to come, and you can use the waiting time to protect the groceries.
Frequently asked questions
Not always. Supply voltage, the start device or the control signal can cause the same symptom.
Perishables should not stay above 40 degrees F for more than about two hours.
Yes. Tilting can disturb the compressor oil, so let the unit stand before powering it.
No. The sealed system is for qualified technicians only.
Model compatibility: Bertazzoni reuses codes across series and model years, so E22 may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
