How a Refrigerator Actually Works (It Doesn't Make Cold)

Your fridge doesn't create cold. It moves heat out of the box, using evaporation, a compressor, a condenser and an expansion valve in an endless loop. We also explain frost-free freezers, the history of refrigeration and those strange fridge noises. 0:00 Your fridge doesn't make cold 0:40 Heat flows downhill 1:20 The refrigerant 2:03 The evaporator 2:45 The compressor 3:25 The condenser 4:05 The expansion valve 4:47 The full loop and the thermostat 5:29 Freezers, frost and door seals 6:09 From ice houses to modern fridges 6:52 Those weird fridge noises 7:38 How to help your fridge #HowItWorks #Engineering #InnerWorkings ⚙️ Enjoyed this breakdown? Subscribe to Inner Workings and hit the bell 🔔 — new videos every week explaining how machines and technology really work. 💬 What should we take apart next? Tell us in the comments! Visuals in this video were created with the help of AI tools and animation; script and research by the Inner Workings team. #HowItWorks #Engineering #InnerWorkings