I was defrosting the small fridge with hot water and a hammer lightly and a noise came out like air being released. Did I break it? Can I plug it back in?

Y, November 2009

You have punctured one of the thin aluminium coolant circuit tubes. It cannot be repaired and if you plug it in it won't work and the compressor motor will overheat and seize.
In short its well and truely knack......!!
Do not use tools of any description to jab at coolant pipes-they are very thin (as my wife found out)

Geoff inside Wales, November 2009

Sounds like you have broken the pipe & released the cooling gas. You can plug it in & it will run but will not get cold anymore. If you run it too long without gas it may even damage the compressor motor. You are in for an expensive repair or replacement of the fridge. Call in a service company to check & give you an estimate. Next time use more common sense & don't use a hammer or sharp instrument to defrost a fridge

Lincoln Appliance NZ, November 2009