Why is My Refrigerator Not Cooling?

There are several reasons a refrigerator won’t cool. If you would like to spare yourself some time and hassle, give Esteem Appliance Repair a call for refrigerator repair. We’re eager to come out and troubleshoot the cooling issue and correct it for you.

When a refrigerator isn’t cold anymore, it is time to determine what the problem might be. Often times it’s something as simple as a routine coil cleaning. But, with latest fridges, they’re manufactured with various sensors as well.

Before we look too deep, we look at the most common and common causes for this problem. Here are some things that we’ve determined lead to a refrigerator that won’t cool:

Is the cord plugged in? This might seem like it’s a funny question, but we’ve been called out to appointments that this was the issue. Somehow, the refrigerator was not plugged in. Maybe a kid unplugged it, or an electrician during a service visit. Whatever the reason may be, be sure it is plugged in.

Check the thermostat inside. This is a very typical problem for customers with small children in their home. After all, children are fascinated with dials and buttons and so, without understanding they’re doing anything wrong, they mess with them. So, check that the thermostat setting is not the reason for the warm fridge.

Which Refrigerator Components to Troubleshoot?

Be sure each of the vents inside the freezer area are not blocked with food or containers. This is very common since sometimes bags of frozen vegetables get stuck in the back of the freezer. There could be food in the way back of a freezer that has been forgotten.

Be sure the refrigerator’s condenser cooling fan is clean and clear of debris. To be sure, unplug the fridge and slide it away from the kitchen wall. The cooling fan for several models is right at the bottom or somewhere in the back of the freezer unit. A lot of times, homeowner don’t think about cleaning this section of the refrigerator. But, it is very important to keep it clean. And, it builds up with fuzz and dust quickly, especially in homes that have dogs and cats. So, grab a clean rag and clean the built-up dust out of the coils and cooling fan.

This is not recommended for refrigerators that have a back coil system. Once all clean, plug it into the outlet and see if the fan moves.

The Freezer Unit is Cold but the Refrigerator is Not

There are many reasons for a refrigerator not cooling after these obvious ones to start to check if the freezer is cold but the refrigerator is not. The evaporator coils have frost on them. This happens if there is a malfunction in the defrost system. Or if the automatic defrost experiences a problem. The evaporator fan motor is another reason.

Every fridge has a pair of evaporator coils. These evaporator coils are what cool and the fan circulates the cool air around inside the unit. The damper control assembly isn’t working correctly. The temperature control board that provides the electricity to the compressor and fan, this is not likely the problem but it’s worth mentioning.

And, the thermistor could be defective, which is a small sensor within the appliance that displays the temperature. Having one of our repairmen inspect it is the best course of action but these are some of the most typical problems.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

• Ice Maker Isn’t Working
• How Does a Refrigerator Work?
• Refrigerator is Noisy
• Refrigerator Water Dispenser Not Working