Why is My Refrigerator Not Cooling?

There are a few reasons a refrigerator will not cool. If you want to save yourself some time and burden, give Select Appliance Repair a call for refrigerator repair. We’re eager to come out and diagnose the cooling issue and correct it for you.

When a refrigerator isn’t cold, it’s time to see what the issue might be. Most times it’s something as basic as a routine coil cleaning. However, with these modern refrigerators, they are manufactured with various sensors too.

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

Is the refrigerator plugged into an outlet? This may seem like it’s a odd question, but we have been hired for appointments that this was the reason for the issue. Somehow, the refrigerator was not plugged in. Maybe a child or pet did it, or an electrician doing a project. Whatever the case may be, be sure it is plugged in.

Look at the thermostat inside of the refrigerator. This is a very typical issue for families with children in the home. After all, kids love dials and buttons and so, without understanding they are doing anything bad, they play with them. So, be sure that the thermostat setting is not the reason for the warm refrigerator.

Which Refrigerator Parts to Inspect?

Check that the vents in the freezer area aren’t blocked with food or boxes. This is very common since sometimes frozen vegetables get stuck in the back. There could be food in the way back of a freezer unit that has long been forgotten about.

Check that the refrigerator’s condenser cooling fan is clean and clear of all debris. To be sure, unplug the fridge and slide it out from the wall. The cooling fan for many models is right at the bottom of the appliance or somewhere in the back of the freezer unit. A lot of times, people don’t think to clean this area of the refrigerator. But, it’s very important to clean it. And, it fills up with dust and fuzz quickly, especially with homes that have dogs and cats. So, get a rag and clean the collected dust out of the refrigerator coils and cooling fan.

This is not suggested for refrigerators that have a rear coil system. Once all clean, plug it back into the wall and notice if the fan moves.

The Freezer Unit is Cold but the Fridge is Not

There are several reasons for a refrigerator not cooling after these more common ones to start to check if your freezer is cold but the fridge isn’t. The evaporator coils are frosted over. This happens if there is a malfunction in the defrost heating system. Or if the automatic defrost experiences a problem. The evaporator fan motor can be another reason.

Every refrigerator has a pair of evaporator coils. These evaporator coils are what cool and the fan pushes the cold air around inside the unit. The damper control assembly working properly. The temperature control board which transports the electricity to the fan and compressor, this is not likely the problem but it is worth mentioning.

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

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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