Why is My Refrigerator Not Cooling?

There are several reasons a refrigerator is not cooling. If you would like to save yourself some time and burden, give Warwick Appliance Repair a call for refrigerator repair in Warwick, RI. We’re eager to come out and diagnose the issue as well as correct it for you.

When a refrigerator isn’t cold anymore, it’s time to figure out what the problem could be. Often times it is something as basic as a routine coil cleaning behind the refrigerator. However, with these new refrigerators, they are equipped with various sensors as well.

Before we investigate further, we monitor the most common and simple reasons for this problem. Here are some of the things that we have found lead to a refrigerator not cooling:

Is it plugged into an outlet? This will seem like a silly question, but we’ve been hired for jobs that this was the problem. Somehow, it was not plugged in. Maybe a child or pet did it, or an electrician during a service visit. Whatever the cause may be, make sure the refrigerator is plugged in.

Look at the thermostat inside. This is a very typical problem for customers with small children in the house. After all, kids like dials and buttons and so, without knowing they are doing anything wrong, they play with them. So, be sure that the thermostat temperature isn’t the cause of the warm fridge.

Refrigerator Parts to Inspect?

Be sure each of the vents in the freezer area are not blocked with boxes or food. This is common since frozen vegetables get stuck in the back. There can be food in the very back of a freezer that has been forgotten about.

Check that the refrigerator’s condenser cooling fan is clean and clear of all debris. To check this, unplug the refrigerator and slide it away from the kitchen wall. The fan for many models is right at the bottom of the appliance or somewhere in the back of the freezer section. Many times, people do not think to clean this section of the appliance. But, it is very important to clean it. And, it builds up with fuzz and dust quickly, especially in homes that have pets. So, get a clean rag and get the built-up dust out of the coils and cooling fan.

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

The Freezer is Cold but the Refrigerator Isn’t

There are a few more reasons for a refrigerator not cooling after these obvious ones to take a look at if the freezer is cold but your fridge isn’t. The evaporator coils have frost on them. This happens because there is a failure in the defrost heating system. Or the automatic defrost experiences a problem. The evaporator fan motor is another cause.

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

And, the thermistor could be defective, which is a little sensor inside the unit that tells the temperature. Having one of our repairmen inspect it is the best course of action but these are some of the most common problems.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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