You open your refrigerator to grab a cold drink or a snack, but you find that everything inside is warm and spoiled. What a nightmare! Your refrigerator is not cooling properly, and you don’t know why. How can you fix this problem and prevent it from happening again?
There are many possible reasons why your refrigerator is not cooling, ranging from simple to complex. Some of them you can fix yourself, while others may require professional help. In this post, we’ll explain the 7 most common reasons why your refrigerator is not cooling and how to troubleshoot and fix them.
The simplest reason why your refrigerator is not cooling is that the thermostat is set too low. The thermostat controls the temperature inside your refrigerator and freezer. If it is set too low, the compressor will not run enough to cool down your food.
How To Fix It: Check the thermostat dial inside your refrigerator and make sure it is set to the recommended level, usually between 35°F and 40°F for the refrigerator and 0°F for the freezer. If the dial is accidentally turned down by someone or something, adjust it to the right level and wait for a few hours to see if the temperature improves.
Another common reason why your refrigerator is not cooling is that the door is not closing properly. The door seals the cold air inside your refrigerator and prevents warm air from entering. If the door is not closing properly, cold air will leak out and warm air will get in, making your refrigerator work harder to cool down.
How To Fix It: Check the door gaskets for any cracks, tears, or gaps that may prevent them from sealing tightly. Clean them with a damp cloth and mild soap if they are dirty or sticky. Replace them if they are damaged or worn out. You can buy new gaskets online or at appliance stores.
Also, check the door hinges for any looseness or misalignment that may prevent the door from closing fully. Tighten or adjust them if needed. You may need a screwdriver or a wrench for this task.
Finally, check if anything inside your refrigerator is blocking the door from closing properly, such as food containers, shelves, or drawers. Rearrange or remove them if necessary.
A more serious reason why your refrigerator is not cooling is that the condenser coils are dirty. The condenser coils are located at the back or bottom of your refrigerator. They release heat from the refrigerant that circulates through them. If they are dirty or dusty, they will not be able to release heat efficiently, causing your refrigerator to overheat and undercool.
How To Fix It: Unplug your refrigerator and pull it away from the wall. Locate the condenser coils and use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to remove any dust or dirt from them. Be careful not to damage or bend the coils. Plug your refrigerator back in and push it back to its place.
You should clean your condenser coils at least once every six months, or more often if you have pets or live in a dusty environment.
Another possible reason why your refrigerator is not cooling is that the condenser fan is not working. The condenser fan is located next to the condenser coils at the back or bottom of your refrigerator. It helps to circulate air over the coils and remove heat from them. If the fan is not working, the coils will get too hot and your refrigerator will not cool properly.
How To Fix It: Unplug your refrigerator and pull it away from the wall. Locate the condenser fan and spin it by hand to see if it moves freely. If it does not move freely, there may be something stuck in it, such as dust, debris, or a wire. Remove any obstruction and try spinning it again.
If the fan still does not move freely, it may be faulty or worn out. You will need to replace it with a new one. You can buy a new condenser fan online or at appliance stores.
Plug your refrigerator back in and push it back to its place.
Yet another reason why your refrigerator is not cooling is that the evaporator fan is not working. The evaporator fan is located inside the freezer compartment behind a cover. It helps to circulate cold air over the evaporator coils and into the refrigerator compartment. If the fan is not working, cold air will not reach your food and your refrigerator will not cool properly.
How To Fix It: Unplug your refrigerator and open the freezer door. Locate the cover that hides the evaporator fan and remove it. You may need a screwdriver for this task. Spin the fan by hand to see if it moves freely. If it does not move freely, there may be something stuck in it, such as ice, frost, or a wire. Remove any obstruction and try spinning it again.
If the fan still does not move freely, it may be faulty or worn out. You will need to replace it with a new one. You can buy a new evaporator fan online or at appliance stores.
Replace the cover and plug your refrigerator back in.
A less common but still possible reason why your refrigerator is not cooling is that the evaporator coils are frosted over. The evaporator coils are located inside the freezer compartment behind a cover. They absorb heat from the air inside your refrigerator and freezer and turn it into cold air. If the coils are frosted over, they will not be able to absorb heat efficiently, causing your refrigerator to not cool properly.
How To Fix It: Unplug your refrigerator and open the freezer door. Locate the cover that hides the evaporator coils and remove it. You may need a screwdriver for this task. Check the coils for any signs of frost or ice buildup. If you see any, you will need to defrost them.
You can defrost the coils by using a hair dryer, a heat gun, or a warm cloth to melt the frost or ice. Be careful not to damage or burn the coils or any other parts of your refrigerator.
Alternatively, you can defrost the coils by leaving your refrigerator unplugged and empty for 24 to 48 hours. This will allow the frost or ice to melt naturally.
Once the coils are defrosted, replace the cover and plug your refrigerator back in.
The most serious and rare reason why your refrigerator is not cooling is that the compressor is not working. The compressor is located at the back or bottom of your refrigerator. It compresses the refrigerant that circulates through the condenser coils and the evaporator coils. It is the heart of your refrigerator’s cooling system. If the compressor is not working, your refrigerator will not cool at all.
How To Fix It: Unplug your refrigerator and pull it away from the wall. Locate the compressor and listen for any sounds coming from it. If you hear a humming or clicking noise, it means that the compressor is trying to start but failing. This could be due to a faulty start relay, overload protector, or capacitor. These are small parts that help to start and run the compressor. You can buy new ones online or at appliance stores and replace them yourself.
If you don’t hear any noise from the compressor, it means that it is either dead or not getting power. This could be due to a faulty thermostat, control board, or wiring. These are more complex parts that require professional diagnosis and repair.
In either case, you will need to call a qualified appliance technician to check and fix your compressor problem.
Refrigerators are essential appliances that keep our food fresh and safe. However, they can sometimes fail to cool properly due to various reasons.
Some of these reasons are simple and easy to fix yourself, such as adjusting the thermostat, closing the door properly, cleaning the condenser coils, or replacing a faulty fan.
Other reasons are more complex and require professional help, such as defrosting the evaporator coils or repairing a broken compressor.
We hope this post has helped you understand why your refrigerator is not cooling and how to fix it. Now go ahead and enjoy your cold food and drinks!
