Why is My Refrigerator Not Cooling?

There are a variety of reasons a refrigerator won’t cool. If you want to save yourself some time and inconvenience, give Chesapeake Appliance Repair a call for refrigerator repair in Chesapeake, VA. We are happy to come out and diagnose the problem as well as repair it for you.

When a refrigerator is not cold anymore, it is time to figure out what the problem might be. Most times it is something as simple as a good coil cleaning. However, with modern models of refrigerators, they’re equipped with various sensors as well.

Before we investigate further, we look at the most common and common causes for this problem. Here are some issues that we have found lead to a refrigerator not cooling:

Is it plugged into an electrical outlet? This might seem like it’s a odd question, but we have been hired for jobs that this was the issue. Somehow, the refrigerator was unplugged. Maybe a child or pet unplugged it, or an electrician while doing a project. Whatever the reason might be, make sure it is plugged in.

Look at the thermostat inside. This is a very common issue for customers with small children in their house. After all, children are fascinated with buttons and dials and so, without knowing they are doing anything bad, they play with them. So, check that the thermostat setting isn’t the reason for the warm fridge.

Refrigerator Components to Troubleshoot?

Check that the vents in the freezer area are not blocked with containers or food. This is common because sometimes frozen vegetables get stuck in the back of the freezer. There might be food in the way back of a freezer that has long been forgotten.

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

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

The Freezer is Cold but the Refrigerator Isn’t

There are several causes for a refrigerator not cooling after these more common ones to start to check if your freezer is cool but the refrigerator isn’t. The evaporator coils have frost on them. This happens because there is a malfunction in the defrost system. Or the automatic defrost experiences a problem. The evaporator fan motor is another cause.

Every refrigerator has a pair of evaporator coils. These evaporator coils are what cool and the fan moves the cool air throughout the unit. The damper control assembly working the right way. The temperature control board which provides the electricity to the compressor and fan, this is not likely the issue but it is worth troubleshooting.

And, the thermistor might be defective, which is a little sensor within the unit that tells the temperature. Having one of our repairmen inspect it is the best course of action but these are a few of 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