Refrigerator Not Cooling Five Possible Reasons And Fixes

Is your refrigerator not keeping food cold? 

A warm fridge can quickly turn into a headache, leading to spoiled groceries and frustration, and no one wants that. Before you call a repair technician, there is a few common issues that you can check and possibly fix yourself. Below we will cover some of the five possible reasons, your fridge isn’t cooling and how to troubleshoot them. 

Dirty condenser coil 

The condenser coil helps release heat from the refrigerator, but if it’s covered with dust and debris, it can’t do its job properly. This can cause a fridge to work harder while failing to keep your food cold. 

how to fix:

• Unplug the refrigerator.
• Locate the condenser coil -normally it’s behind or underneath the unit.
• Use a vacuum cleaner or coil brush to remove dust buildup.
• Plug the fridge back in and wait a few hours to see if it cools properly.

Faulty, evaporator fan motor

The evaporator fan circulates cold there inside the fridge. If it stops working, the refrigerator won’t maintain its consistent temperature.

How to fix:

• Open up the freezer and listen for the fan running. If it’s silent, it may be faulty.
• Unplugged the fridge and locate the fan behind the rear freezer panel.
• Test the fan by spinning the blades manually if it doesn’t move freely, it’s likely that it needs to be replaced.

Broken temperature control thermostat

If your fridge isn’t cooling properly, the thermostat may not be regulating the temperature correct correctly.

How to fix:

• turn the thermostat knob to the highest setting and listen for to click. 
• If there’s no click, and the fridge doesn’t turn on, the thermostat might be faulty and needs to be replaced.

Malfunctioning start relay

The star relay helps the compressor run efficiently. If it is faulty, the compressor won’t start in the fridge won’t cool.

How to fix: 

• Unplugged the fridge and locate the start relay near the compressor. 
• Remove the relay and shake it – if you hear, a rattling noise, it’s likely broken.
• Replace the faulty relay with a new one.

Blocked air vents

Blocked air vents can prevent cold air from circulating properly inside the fridge, leading to warm spots.

How to fix:

• Check for food items, blocking events and rearrange the shelves.
• Ensure the fridge isn’t overloaded, as too many items can restrict the airflow.

Final thoughts

A refrigerator that’s not cooling can be one of the most frustrating appliances in your home, but many issues are simple to fix. By checking these common problems, you are able to get your fridge back, running again without the needing of a professional. However, if the problems persist, you could always reach out to a qualified appliance repair technician.