Why is My Refrigerator Not Cooling?

There are several reasons a refrigerator isn’t cooling. If you want to spare yourself some time and inconvenience, give Triumph Appliance Repair of Troy a call for refrigerator repair in Troy, MI. We are happy to visit and troubleshoot the issue as well as fix it for you.

When a refrigerator is no longer cold anymore, it is time to see what the issue could be. Often times it’s something as basic as a good coil cleaning behind the appliance. But, with modern refrigerators, they are equipped with various sensors as well.

Before we look too deep, we monitor the most typical and simple reasons for this issue. Here are some of the things that we’ve determined can lead to a refrigerator that will not cool:

Is the cord plugged into an outlet? This might seem like it is a funny question, but we have been hired for appointments that this was the reason for the problem. Somehow, the refrigerator was unplugged. Maybe a child or pet unplugged it, or an electrician doing a project. Whatever the case might be, make sure it is plugged in.

Check the thermostat inside of the refrigerator. This is a common issue for those with children in the home. After all, children like dials and buttons and so, without understanding they’re doing anything bad, they mess with them. So, be sure that the thermostat setting isn’t the reason for the warm fridge.

Which Refrigerator Parts to Inspect?

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

Check that the condenser cooling fan is clean and clear of debris. To be sure, unplug the refrigerator and slide it out from the wall. The fan for a lot of models is right at the bottom of the appliance or in the back part of the freezer portion. A lot of times, customers do not think to clean this area of the refrigerator. But, it’s very important to clean it. And, it builds up with fuzz and dust quickly, especially in homes that have pets. So, grab a rag and get the built-up dust out of the refrigerator coils and cooling fan.

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

The Freezer Unit is Cold but the Refrigerator Isn’t

There are many reasons for a refrigerator not cooling after these more common ones to check if your freezer is cool but your fridge is not. The evaporator coils are frosted over. This happens if there is a malfunction in the defrost heating system. Or when the automatic defrost experiences an issue. The evaporator fan motor can be another reason.

Every fridge has a pair of evaporator coils. These evaporator coils are what cool and the fan pushes the cool air around inside the unit. The damper control assembly working correctly. The temperature control board which provides the electricity to the fan and compressor, this isn’t likely the problem but it is worth troubleshooting.

And, the thermistor might be malfunctioning, which is a little sensor in the appliance that tells the temperature. Having one of our technicians look at it is the best solution but these are some of the most common issues.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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