Why is My Refrigerator Not Cooling?

There are a variety of reasons a refrigerator won’t cool. If you would like to save yourself a little time and hassle, give Ready Appliance Repair a call for refrigerator repair in Annandale, VA. Our repairmen are happy to come out and diagnose the problem as well as fix it for you.

When your refrigerator is no longer cold, it is time to determine what the issue is. Often times it’s something as simple as a routine coil cleaning. However, with these new models of refrigerators, they are manufactured with a variety of sensors too.

Before we look too deep, we look at the most common and common reasons for this problem. Here are some of the things that we have determined can lead to a refrigerator that won’t cool:

Is the refrigerator plugged in? This might seem like it is a odd question, but we have been called out to appointments that this was the problem. For some reason, it was unplugged. it’s possible a kid unplugged it, or an electrician during a project. Whatever the reason might be, be sure it’s plugged in.

Look at the thermostat inside. This is a very common issue for customers with small children in the house. After all, kids like buttons and dials and so, without understanding they are doing something wrong, they mess with them. So, check that the thermostat setting is not the reason for the warm refrigerator.

Refrigerator Components to Troubleshoot?

Be sure each of the vents in the freezer aren’t blocked with boxes or food. This is very common because frozen vegetables get pushed in the back of the freezer. There might be food in the back of a freezer unit that has long been forgotten.

Be sure the condenser cooling fan is clean and clear of 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 or somewhere in the back of the freezer section. Many times, homeowner do not think to clean this section of the appliance. But, it’s very important to clean it. And, it fills up with fuzz and dust quickly, especially in houses that have pets. So, get a clean rag and clean the built-up dust out of the refrigerator coils and cooling fan.

This is not suggested for refrigerators that have a back coil system. Once everything is clean, plug it back into the outlet and notice if the cooling fan spins.

The Freezer is Cold but the Refrigerator Isn’t

There are a few more causes for a refrigerator that won’t cool after these more common ones to check if your freezer is cool but your refrigerator isn’t. The evaporator coils are frosted over. This occurs when there is a malfunction in the defrost system. Or when the automatic defrost experiences a problem. The evaporator fan motor is another reason.

Every fridge has a pair of evaporator coils. These evaporator coils are what gets cold and the fan moves the cold air throughout the appliance. The damper control assembly is not working correctly. The temperature control board which provides the electricity to the compressor and fan, this isn’t likely the problem but it is worth troubleshooting.

And, the thermistor might be defective, which is a little sensor in the unit that displays the temperature. Having one of our repairmen look at it is the best option 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