Why is My Refrigerator Not Cooling?

There are a variety of reasons a refrigerator is not cooling. If you would like to spare yourself some time and hassle, give Webb Appliance Repair a call for refrigerator repair in Mesa, AZ. Our technicians are eager to come out and diagnose the problem and repair it for you.

When your refrigerator has lost its cold anymore, it’s time to see what the issue is. Most times it is something as simple as a good coil cleaning behind the appliance. But, with modern refrigerators, they are manufactured with various sensors as well.

Before we investigate further, we look at the most common and simple reasons for this issue. Here are a couple of of the things that we have determined lead to a refrigerator that won’t cool:

Is it plugged into an electrical outlet? This may seem like it’s a odd question, but we’ve been called out to appointments that this was the reason for the issue. For some reason, the refrigerator was not plugged in. it’s possible a a pet did it, or an electrician during a service visit. Whatever the cause may be, make sure it is plugged in.

Look at the thermostat inside. This is a very common issue for families with children in their home. After all, kids love dials and buttons and so, without knowing they are doing something wrong, they mess with them. So, check that the thermostat temperature isn’t the reason for the warm refrigerator.

Refrigerator Components to Inspect?

Check that the vents in the freezer aren’t blocked with food or boxes. This is very common since sometimes bags of frozen veggies get pushed in the back. There could be food in the very back of a freezer that has long been forgotten.

Be sure the refrigerator’s 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 just at the bottom of the appliance or in the back of the freezer section. Many times, customers do not think about cleaning this area of the appliance. But, it’s important to clean it. And, it piles up with fuzz and dust quickly, especially in houses that have dogs and cats. So, find a rag and get the collected dust out of the coils and cooling fan.

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

The Freezer Unit is Cold but the Fridge is Not

There are several reasons for a refrigerator that won’t cool after these obvious ones to start to check if the freezer is cold but your fridge is not. The evaporator coils are frosted over. This happens if there is a failure in the defrost system. Or the automatic defrost has an issue. The evaporator fan motor is another cause.

Every fridge has a pair of evaporator coils. These coils are what cool and then the fan pushes the cold air around inside the appliance. The damper control assembly is not working properly. The temperature control board carries the electricity to the fan and compressor, this isn’t likely the problem but it is worth mentioning.

And, the thermistor could be malfunctioning, which is a tiny sensor in the appliance that displays the temperature. Having one of our repairmen inspect it is the best option but these are some 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