Reasons Why Your Refrigerator Isn't Cooling
If you open the refrigerator and find sour milk or mulled wine, it should be clear that it is not getting cold enough. The problem is more than annoyances and odors; it's a health problem.
Listeria and other foodborne pathogens and molds can grow in refrigerators that are not cold enough.
In many cases, you don't need to rush to buy a new refrigerator. While you may eventually need to call an appliance technician for some repairs, other fixes are easy to do and require no special tools or knowledge.
Make Home Repairs a Breeze with These Reliable Tools!
Here are six simple reasons why your refrigerator won't get cold and what to do about it.
Temperature control is incorrectly configured
Resetting the temperature control is often the first and easiest solution for a refrigerator that does not cool.
If you have children at home, they are sometimes to blame for changes in temperature control, especially if they are outside of the refrigerator.
But anything can inadvertently reset the temperature, even rubbing it with your hands or shoving food into the fridge or freezer.
Change the thermostat to the desired temperature setting. Be sure to check the freezer and refrigerator as they should have separate controls.
Do not expect the temperature in the box to change immediately. Instead, wait a full day for the temperature to recover.
The condenser coils are dirty
When the condenser coils in the back of the refrigerator are dirty or covered with cobwebs, the unit does not cool properly.
Unlock the anti-tip brackets located on the front lower exterior of the cabinet. Carefully slide the cooler out and clean the coils with the handheld attachment of a vacuum cleaner. Be careful not to bend or damage the reels.
The door seals are not clean
Over time, the flexible door seals (gaskets) can become dirty with food or fingerprints, preventing the door from sealing properly.
Clean the joints with a sponge and warm soapy water. Also, clean the sections of the refrigerator where the gaskets touch. Do not use abrasive cleaners, brushes, mops, flammable liquids, or window cleaning sprays.
Food blocks air vents
Check the inside of the refrigerator box for food that may be blocking the cool air vent. Large boxes or bags may have been inadvertently placed in front of the openings, preventing cold air from entering the unit.
Set these items aside or put them on a different shelf.
The refrigerator is exhausted
The dough in the fridge helps keep it fresh. And the dough you need to provide comes in the form of food.
Refrigerators with insufficient stock must work harder to keep temperatures down. Well stocked (but not overstocked) refrigerators have enough mass to retain these low temperatures.
Faulty power supply
Make sure your refrigerator's electrical plug is tight and secure in the outlet. Refrigerators should not be connected to GFCI outlets as the GCFI can shut down the refrigerator.
Location is affecting cooling capacity
Placing the refrigerator in a hot or cold environment outdoors or a garage may affect the unit's cooling capacity.
Even when the refrigerator is located in a warm environment, hot appliances such as dishwashers, stoves, or ovens adjacent to the refrigerator can affect the cooling of the refrigerator.
When to call a professional
More complex reasons for your refrigerator not getting cold that involve mechanical operations may require a visit from an appliance technician. This can include:
- The fan motor does not work
- Compressor does not turn on or off
- Compressor relay replacement
- The thermostat does not work
We hope you enjoy watching this video about Refrigerator not cooling - What to check:
Source: Bill Newberry
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Last update on 2024-11-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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