Why is My Refrigerator Not Cooling?

There are a lot of reasons for why a refrigerator isn’t cooling. If you want to save yourself a little time and hassle, give Colton Appliance Repair a call for refrigerator repair in Colton, CA. We’re eager to come out and diagnose the cooling problem and repair it for you.

When your refrigerator is no longer cold, it is time to see what the issue might be. Often times it is something as simple as a good coil cleaning. But, with these new fridges, they are manufactured with a variety of sensors as well.

Before we investigate further, we look at the most common and common causes for this issue. Here are some issues that we’ve determined can lead to a refrigerator not cooling:

Is it plugged into an electrical outlet? This may seem like it is a funny question, but we’ve been called out to appointments that this was the problem. Somehow, the refrigerator was not plugged in. Maybe a a pet did it, or an electrician during a project. Whatever the reason might be, be sure it is plugged in.

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

Which Refrigerator Components to Inspect?

Be sure all of the vents inside of the freezer area are not blocked with boxes or food. This is common because sometimes frozen vegetables get stuck in the back. There could be food in the back of a freezer unit that has long been forgotten about.

Check that the condenser cooling fan is clean and clear of all debris. To be sure, unplug the refrigerator and slide it out from the wall. The cooling fan for many models is right at the bottom or in the back of the freezer section. Often times, people don’t think to clean this area of the fridge. But, it is important to keep it clean. And, it fills up with dust and fuzz quickly, especially with houses that have cats and dogs. So, get a rag and get the built-up dust out of the refrigerator coils and fan.

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

The Freezer is Cold but the Refrigerator is Not

There are many causes for a refrigerator that won’t cool after these more common ones to check if the freezer is cool but the fridge isn’t. The evaporator coils are frosted over. This happens because there is a failure in the defrost heating system. Or the automatic defrost has a problem. The evaporator fan motor can be another cause.

Every refrigerator has a set of evaporator coils. These coils are what cool and the fan circulates the cold air throughout the unit. The damper control assembly is not working correctly. The temperature control board which provides the electricity to the compressor and fan, this is not likely the issue 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 technicians inspect it is the best course of action but these are a few of 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