Fridge Not Cooling? How to Fix it?

An appliance like the refrigerator is the best buddy for those who cook regularly at home. For the same reason, they must be serviced on time to ensure the best performance and long life. None of us would want to deal with a fridge not cooling at our home. If you have been doubting the cooling capacity of your fridge, you had better troubleshoot it soon.

It is easier to fix a fridge once you find the faulty components. However, before repairing it yourself. consider the risk of injury, the appliance’s warranty and the risk to your property. We recommend you hire a professional to repair your fridge to avoid any unforeseen risks.

Reasons for Fridge Not Cooling Enough

Here are some of the most common reasons why your refrigerator is struggling to keep your food cold, along with some solutions:

A Thermostat on Wrong Setting or a Broken Thermostat 

A thermostat’s role is to tell the compressor when it should turn on. There are chances for us to change the setting of the thermostat unknowingly while keeping food and beverages inside the fridge. See if that has happened and turn the setting back to what it was before. We would like to remind you that the perfect temperature for a refrigerator is between 1 to 4 degrees Celsius. 

However, if you find that there is some kind of fault with the thermostat, get in touch with a technician- they will tell you whether there is a need for you to replace it. If you are going to buy that yourself from a local supply store, make sure that it is compatible with the refrigerator. Consult with a specialist at the store and look for the exact model. 

A Faulty Evaporator Fan

If you see that the fridge is not cooling and the freezer is just fine, chances are that there is a problem with the evaporator fan. The evaporator system of every fridge has cooling coils, and they take the heat out of the refrigerator and the fan cools the coils. As obvious as it can be, the coils do not cool down well when there is a problem with the fan. The freezer can still function in this case. The faulty fans might begin to cause weird sounds that would get even louder when you open the freezer. 

Evaporator fans are at the back wall of the freezer inside; they can also be inside the fridge. Leave this job to a specialist as you cannot access the fan directly to check- they can either clean or replace the faulty fan.

Blocked Vents and Airflow

Did you know that you have to make sure your refrigerator is well-positioned in a way that leaves all the internal and external vents open? Having smooth airflow keeps the temperature inside consistent. If you are not careful about not keeping food just away from the vents to not block the airflow, please be. 

Inspect and clear all openings of ventilation inside and outside of the refrigerator. Clean the vents outside often using the hand attachment of your vacuum cleaner. Chances are that they get blocked by dust and debris, thereby affecting the temperature inside and even the efficiency of the refrigerator’s components or the other components. 

A Faulty Compressor 

If you see that the problem with your refrigerator still exists even after you checked both the thermostat and evaporator fan, it might be time to check the main component of your fridge, the compressor. 

We will tell you an easy way to check whether your refrigerator’s compressor is at fault. Keep your refrigerator’s door open and listen. Your compressor will likely turn on after some warm air starts entering your fridge. If the compressor is not working correctly, it could make a noise that is louder than usual. And if you see that the compressor does not turn on it is time that you get it replaced. 

Worn Out Seals on the Fridge 

Refrigerator seals tend to get dirty or wear out and it can prevent the door from closing well. It can affect the temperature inside the refrigerator, and it will make the compressor run longer. Poor sealing can also increase your monthly utility bill on top of affecting the cooling capacity of your refrigerator. So, if you have checked both the compressor and fan, it might be good to inspect the sealing too, which most people would forget. Wipe the sealing and the areas you touch using mild soapy water. But if you doubt the effectiveness of the seal, get it replaced. 

A Freezer That Does Not Defrost

The defrost system of your fridge comes with a purpose- to melt any frosting that might be there on the cooling coils. The airflow of your fridge will worsen with time if the process of defrosting is disturbed, thereby making your fridge cool everything. Do not mistake this kind of damage for a fridge water leak. Here are the top three reasons why your fridge is not defrosting well. 

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If you find that one of these components is not working well, it is better to hire a professional to get it fixed as fixing or replacing these components is a bit complicated. It is also dangerous to try for yourself, so it is better to leave that job to the hands of experts.

A Defective Temperature Control Board

A temperature control board is often considered the brain of a refrigerator as it pretty much controls every process in the cooling cycle, starting from refrigeration to defrosting. It takes input from a thermistor, which is a thermally dependent resistor. One of the main problems with having to know one of these components has gone faulty is that you can’t tell easily which one has gone bad.

To run diagnostics on these components, one would require sophisticated electronics along with great skills in electrical repairs. So, if you have checked all of the above-mentioned components and none of them seems to be faulty, chances are that there is a problem with your temperature control board or one of its thermistors.

Fridge Repair Service: Book the Service of a Professional

Download the Sendhelper App or Website to book a professional handyman for fridge repair. Let us take care of the faulty fridge at your home.