​What To Do If The Fridge Is Not Cooling?

Why is my refrigerator not cooling properly?

When your fridge stops working, it can cause serious problems. Not being able to keep food fresh is inconvenient and expensive. It is important to understand why your refrigerator is not cooling enough. Knowing what could be causing the problem will help you determine what steps to take to fix the situation.

Reason #1: Evaporator and fans

One of the most common causes of improper cooling is a problem with the evaporator or fans. The evaporator is responsible for absorbing heat from inside the fridge and transferring it outside. At the same time, the fan circulates air over the evaporator coils, which cools down the air in your fridge. If either of these components stops working properly, your fridge will no longer be able to keep its contents at a consistent temperature.

To make sure that the evaporator and fans work properly, you need to bypass the door switch by falsely triggering it with duct tape/finger/magnet. Once it’s done, keep the door open and place your hand on the back wall of the fridge’s inside. If you don’t feel any air coming through ventilation holes after 5-10 minutes, there is a chance that the fan is broken.

Reason #2: Compressor

Another potential reason your fridge has stopped cooling is the compressor. It is responsible for generating pressure within the system, which in turn allows for heat exchange from one side of the refrigeration cycle to another. It usually runs at least 10 – 20 times during the day and makes a faint buzzing sound when working correctly.

Make sure the compressor is not louder than usual. If you do not hear any noise coming from behind your fridge, it could mean that the starter relay or compressor is faulty. To fix it, install the starter first and check if the compressor starts working.

Reason #3: Condenser coils

Sometimes condenser coils could have tiny gas leaks or be clogged with ice or dirt. If coils do not have proper air circulation, it will affect the whole cooling cycle. That may lead to a problem when your refrigerator won’t cool at all. Coils run from outside of the fridge and run all the way inside the refrigerator. Finding any gas leaks in a sealed system is usually a complex procedure.

Normally, those repairs are done with sealed system injections that cover small holes where the gas may leak. The holes can appear due to the age of the unit or design flaws. Unfortunately, the compressor and the sealed system will not work correctly without proper pressure and the right amount of Freon.

Reason #4: Damper control

Damper control is a small trap window that opens and closes accordingly to the adjusted temperature. It is very popular in new generation fridges. The damper assembly is usually located near the evaporator fan or air vents. Make sure the trap window is not obstructed because the little motor that opens a window sometimes fails.

Simple things you can check yourself

If the temperature in the fridge is not lower than 40° / or in the freezer 0°, you should check a couple of things first. Sometimes the solution is much simpler than it seems.

1. Check if your thermostat or control board temperature is set to the right temperature. Sometimes people change settings by accident, and it makes all the difference.
2. The refrigerator is not plugged in, or the fuse breaker is flipped. It happens when you move the fridge, and accidentally, the cord can come out from the plug, or there was a power shortage that tripped the breaker. Make sure that the unit is powered. If there is no light in the fridge, then it does not get power.
3. An open door of the refrigerator can deactivate the door switch in the unit and therefore stop all cooling processes as a safety feature. Even a small gap in an unlocked door can lead to the malfunction of the fridge.
4. Most fridges have coils only in the freezer. Therefore, the cold generated in the freezer is pushed out by the fans into the fridge section. Make sure that product boxes do not block all vents inside the fridge and that air ventilation is clear.

If none of those steps helped, it’s time to call a technician!

My fridge won’t cool – is it worth repairing?

A broken fridge can be a major inconvenience. If your fridge won’t cool, you might wonder if it’s worth repairing or buying a new one. Before you decide, let’s explore the factors to consider when deciding whether to repair or replace your fridge.

Age and condition of your fridge

How old is your fridge, and what shape is it? If your fridge is only a few years old and in good condition, it may be worth considering a repair. On the other hand, if your appliance is over 10 years old and has been having cooling problems for a long time, investing in a repair may not make sense. Instead, consider replacing it with a more energy-efficient model that will save you money on your energy bills in the long run.

Cost of repairs vs cost of replacing

The golden rule is that if the cost of repairing an appliance exceeds the price of a new one, don’t repair it. In the long run, buying a brand-new fridge may be more cost-effective than fixing something that won’t last long anyway. Sometimes, however, certain parts may only need to be replaced, resulting in significant cost savings compared to buying a brand-new model.

Expert advice

If you’re still unsure whether to repair or replace your refrigerator that is not cooling, consult experienced technicians for advice. They can assess the situation and provide expert advice about whether repair or replacement would make more sense based on their experience with similar cases and your budget constraints.

REFERENCES

1. James, Christian, Bukola A. Onarinde, and Stephen J. James. “The use and performance of household refrigerators: A review.” Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety 16.1 (2017): 160-179.
   https://ift.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1541-4337.12242
2. Laguerre, Onrawee, Evelyne Derens, and Bernard Palagos. “Study of domestic refrigerator temperature and analysis of factors affecting temperature: a French survey.” International journal of refrigeration 25.5 (2002): 653-659.
   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0140700701000470

Author: Jacob Dillard

My name is Jacob Dillard, and I am the author of articles at Appliance Repair Expert. Since childhood, I have been fascinated by technology and spent much time reading different books and trying to repair my first CD player. Then, I graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in Applied Science and Engineering. In a year, I got my first job as a technician at an appliance repair company. After years of practice and working with professionals, I decided it was time to share my knowledge and experience here at Appliance Repair Expert. I want to help you understand everything related to appliance repair, maintenance and installation in the simplest way possible. It will be fun, believe me!

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