Why is My Refrigerator Not Cooling?

There are many reasons a refrigerator won’t cool. If you would like to save yourself a little time and hassle, give San Bernardino Appliance Repair a call for refrigerator repair in San Bernardino, CA. We’re eager to visit and troubleshoot the issue and repair it for you.

When a refrigerator is no longer cold, it is time to see what the problem could be. Most times it is something as simple as a good coil cleaning behind the refrigerator. However, with new refrigerators, they are manufactured with a variety of sensors as well.

Before we investigate further, we look at the most typical and common reasons for this problem. Here are some issues that we’ve determined can lead to a refrigerator that won’t cool:

Is the cord plugged into an outlet? This may seem like it’s a odd question, but we have been called out to appointments that this was the problem. Somehow, the refrigerator was unplugged. Maybe a kid did it, or an electrician doing a project. Whatever the reason may be, make sure it is plugged in.

Look at the thermostat inside of the appliance. This is a very typical problem for those with small children in the home. After all, children like dials and buttons and so, without knowing they are doing anything bad, they mess with them. So, be sure that the thermostat setting is not the cause of the warm refrigerator.

Refrigerator Components to Troubleshoot?

Be sure all of the vents in the freezer area are not blocked with food or boxes. This is common since sometimes bags of frozen vegetables get jammed in the back of the freezer. There can be food in the very back of a freezer unit that has long been forgotten about.

Be sure the refrigerator’s condenser cooling fan is clear and clean of all debris. To be sure, unplug the refrigerator and pull it out from the kitchen wall. The cooling fan for many models is just at the bottom or in the back of the freezer portion. Many times, homeowner don’t think to clean this section of the refrigerator. But, it is important to keep it clean. And, it fills up with dust and fuzz quickly, especially with homes that have dogs and cats. So, find a clean rag and clean the collected dust out of the refrigerator coils and cooling fan.

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

The Freezer is Cold but the Fridge Isn’t

There are many reasons 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 have frost on them. This occurs when there is a malfunction in the defrost system. Or when the automatic defrost experiences a problem. The evaporator fan motor can be another cause.

Every fridge has a pair of evaporator coils. These evaporator coils are what gets cold and then the fan circulates the cold air throughout the unit. The damper control assembly isn’t working the right way. The temperature control board which provides the electricity to the compressor and fan, this probably is not the problem but it is worth troubleshooting.

And, the thermistor might be malfunctioning, which is a little sensor within the appliance that displays the temperature. Having one of our technicians inspect it is the best solution but these are some of the most typical issues.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

• Ice Maker Isn’t Working
• How Does a Refrigerator Work?
• Refrigerator is Noisy
• Refrigerator Water Dispenser Not Working