Why is my fridge not cooling? Although there are several ways to find out why your fridge doesn’t cool, troubleshooting it to find the cause is a great way to solve it.
Have you ever experienced your food stays warm when you store them in your fridge? Or have you ever stored milk and getting surprised by a foul smell when you open the fridge the next day?
Well, my dear, the fridge not cooling is the one to blame in these instances. Now don’t panic if this is your case because we’ll help you out with that. Your next step is to call a professional to fix it right away probably.
Although you can save the expense of doing such by knowing how to find the cause yourself, you might also solve the uncool problem all by yourself. In this article, you will know why your fridge doesn’t cool and how to troubleshoot.
Top Reasons Of Fridge Not Cooling
Why is my fridge not cooling? Before we make a move, we must identify the problem with your fridge. Knowing the source of the problem will make it easier for us to know what to do and what specific action to take. There are various reasons why a refrigerator doesn’t cool your food anymore and here are probable reasons.
Reason #1. Not plugged or power problems
Any electrical appliances need to be plugged in for them to work. So make sure to check if the refrigerator is plugged in. The light should light up when you open the fridge door. Make sure that the plug is not damaged or your electricity can handle the power requirement of the fridge.
Damage in starting relay may also be a cause of malfunctioning compressor. The refrigerant in the compressor which is responsible for cooling may not work well.
To test if it is damaged, remove the relay and shake it to see if any connection is still intact or fried. If you hear a rattle when you shake, it is a sign that you should get a new one and replace it.
Reason #2. Thermostats and gaskets
Check the fridge’s thermostat for possible damage, or the dial has been dialed down to the minimum by mistake. You can get a replacement if the thermostat is broken either in the hardware store or online.
Another thing that you should check is the gaskets.
As your fridge age over time, the seal around the doors tears. The tear can result in a loose seal wherein can affect the cooling inside the fridge. The cool air will leak out of the fridge. Ensure that the gaskets seal tightly and check for any cracks or loose gaskets. You may also find someone to change or replace them.
Reason #3. Blocked vents
Another reason why your fridge isn’t cooling right is when the fridge’s vents are blocked. For example, the vents found at the back of the freezer compartment may be blocked by frozen goods or boxes of ice cream.
Another thing to look out for is the overloading of your fridge. Do you remember when was the last time you’ve cleaned your fridge’s leftovers? Maybe it is time to check everything and toss out some leftovers to give the fridge some space.
The leftovers and overloading of your fridge may hinder them from circulating making it unable to cool everything. These vents are the airways for the cool air to circulate in the fridge. Make sure that these vents are cleared so that the air circulation will be a breeze.
Reason #4. Clogged coils
The coils found at the back of the fridge may be clogged, causing the cooling components of the fridge to malfunction. A clogged coil can cause poor cooling where can result in food spoilage. Clear these coils to make the fridge work better.
Dust collects in the coils making them unable to circulate the air inside. Although dusting the coils will do the trick. All you have to do is to look for the coils at the back of the fridge. Using a brush or a vacuum cleaner, get rid of the dust stuck. Doing this cleaning a couple of times a year will lengthen your fridge’s usage time.
Reason #5. Condenser fan
One of the most common reasons why the fridge is not cooling is the condenser fans. There might be something stuck with the condenser fan, which is why it doesn’t spin freely. Although some refrigerator models with no coils have no fans at the back. To check if the condenser fan is working well, unplug the fridge and pull it out.
Clean the condenser fan blades and check if the fans can spin by spinning them using your hand. Plug the fan back in to see if it works together with the compressor. If the fan doesn’t work, replacing it may solve the problem.
If you noticed that your fridge produces a noise when turned on but the fun doesn’t run, replacing the condenser fan might solve the noisy problem. You will have to remove the bracket first and unscrew the fan from the bracket.
Conclusion
To summarize why is my fridge not cooling, you’ll have to check every nook and crannies of the fridge. You can start with the power, next to the components, then the vents, the coils, and last but not least is the condenser fan. You might be surprised to fix your fridge on your own. You did not only saved professional fees but you’ve also gained knowledge.