Why Is My Refrigerator Not Cooling? – Fridge Troubleshooting Tips


Due to the commendable advancement and progress in technology, our everyday routine has expressively been revamped and overhauled, resulting in a superior quality of life. The current human race is now profoundly dependent and reliant on technical applications, appliances, and state-of-the-art apparatuses to carry on with their practices, live life, and improve overall functioning. But, of course, they are mainly talking about kitchen appliances; the work burden in the kitchen has significantly downgraded while saving time and rendering quality in the end. This relates to an everyday increase in technology that is getting smarter with each passing day.

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Consequently, simpler chores and tasks are broken down and made even more straightforward, convenient, and practical to add to the efficiency of home-based appliances. From cooking, cleaning, and preservation, technology is on the road to making lives better, allowing us to save time, energy, and resources. Day-to-day tasks are now represented by innovative features and appliances such as vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens, kettles, and refrigerators. These technological marvels intend to provide maximum comfort and ultimate convenience to their consumers.

The first question is:

How long does a new fridge take to get cold?

Every home fridge needs at least 3 hours to get cold at the proper temperature. However, some models require more time but a maximum of 12 hours. Industrial fridges may need up to 24 hours to get cold.

Why is my refrigerator freezing my food?

Usually, your refrigerator freezes your food because the fridge is set to a shallow degree. The optimal fridge temperature is 38 – 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Sometimes, some food can accidentally touch cold settings and set the temperature to an external degree.

Do refrigerators use freon?

No, refrigerators do not use R22 or R12 Freon. Today, fridges use refrigerant gas such as R134A Tetrafluoroethane or R600A – Isobutane, or R410A Puron, all Ozon friendly. However, many people still fridge gas called “freon” even it does not produce anymore.

In most cases, the biggest problem with fridges is when they stop working at some moment.

Why Is My Refrigerator Not Cooling?

Usually, your refrigerator does not cool because of clogged coils. So first, you need to vacuum the coils behind or under the fridge, and then you need to check whether anything is stuck in the condenser fan.

Why is the fridge not cold, but the freezer is?

  • The evaporator fan motor is usually damaged if you hear a noisy fan replace it.
  • Damper control assembly is damaged or blocked.
  • Defrost control board is damaged.
  • Defrost timer should be replaced.
  • A thermistor is broken, and you can test it using a multimeter. Replace it if it is damaged.

 

How to fix a refrigerator?

So to learn how to fix a fridge, please watch this video:

While integrating technology with home-based appliances is commendable, the consumer should not overlook the maintenance and upkeep factors. Like the other devices and gadgets, refrigerators also demand frequent maintenance and care through which the product’s longevity can be increased. If the machine has been used for a prolonged time without any backup check and cleanup process, then there is a chance of its quality being compromised.

You need to buy a set of tools for troubleshooting, including a socket, a ratchet set, a wire stripper, and a cutter. In addition, you would be required an additional set of materials such as the evaporator fan or a condenser fan.

There are specific fundamental reasons which cause an issue in the cooling compartment of the refrigerator. The actual signs of the fridge not refrigerating include the content being spoiled, rotten food exhibiting foul smell, and decreased freshness. The liquid contents also fail to retain the cold temperature.

However, you can try the simple troubleshooting steps if the refrigerator and freezer are not operating correctly.

  • Ensure that the switch is properly turned on and getting electricity. A yellow light indicates this upon opening the fridge door.
  • Make sure the thermostat is not switched off accidentally. If the thermostat is not working correctly, you can easily purchase installable thermostats online.
  • The apertures located on the back of the freezer area should be open and unblocked. If they are blocked and clogged due to the contents of the fridge or freezer, then the air would have difficulty passing through the vents and making it hard for cold air to flow.
  • Try vacuuming the coils which are located underneath or back of the fridge. Blocked coils lead to poor ventilation.
  • The condenser fan and its way should be cleared from any boxes on the refrigerator’s contents. The vents should be able to spin properly and free without any obstacles. To achieve this, disconnect the fridge and take it out. Properly wipe the fan blades and rotate them with the help of a hand to check that there are no obstacles. Plug the fridge back in and ensure that the fan runs correctly when the compressor is turned on.

Why does my fridge turn on and off?

If your fridge turns on and off, that means there could be an issue with a fridge power source, or a faulty circuit board, or fridge overheating. In these cases, you need to check the cable and power supply, fuse box, contacts on temperature control, Defrost Timer, and condenser coils.

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Let us see step by step some most common problems and how to solve them:

Refrigerator evaporator fan not working

If the compressor is working, but the fridge is not cooling correctly, the evaporated coils are filled with frost or are probably stuck. In some situations, it may be broken. Evaporator fans also cause cooling issues. Evaporator fan, when damaged, may take out chirping and tweeting sounds indicating a problem. If the shrill noise increases and gets annoying upon opening the freezing door, then the evaporator fan is causing the issue. The evaporator coils and fan are present just behind the cover of the freezer box.

If you take out the inside cover, which is located in the freezer, and identifies that the coils are clogged with frost, you need to take out the contents from the freezer and fridge and let the entire food items thaw for a whole day. Extra water should be soaked up with the help of towels. When the ice is thawed and melted from the machine, turn on the fridge again. If it works properly, there is a problem with the defrost timer, defrost heater, and defrost thermostat.

When to change the evaporator fan?

You need to replace the evaporator fan. When the refrigerator condenser fan And compressor are generally positioned On the back of the refrigerator, Come on if the thermostat requires more cold temperature. If you feel to listen to the compressor noise once the refrigerator door has been shut off, it indicates that the compressor is Stocking.

How to replace the evaporator fan?

Begin by taking off the cover to check the machine’s evaporator and complete access to the fan. The bolts may be coated with plastic plugs.

  • Remove fan cover
    If the fan cover has been tightly screwed, then you need to take them out by removing the fan cover to access the fan.
  • Take out the evaporator fan.
    If you observe unusual and bizarre noises from the evaporator fan, but if you believe that it is not spinning correctly, take out the fan. This can be achieved by taking out the screws and holding the fan to the side of the freezer wall.
  • Replace fan
    It is now time to replace the evaporator fan. Fix the new fan and onto the mounting bracket. Please take out the wires and connect them with the new fan.

Substitute the refrigerator condenser fan

Remove the fridge in the opposite direction from the wall, take away the switch, and take out the thin sheet on the backside in proximity to the bottom to reach the compressor and the condenser fan compressor. Connect the fridge again and give a few seconds to allow the compressor to run. This would automatically turn on the fan. However, if the compressor becomes operational but the fan fails to switch on or exhibits noise, you need to invest in a new fan. If both fail to run and the compressor displays some heat, try unplugging the fridge and throwing air from the hairdryer at the compressor. The atmosphere should be room temperature and not hot. The compressor should cool down after a while and try repeating the steps. Afterward, if the compressor is running, but the fan does not, then the fan needs to be replaced. After unplugging the refrigerator, I returned the fan. If the fan and compressor are both not running, you need to replace them with a new relay or compressor.

When to change condenser fan?

Your condenser fan needs replacement if it makes too much noise or fails to operate. Depending on the fridge model and drive, you need to initially take out the fan bracket and then unscrew the fan.

Installation of new fan
Wires located near the old fan need to be stripped out. Then, connect the cables and the new fan with new connectors.

Now let us see a problem with lights:

Can a fridge work without a light?

Yes, the fridge can work without light because the light is only there to help us find food more accessible and does not have any connection with freezing. So in that way, if the light is broken, your fridge can work smoothly and maintain a temperature a few degrees above the freezing point of water.

Why is there a light in the fridge?

In the fridge, we can find the light because the light purpose is only to help us visually easily find food. The light bulb in the refrigerator can last several years, from 2 to 6 years. You can easily change a new bulb if the old life span ends.

And the last most common question:

Do freezers have a reset button?
No, most freezers do not have a reset button. However, if you want to reset, you can easily unplug the refrigerator for several minutes and plug it back in. This process is equaled to a fridge reset.

Mark Brown

Mark Brown

Mark Brown is a construction engineer from California who has been working as an independent contractor and writer for the past 15 years. From 2022 onwards, Mark has also been contributing author of home repair articles at nimblefreelancer.com. Read more on Mark Brown's biography page. Contact Mark: mark@nimblefreelancer.com

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