If you have recently noticed your refrigerator isn’t cooling, the issue might be a simple fix or a more complex problem that requires the assistance of a refrigerator repair technician.
According to the FDA, a refrigerator should be set at 40°F or lower to ensure that food is cold enough not attract certain types of harmful bacteria. The freezer temperature should be set at 0°F. Therefore, if you are unable to set the thermostat at either of these temperatures, then there may be a part or electrical malfunction.
Diagnosing Your Refrigerator: Start With the Basics
Just because your refrigerator is not cooling doesn’t necessarily mean that there is a malfunction. For instance:
● Something/someone may have accidentally unplugged the power cord from the wall.
● An object may be blocking the door so it doesn’t close all the way.
● If you loaded an empty refrigerator with cool or room temperature food—say, after you were cleaning it—the inside may take a while to cool back down.
● The thermostat was accidentally adjusted and set to a higher or lower temperature.
● Food or containers are blocking the vents, thus, preventing the cold air from circulating.
● Ice is blocking the vents. You’ll need to thaw the inside of the refrigerator, dry it off, and start all over again.
Mechanical Problems Preventing Your Refrigerator from Cooling
If you inspected your refrigerator and found that the above causes either don’t exist or are not solving the problem, then your refrigerator may be suffering from more complex issues such as:
● The Refrigerator Compressor
If you can hear the fan running, but the refrigerator or freezer is not cooling down, the compressor may not be raising the temperature of the refrigerant vapor or distributing it into the refrigerator coils.
● Condenser Coils
The condenser coils may be clogged. Therefore, cool air circulation may be limited or blocked off completely.
● Condenser Fan
The condenser fan may have stopped working. If so, the refrigerator’s temperature will rise. A malfunctioning fan can also cause the compressor to overheat.
● Evaporator Fan
If the evaporator does not turn on when the compressor turns on or fails altogether, the refrigerator will not produce cool air.
● Air Damper
When the air damper is unable to open, cold air cannot flow from the freezer to the refrigerator compartment. The temperature inside the compartment will eventually warm up.
● Maintenance & Model Age
Although most refrigerator issues involve one of the causes above, your refrigerator may also be suffering from old age or neglect. You may need to contact a refrigerator repair technician to inspect your appliance to fix small issues before they turn into costly repairs.
Schedule Refrigerator Repair Service Today
At G&G Appliance Service, we offer complete appliance repair for refrigerators, ovens, ranges, cooktops, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, and other appliances. We serve homeowners throughout New York to ensure fast service and quality work.
To get the fastest response from our customer service professionals, contact us today. We will respond to your request in a timely manner, and dispatch a technician to your location as soon as possible.