What would you do if you woke up and found spoiled food or sour milk in your fridge?
The answer is simple, you get frustrated.
As a kitchen hero, you rely on your fridge to keep your food healthy, fresh, and lasting for days. This issue is more than simply inconvenience and scents; it is also a health hazard.
When it fails to keep food cold, you must act quickly to prevent food items from spoiling. Some issues may be resolved with easy maintenance, while others require expert assistance.
Firstly, it is critical to determine what is wrong to treat and address the defect effectively. Recognizing that your refrigerator isn’t refrigerating well may be a concern, but that doesn’t mean you need to buy a new refrigerator.
Here, we will show you how to investigate a broken refrigerator that loses its cold sensation. This step-by-step tutorial will teach you how to identify and repair the problem DIY.
Even when the repair requires the services of a professional, you will be able to demonstrate the problem to them, saving them time and money.
9 Reasons Why Your Fridge isn’t Cooling
- Location of Fridge
- Power Switch off or Unplugged
- Temperature is not Set Properly
- Dirty Condenser Coils
- Food is Obstructing the Air Vents
- Door Gaskets Are not Clean
- Door Gaskets are Broken and Need Replacement
- Level of Installation
- Condenser fan stuck or broken
1. Location of Fridge
The location of your refrigerator may affect the efficiency of keeping adequate cooling. Indoor refrigerators are suitable for homes where temperatures are unlikely to fluctuate significantly.
Garages do not have a regulated environment. If you put an indoor refrigerator in your garage, it may not be able to cool completely.
The refrigerator should have ample space on all sides, especially the rear, to allow for efficient air circulation. Refrigerators typically require 12-inch clearances on both sides and a 1-inch area in the back.
If you can’t meet the requirements, you may need to relocate your refrigerator.
2. Power Switch off or Unplugged
If your refrigerator isn’t cooling, firstly double-check the power supply. Check if it is still plugged into a power box or with the switch.
3. Temperature is not Set Properly
Temperature setup is often the primary and reasonable topic for discussion if your fridge is not cooling well. When you have kids in your home, they are often responsible for temperature fluctuations.
So, you should know what optimal temperature is required to regulate the fridge?” How cold should a refrigerator be?” is an easy place to start.
Generally, the FDA recommends setting the refrigerator to 40°F or lower and putting the freezer to 0°F. However, anything, like brushing against it or putting food into the fridge, might erroneously alter the temperature.
A temperature setup issue may be one of the biggest reasons you hear your fridge compressor is functioning, but the device is not cooling its stuff.
4. Dirty Condenser Coils
Your refrigerator may not cool well if it has a dirty and unclean condenser coil. The easiest way to maintain your refrigerator is to clean the condenser coils at least once every six months.
5. Food is Obstructing the Air Vents
Refrigerators require adequate ventilation to function effectively.
Overcrowded fridges with food can cause objects to lodge in the vents, preventing cold air from moving correctly.
To solve this issue, organize your refrigerator to allow for optimal ventilation and move any things that may be blocking the vents. Also, check to see if the layer of ice blocks the air.
If so, gently scrape it away.
6. Door Gaskets Are Not Clean
Over time, the flexible door seals can become dirty from food or fingerprints and prevent the door from sealing properly.
How To Fix It:
- Wipe down the gaskets with a towel and warm, soapy water.
- Also, wipe down the sections on the fridge where the gaskets touch.
- Avoid using harmful cleaners, scrubs, scouring pads, flammable fluids, or window cleaning sprays while cleaning.
7. The Door Gaskets are Broken and Need Replacement
If you’ve cleaned the door gaskets and they still don’t seal properly, it’s time to replace them. They may have become too old and fragile.
Here’s a trick to check if your fridge door gaskets need replacing.
Keep your refrigerator door closed with a piece of paper, then take it out to check whether it comes out easily. If you pull the paper out gently, your gaskets are okay.
It is necessary to replace your gaskets if it slides out too fastly. To save money, this may be a do-it-yourself task.
8. Level of Installation
A correctly leveled installation aids in the operation of your refrigerator. If your fridge isn’t level, the doors may not close properly, and the door switch may not function properly, resulting in the appliance failing to cool your food.
If the fridge is not level, shims may be required to maintain its level.
9. Condenser Fan Is Broken Or Stuck
Almost all refrigerators feature at least one fan, which usually lies behind the device. This fan cools the condenser coils, preventing the compressor from overheating.
If you notice that your fan has stopped operating, you should seek professional assistance for repair.
Final Thoughts
It is imperative to have a cool refrigerator so you can enjoy food flavor and, more importantly, store food for days. You may check to see why a refrigerator isn’t cooling and perhaps cure the problem with the reasons given above.
In most cases, replacement parts of mechanical components will need to be handled by an appliance service technician. If everything else fails, it may be time to replace your refrigerator.
Try to make every effort to keep this kitchen worker in tip-top shape and prolong the life of your refrigerator.