Refrigerator Not Cooling? Here’s What To Check (And How To Fix It)
The average lifespan of a refrigerator is 17 years. Have you ever noticed that your refrigerator isn’t getting cold, it’s a sad situation when one of your most important devices fails. You run the risk of spoiling the food inside and eventually ruining the inside of your home. But it is common for home appliances to have problems. Don’t panic – you can fix it!
Use this guide to get your refrigerator back to normal. We’ll cover the key areas to check and how to fix them. Some things may not work properly. Wondering what to do next? Here are the steps to follow when encountering a broken refrigerator:
1. Check the power plug
The power plug may not be working properly. Electricity is part of every home appliance. Checking the power system should be your priority. Make sure the power system is in good working order before calling a technician. Without power, the refrigerator compressor will not work. The impact? Food doesn’t get cold. Loose connections or faulty sockets can make everything overheat. Secure the plug or power cord to avoid overfilling the bin.
2. Set the thermostat
A faulty or incorrectly positioned thermostat can be the reason your refrigerator isn’t working. Cleaning and handling ingredients can affect the thermostat. Thermostat repair is easy if the thermostat is not damaged. The thermostat may have reached an above-average temperature. Many refrigerator models have knobs to raise or lower the temperature. Hitting the button can increase the temperature of the refrigerator and reduce its cooling effectiveness. Simply reset the thermostat settings to normal to resume optimal performance.
3. Clean the internal vents
Poor air circulation can be the cause of refrigerator downtime. Airflow is essential to the cooling process of a refrigerator. Air should flow freely into the chamber and return to the compressor. Anything else is a charade. Locate the vents in both the freezer and refrigerator compartments and remove anything that might be blocking them. Do not block the ventilation openings with food. Always keep the air vents clear for maximum cooling and optimal performance. Clean the freezer vents to force cool air into the refrigerator compartment. If your refrigerator model has these vents, you can unblock them to allow cool air to flow.
4. Check the mechanism below
Forget the separation and storage part. An essential part of any refrigerator is the underlying system. This is the part that houses all the important components such as fans, coils and compressors. They are the heart and backbone of the refrigerator, without them everything else is meaningless. If your refrigerator is not cooling properly, one of these parts may be dirty or misaligned. Cleaning up the mechanics underneath this device might put you on the right track. Critical components underneath are subject to dirt and dust, hindering maximum performance. When cleaning, turn off the refrigerator, give it a thorough cleaning, then turn it on again. You will probably notice a change. To avoid electric shock, always make sure it is not connected to a power source. Use a soft brush cleaner to remove dirt from the coil. Do not use chemicals or hard materials that can damage the coil.
5. Check the door seal
Have you noticed that your refrigerator isn’t getting cold? Cold air leak is possible. The door seal seals the fresh air inside your refrigerator and prevents leaks. However, sometimes the seal is not in the correct position. This allows air to escape and prevents the supply of cold hair needed for food.Check if the seal is properly installed and if the seal is clean.
Rubber seals can become warped, moldy, and fouled, making them unable to keep gas within limits. Try cleaning the seal with a bleach solution. If there is visible damage, it should be replaced.
6. Get more space
Did you fill up your fridge with tons of groceries? It is not a good idea to cram food into the refrigerator as airflow can be restricted. For optimal performance, approximately 2/3 of the disk space should be free. If the refrigerator is used too much, its performance will decrease and it will not be suitable for storing food. In such cases, you should consider freeing up disk space.
7. Check door switch
Is your refrigerator not cooling its contents as it should? The problem could be the door switch. Some refrigerators stop cooling if the door is open or the switch is broken. Most refrigerators stop actively cooling if the door is open. Press the door switch to return to cooling mode. This is an automatic feature and a problem with the door switch could prevent cooling in the first place. If you press the door switch and notice the lights go out, it’s working. Anything else means the door switch needs to be fixed.
Is your refrigerator still cold? It’s time to call the technician! If you’ve tried all of his DIY fixes above and it’s still not cooling, talk to a technician. The above factors should be ruled out as causes. This means that a deeper repair is required. Find someone who has experience handling refrigerators. It may be malfunctioning due to mechanical problems beyond your control.
If your home appliance needs repair, contact a certified and licensed professional. Without the technical know-how, you may damage what could have been salvaged. If the refrigerator is not cooling, please consult a technician. Don’t burden yourself with a quick fix.
Choose an all-around technician who can handle other home appliances as well. Can I help you with something? Book now.