Why Is My Refrigerator Not Cooling?

appliance repair technician working on refrigerator

 

Why Is My Refrigerator Not Cooling?

If the compressor cools down and starts running, a faulty condenser fan could be the cause of the compressor problem. If the evaporator coil, evaporator fan, or condenser fan are not the cause of the compressor cooling failure, the starter relay, condenser coil, or thermistor should be checked on the refrigerator to further diagnose the problem.

If the compressor is running but not cooling, you can fix the problem by checking the temperature in the refrigerator. If the temperature is set correctly, the most likely cause of the problem is a frozen evaporator coil. If the condenser is dirty, the temperature of the refrigerator may rise five to ten degrees.

If the refrigerator compartment temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the compressor is most likely running but not cooling enough. If the refrigerator is not cooling at all, the compressor is probably broken and needs to be replaced. When the compressor stops working, the refrigerator will not be able to cool properly. The fans’ job is to cool the compressor and the batteries, so if it fails the refrigerator will start to heat up.

It is important to note that refrigerators with condenser coils in the back do not have a fan. If the condenser fan does not work properly, the temperature of the refrigerator may rise and the compressor may overheat. The condenser fan motor is responsible for circulating cold air, and if neither the refrigerator nor the freezer is cooling properly, this is likely the cause.

If the freezer fan continues to run but the refrigerator does not cool, the compressor or compressor start relay may be faulty. If the fan motor is not working, you may have a cold freezer, but not a refrigerator in the refrigerator compartment.

Many refrigerator models have handles to raise or lower the temperature. If you shake the handle, the temperature of the refrigerator may rise, which will reduce the cooling effect. However, the dials of the thermostat inside the refrigerator may be hit by milk bags or other objects that can change the set temperature.

If they are present and the refrigerator does not turn off, the thermostat inside the refrigerator may need to be replaced. If this is the case and the RV refrigerator is not cooling, the heating element must be replaced. If it doesn’t work, it could be a thermostat issue where it thinks the refrigerator is cold, but it isn’t.

If you notice that your RV refrigerator is not cooling enough, pay attention to the outside temperature first. These checks vary by brand and model of refrigerator, but experts recommend storing the refrigerator at around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Newer refrigerators typically set an average temperature of 35 to 37 degrees Fahrenheit because this is the optimal temperature range for the refrigerator to keep perishable food safe.

Some refrigerators stop cooling when the door is open or the switch is faulty. If you set your refrigerator’s thermostat for colder air, the refrigerator compressor will operate, forcing the refrigerant to pass through the cooling fans. It also helps the fans supply fresh air to the freezer compartment. It pulls air through the evaporator coil, cooling it down, and then pushes the air through the freezer and refrigerator.

The evaporator fan is part of the refrigerator, and when you open the door, it blows in the fresh air you feel. The evaporator fan motor circulates the cold air from the evaporator coil in the entire compartment. If your device has only one fan, it will be located in the freezer compartment. The job of the evaporator fan is to extract cold air from these coils and circulate it throughout the unit, first through the freezer compartment and then through the refrigerator (or fresh food compartment).

If the refrigerator battery is not defrosting automatically, the fan will not be able to draw in the air it needs to cool the refrigerator. If the coil is dirty, the refrigerator will have to work harder to release the heat. If the batteries get dirty, they won’t be able to adequately cool the refrigerant and the internal temperature may rise.

We recommend that you clean the refrigerator battery every 6 months to ensure the batteries are working properly to cool the refrigerator. To keep your refrigerator running smoothly, our experts recommend cleaning the coils a couple of times a year.

Over time, coils that are not in the sealed unit can become covered with dust, hair, or pet hair, reducing their ability to keep the air in the refrigerator cold. Sometimes so much dust or dirt builds up on these coils that heat can no longer be efficiently generated and ends up in your refrigerator instead. If you find a lot of dust accumulated on the coils, plan to clean them once or twice a year to keep the refrigerator well cooled. Also, make sure your refrigerator is well ventilated as indicated in the hot weather section by adding refrigerator fans.

Over the years, our RV refrigerator began to show symptoms of poor cooling, first in hot weather and then at all temperatures. Without a running fan, your refrigerator can easily overheat and not cool properly.

If the condenser fan fails, you may notice unusual noises from the back of the refrigerator. In most refrigerators, you can access the condenser fan by removing the access panel on the back of the refrigerator.

After turning off the refrigerator, turn off the refrigerator and freezer using the control panel inside the refrigerator. In the next 6 hours, check if your refrigerator is cooling properly.

If your model of refrigerator has these vents, you can open them to allow cooler air to flow. Door seals help keep fresh air inside the refrigerator and prevent leaks. Even if the rest of the refrigerator is working properly, if the magnetic seals on the doors, also called “door seals,” are defective, cold air can escape from the refrigerator. Although cleaning the refrigerator door seal with a damp cloth can restore the cold temperature, a damaged door seal will need to be replaced.

The most common reason a refrigerator won’t cool is because of a problem with the evaporator coils. Clogged condenser coils can result in poor air circulation, limiting the refrigerator’s ability to keep cool. When these condenser coils are dirty or collecting dust, they can interfere with the refrigerator’s ability to do its job and keep food and drinks cool.

The refrigerant absorbs heat internally by passing through the evaporator coils. As the refrigerant passes through the high pressure coils, it cools and returns to a liquid state.

The role of the compressor is to compress the refrigerant and circulate it through the evaporator and condenser coils. The compressor is the part of the refrigerator that compresses the refrigerant vapor and pumps it into the coils outside the refrigerator. The condenser is a heat exchanger that absorbs heat from the inside and cools the refrigerator.

To schedule refrigerator repair in Oklahoma City contact Appliance Repair OKC Services. They can be reached by calling 405-378-4566 or you can also visit our website at https://www.okcappliance.com. Our Google business page can be found at https://cli.re/Dyq1ME. Call for refrigerator repairs now!

 

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