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HomeRepair HelpRefrigerator RepairRefrigerator not cooling Repair
My Refrigerator's Not Cooling
If your refrigerator is not cooling, start with the usual suspects: dirty condenser coils are the most common cause, so pull the fridge away, vacuum or brush the coils under the unit and clean off any dust and pet hair. Next check the temperature settings — freezer should be 0 to 5°F and the fridge 34 to 40°F — and give the compressor 24 hours to stabilize after a reset. If those checks don’t fix a fridge not cooling, inspect the condenser fan motor and the evaporator fan motor: clear any obstructions, try spinning the blades by hand, and test the motor windings with a multimeter if the fans do not run. Also check the door gasket for gaps that let warm air in, and confirm the refrigerator is getting steady power from the outlet and circuit. If the freezer is cold but the fridge warm, a stopped evaporator fan or a bad damper is often the cause. Enter your model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact replacement condenser fan, evaporator fan, gasket, thermostat or other parts you need.
01 - Condenser Coils are Dirty
As debris builds up on the condenser coils, usually located under the refrigerator, the appliance will become less efficient and will have to cycle on more often to maintain a cool temperature. If the condenser coils are significantly clogged with debris, the compressor may overheat and shut off prematurely, preventing the appliance from cooling at all. The condenser coils should be cleaned every 6 to 12 months by using a soft bristle brush (or a dedicated condenser coil cleaning brush) to wipe off the coils in a circular motion. A vacuum cleaner with a nozzle attachment can also be used for hard-to-reach areas.
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02 - Freezer or refrigerator temperature is set too high
Verify the freezer temperature is set between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 to -15 Celsius). Verify the refrigerator temperature is set between 34 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit (1 to 5 Celsius). After resetting the temperature wait 24 hours for the temperature to adjust appropriately.
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03 - Refrigerator Condenser Fan Motor
The condenser fan motor draws air though the condenser coils and over the compressor. If the condenser fan motor is not working properly, the refrigerator won’t cool properly. To determine if the fan motor is defective, first check the fan blade for obstructions. Next, try turning the fan motor blade by hand. If the blade does not spin freely, replace the condenser fan motor. If no obstructions are present and the fan blade spins freely, use a multimeter to test the fan motor for continuity. If the condenser fan motor does not have continuity, replace it.
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04 - Refrigerator Evaporator Fan Motor
The evaporator fan motor draws air over the evaporator (cooling) coils and circulates it throughout the refrigerator and freezer compartments. Some refrigerators have more than one evaporator fan motor. On refrigerators with only one evaporator, the evaporator is located in the freezer compartment. If the evaporator fan is not working, it will not circulate the cold air to the refrigerator compartment. If this occurs, the freezer may still get cold, while the refrigerator will not get cold. To determine if the evaporator fan motor is defective, try turning the fan blade by hand. If the fan blade does not turn freely, repla...
Highly Likely
05 - Refrigerator Door Gasket
A refrigerator door gasket should form an airtight seal around the appliance's frame to keep the cold air in and the warm air out. If the door gasket is twisted or torn, gaps can form that will allow warm air in, resulting in the refrigerator not cooling properly. Inspect the door gasket for any damage and replace with a new one if necessary.
Highly Likely
06 - Incoming Power Problem
Ensure plug is tightly pushed into a regular electrical outlet and the outlet is supplying power. Using a ground fault outlet for a refrigerator is not recommended. Confirm that no circuit breakers have tripped or fuses have blown.
Highly Likely
07 - Refrigerator Damper Control Assembly
On many refrigerator models, a damper control assembly is used to control the air flow from the freezer compartment to the refrigerator compartment to maintain the appropriate air temperature. If a refrigerator is not cooling properly, it's possible the damper door is stuck closed. Inspect the damper control assembly for any malfunction and replace it with a new one if necessary.
Highly Likely
Frequently Asked Questions
Fridge not cooling but freezer works — what should I check?
Refrigerator not cooling — could dirty condenser coils be the problem?
My refrigerator runs constantly but does not get cold — what can cause that?
How do I test a condenser or evaporator fan motor?
How do I enter my model number to find the correct replacement part on RepairClinic.com?