Safety First: Unplug Before Inspecting
Always prioritize refrigerator troubleshooting safety. Regardless of whether the fan is running, the first step is to unplug the unit. Always unplug the refrigerator before checking behind panels or around coils and fans to reduce the risk of electric shock or injury. Exposed wires and sealed refrigerant lines should never be touched.
When a refrigerator stops cooling, try to keep the doors closed so the stored cold air isn’t released. Look for obvious problems, like dust or other things that might be jamming the air vents. If the food has been warm for over two hours, you need to move it to another working fridge or to a cooler with ice packets.
By following these safe appliance repair tips, you can protect yourself from potential harm and prevent further damage to the appliance. If the refrigerator does not start cooling after these basic steps, stop troubleshooting and contact a professional repair service, such as Universal Appliance Repair, for an accurate diagnosis.
Check Temperature Settings and Controls
Most of the time, issues with your cooling system stem from settings that were accidentally changed. If your refrigerator’s cooling system sounds fine, but doesn’t keep things cold, it may help to review the settings before assuming more serious issues.
Check the Refrigerator and Freezer Settings
While cleaning or rearranging food, it is possible to inadvertently change the fridge cooling settings. Check the refrigerator temperature control and the freezer compartment settings. The refrigerator should be kept between 37 and 40 degrees, and the freezer should be kept at 0 degrees. With old appliances, it is easier to accidentally bump the refrigerator dial setting, which can cause the refrigerator to gradually decrease cooling.
Reset Digital Controls if Needed
If there is a power outage or the refrigerator goes through a defrost cycle, it may automatically reset to the default setting. Turn the refrigerator off for a couple of minutes, then turn it back on. After any adjustments to the controls, give the refrigerator a couple of hours to stabilize the temperature in the compartments before checking the settings. If it still does not start cooling, there may be other issues.
Dirty Condenser Coils Reduce Cooling Efficiency
When a fridge sounds like it is working, but not cooling appropriately, the refrigerator condenser coils are likely the issue. These coils are situated behind or under the unit and are supposed to release heat. Over time, dust, grease, and pet hair can accumulate, blocking airflow.
When you do not clean fridge coils regularly, heat cannot escape the system. This causes the compressor to work harder while it is unable to cool. These conditions can keep the fridge warm even when it appears to be working. This is one of the more common causes of a fridge not cooling, and it can be easily avoided.
If dust is visible and the coils that are causing the fridge not to cool are easily accessible, you can gently brush or vacuum them. If you do not see any dust buildup and cleaning does not solve the issue, the coils are likely not the only issue. If that’s the case, you will need to contact a refrigerator repair service so a repair technician can safely inspect the system and restore it to working order.
Faulty Evaporator Fan or Airflow Blockage
The evaporator fan is very important, as it helps in transferring cold air from the freezer to the refrigerator. When there is an evaporator fan problem, cooling can start to decrease, even when it sounds like air is moving. Frequently, the fan is working, but there is no cold air where it is supposed to go.
A common fridge airflow issue is blocked air vents from food or ice buildup around the fan. Often, the system’s airflow appears fine, but the temperatures continue to increase. This can happen in freezers that are packed too tightly or that have a frost buildup, which can lead to a refrigerator fan running in a no-cooling situation.
Homeowners should always look for any visible ice or other blockage that might be hindering airflow. If nothing seems to be blocking it, the system should be looked at by a professional, as the problems appear to be with the fan motor or defrost system.
Defective Start Relay or Compressor Issue
Even if the cooling fans continue to run, a refrigerator compressor problem can cause the refrigerator to stop cooling altogether. The compressor circulates the refrigerant and extracts heat from the refrigerator, so if the compressor cannot start or cycle properly, the temperature in the refrigerator compartment will increase.
How the Start Relay Affects Cooling
The start relay ensures the compressor turns on at the right time. When the start relay failure occurs, the compressor will have difficulty starting or shutting down intermittently. In these instances, the compressor will make clicking sounds a few minutes apart, indicating that it is trying but failing to engage.
Signs of a Compressor-Related Issue
A fridge not cooling but compressor running or trying to run will show the following warning signs:
- Clicking or tapping sounds near the back of the unit
- Refrigerator running, but staying warm
- Compressor is feeling hot to the touch
- Cooling that stops and starts without warning
Without the appropriate tools or training, these problems are not safe to address. Testing of the relays or compressors requires electrical knowledge and experience. After noticing these on the fridge, it is best to stop troubleshooting and reach out to a professional tech to avoid worsening the situation.
Thermostat or Temperature Sensor Malfunction
A properly functioning thermostat is key to your refrigerator working correctly. If there is an issue with your refrigerator’s thermostat, your refrigerator may never know when to turn its compressor on or off. Because of this, the fan may run continuously, but then all of a sudden stop cooling without making any unusual sounds.
A similar issue may cause trouble if there’s a temp sensor failure. The temp sensor is responsible for sending temperature information to the control board, and if it’s sending wrong temp readings, the compressor is probably not starting when it’s needed or is being turned off too early. If this error occurs, it will result in a frustrating fridge cooling problem, and no adjustments to the temperature will improve the problem.
Testing these parts is not easy, since they determine how the refrigerator responds to temperature changes. Using specialized tools like a multimeter, technicians can determine whether the thermostat and sensor are functioning properly. However, because this type of work can damage the appliance if performed improperly, it’s best to have a trained technician perform these repairs.
Defrost System Failure
A refrigerator defrost system issue may cause a refrigerator to not cool properly despite the fan running. The defrost system removes ice from the evaporator coils so cold air can flow properly through the refrigerator. When this system is working properly, ice buildup does not occur. However, when the defrost system is not working properly, ice can slow airflow. Below are some signs and reasons that explain defrost system problems and how they are impacting cooling performance.
Common signs of defrost system failure include:
- Ice formation on evaporator coils, blocking the passage of cold air
- Freezer fridge icing up while the refrigerator section feels warm
- Defrost fan runs without issue, but cold air does not reach the refrigerator
- Cooling is progressively getting worse over time, and not suddenly
Common causes of defrost system failure include:
- The defrost heater is burnt out and cannot defrost the ice
- The defrost thermostat is faulty and is out of calibration
- A defrost timer problem won’t allow the system to cycle properly
Because all of these parts work together, the system needs to be thoroughly tested. A professional refrigerator defrost repair properly diagnoses and safely performs repairs, including replacing any necessary parts and restoring the unit’s cooling capacity.
Refrigerant Leak or Sealed System Issue
If a refrigerator runs, but does not cool, the issue could be with the sealed cooling system. In these cases, the refrigerator runs, but does not pull heat out because it has a refrigerator refrigerant leak or there is an internal blockage. In these cases, the fan and the motor are still running, but heat is not being removed.
How Refrigerant Loss Affects Cooling
The refrigerant within a cooling unit of a refrigerator absorbs heat from inside the appliance and releases it outside. If there are low levels of refrigerant or the flow of the refrigerant is blocked, the system will not cool properly or at all. In this situation, homeowners notice that the fridge compressor is running but not cooling properly, and the temperature stays too high.
Why Professional Repair Is Required
Sealed system components shouldn’t be repaired at home. Sealed system repair requires unique tools, specific safety measures, and legal certifications. Repairing refrigerants should be handled only by professionals, as it is dangerous and highly regulated by law. Untrained repairs can lead to additional damage to the appliance and raise safety concerns. Licensed technicians from Universal Appliance Repair are the legal professionals authorized to diagnose cooling system leaks and restore safe, proper cooling performance.
When to Call a Professional
Once you’ve completed the basic checks and they haven’t resolved the issues, it’s time to step away from your own troubleshooting. Guessing can lead to damage, additional safety issues, and other risks. If cooling is still not working, it is time to contact the professionals.
At Universal Appliance Repair, we provide professional refrigerator repair in Los Angeles. We understand the stress of a refrigerator that isn’t cooling, especially when food can spoil. We respond quickly to calls and are especially available for those seeking a fridge technician near me. We have extensive training and do not engage in uneducated guessing. Instead, we use the right tools and testing procedures to get to the bottom of the problem.
We also offer same-day refrigerator service to Los Angeles and Southern California. Our factory-trained technicians are equipped to diagnose compressors, sensors, defrost systems, and sealed system issues. We explain the issues clearly and suggest only the repairs that you really need.
When you are ready to get help, we make scheduling easy. Use our schedule service option to set an appointment with our team. We will restore the refrigerator’s cooling capabilities and protect the appliance and your peace of mind by providing professional repair services for Southern California residents.
