At a Glance:
How Does a Refrigerator Cool Air?
Possible Problem 1: Check the Refrigerator Door
Possible Problem 2: Refrigerator Clutter
Possible Problem 3: Dirty Fridge Coils
Possible Problem 4: A Bad Refrigerator Damper
Possible Problem 5: A Faulty Refrigerator Thermistor
Possible Problem 6: Blocked Vents
Signs It’s Time for a Fridge Replacement
A broken refrigerator is one of the most frustrating problems a homeowner can face. While most families can go a day without doing laundry or wait a week for a stove repair, a refrigerator works every hour of every day. It may be tempting to ignore minor problems, but failure to heed to your fridge’s subtle warning could lead to costly repairs—or even a refrigerator that doesn’t work. Here are six possible reasons for a fridge not cooling and guided steps on how to fix a refrigerator that is not cooling.
Discover the Best Refrigerator Deals
Stop dealing with a faulty refrigerator and upgrade to a model that keeps up with your lifestyle.
Shop NowHow Does a Refrigerator Cool Air?
Before you can dive into fixing a refrigerator, it helps to learn how a fridge works. Here’s what you need to know.
- Gases feel hot when they are compressed and cool when they are expanded. A refrigerator works by compressing and expanding refrigerant through the appliance.
- The compressor takes the refrigerant vapor and pushes it through the coils, heating it. The hot gas meets the cool temperature of your home and turns into a liquid.
- The liquid is then pushed through additional coils in the refrigerator. The cold refrigerant attracts the hot air and pulls it away from the refrigerator compartment.
- Similarly, the evaporator coils remove heat from the refrigerator, which streamlines the cooling process.
All of this occurs with the help of the thermistor, which maintains a balanced temperature inside. Meanwhile, the thermostat is used to adjust the temperature to your desired level. Other important refrigerator parts include the damper, which prevents cold air from escaping, and the gaskets, which form air-tight seals.
Now that you understand this terminology, you can move forward with your refrigerator repair. Answer, “Why is my refrigerator warm?” by troubleshooting these issues.
Possible Problem 1: Check the Refrigerator Door
The first problem if you notice the fridge not cooling is the simplest: Make sure the door was closed properly. Your refrigerator might be fine, but a careless family member left it open.
If the door won’t stay closed, check the refrigerator door gasket. You will want to make sure these seals are still in place and hold the door shut after it closes. You can learn how to fix a refrigerator gasket by yourself (and order the right parts) or call a refrigerator service to replace this feature for you.
Possible Problem 2: Refrigerator Clutter
The next step when you notice a fridge not cooling is to remove any rotten food or items. This will allow you to declutter the refrigerator. A cluttered refrigerator is harder to cool because the air can get blocked by various items. Cleaning and organizing your refrigerator can also prevent food waste and keep odors from building up.
Possible Problem 3: Dirty Fridge Coils
Now it’s time to move on to more advanced options for how to fix a refrigerator. Check for a dirty condenser coil that could be the cause of your fridge not cooling. Some dirty condenser coil symptoms include a refrigerator that is working, but not as cold as it used to be. You also might notice that your refrigerator runs longer and works harder to stay cool.
You can visually check for dirty coils behind your refrigerator and clean them with a soft brush or a vacuum with a brush attachment. Be sure to clean your refrigerator coils at least once every couple of months to keep your unit running at 100%.
Possible Problem 4: A Bad Refrigerator Damper
If you have a bad refrigerator damper, your cold air might keep escaping. The part itself is no more than a plastic flap, but the motor is susceptible to damage. If you’re wondering how to test refrigerator damper control motor, you’ll need to first purchase a multimeter. Once you have one, do the following:
- Disconnect the refrigerator.
- Locate the damper (this is usually located at the back or on the side of the fridge wall protected by a plastic cover).
- Using the right screwdriver, remove the screws from the plastic covering.
- Disconnect the wires between the damper and the refrigerator.
- Using a multimeter on the Ohms setting, insert the pins into the power source to test for resistance.
- If there is no reading, the motor is broken and will need to be replaced.
However, not all refrigerator dampers can be diagnosed with a multimeter. If the reading is a million Ohms or more, the damper motor is most likely sealed. In this scenario, it’s better to hire a professional to do it for you. Our professional repair technicians at East Coast Appliance have the tools and know-how to solve the problem quickly.
Possible Problem 5: A Faulty Refrigerator Thermistor
The next step is to look into the symptoms of a bad refrigerator thermistor. Simply place a standard thermometer in your refrigerator for a few minutes and make sure it aligns with the temperature your refrigerator reports. With a broken thermometer, you end up with a warm refrigerator because the refrigerator thermistor thinks it’s cool enough.
In order to assess whether the thermistor is the problem, you’ll need to locate the part on your refrigerator model. Check to user manual, or if you can’t locate the manual, look up your model’s manual online using the model number located on the door or the fridge wall. Once you’ve located where the thermistor is, here’s what you’ll need to do.
- Disconnect the refrigerator.
- Locate the thermistor; this might require you to unscrew the box where it’s located.
- Check if the thermistor is loose or disconnected from its wiring.
- If it’s connected, disconnect it.
- Using a multimeter, check the temperature in Ohms for both room temperature and ice water. Refer to the resistance readings according to your fridge model.
- Place the multimeter reader on the thermistor wires.
- If the readings are off by 10% of the recommended resistance rating, you will need to replace the thermistor.
Possible Problem 6: Blocked Vents
If you have a blocked refrigerator vent, the hot air can’t get out. The issue could also lie with the refrigerator evaporator fan if it isn’t pushing hot air away out of the appliance. Typically, this can only be determined by removing the fan cover and checking for any obstructions. Additionally, manually spinning the fan may reveal a fan that doesn’t rotate. If that’s the case, the fan will need to be replaces, but luckily, it’s a cheap and easy fix.
Signs It’s Time for a Fridge Replacement
If you notice a fridge not cooling, it could be a sign that it is time for a new one. Older refrigerators will become less efficient over time and you might encounter additional problems in the future. If fixing your refrigerator would cost half as much as replacing it with an updated model—or your refrigerator is close to 10 years old—it’s time for a new one. Here are a few refrigerator options to consider.
Frigidaire Gallery® 21.5 Cu. Ft. Smudge-Proof® Black Stainless Steel Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator
Shop This Frigidaire Gallery Refrigerator
With nearly 3,000 5-star reviews, this Frigidaire Gallery refrigerator is a top pick with the performance to back it up. It offers one of the best cooling systems in its class with CrispSeal Fresh crispers, which combines three different technologies for all-around freshness. Together with TwinTech air purification and over 21 cubic feet of capacity, this French door refrigerator was made to preserve your produce and frozen items with professional results.
⭐ Featured Frigidaire Gallery GRMC2273CD Review:
“I love this refrigerator! It's so quiet that I never hear anything. I especially like the 4th door with the deli and cheese and snack drawer so we don't have to open the whole refrigerator to access it.”
GE Profile™ 27.6 Cu. Ft. Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel French Door Refrigerator
Shop This GE Profile Refrigerator
This GE Profile is big on capacity just as much it is on its ratings. With nearly 28 cubic feet of storage and a stunning 92% buyer approval, this top-rated refrigerator has all the credentials to be called a high achiever. Explore a number of convenient ways to keep food fresh, from the door-in-door bin to the adjustable temperature drawer to a removable can caddy. Equipped with Turbo Cool & Freeze, whatever you stock up on will stay fresh longer in this model.
⭐ Featured GE Profile PVD28BYNFS Review:
“We absolutely love this refrigerator! The snack drawer is the perfect spot for a 12-pack of soda. The door-in-door feature turned out to be quite handy for things like milk, butter, and coffee creamer.”
LG 22.0 Cu. Ft. Print Proof Stainless Steel Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator
LG does a great job of combining elevated refrigerator design with modern technology on this model. The SpacePlus® ice maker is designed to maximize power without taking up too much room, providing extra storage in the freezer. We also love the Door Cooling+ feature which not only keeps items in the door cool but also keeps warm air from entering the main compartment. Smart, sleek, and efficient—this French door fridge checks all the boxes.
⭐ Featured LG LMXC22626S Review:
“I just can't get over how much room this refrigerator has to store food. The ice maker works great. It puts out a lot of ice in one day.”
Café™ 28.7 Cu. Ft. Platinum Glass French Door Refrigerator
If you value elevated design in your kitchen appliances, you can’t go wrong with this model by Café. While the exterior is flawless, the interior has bright LED lights that allow you to quickly find your groceries. The beautiful copper accents are also one-of-a-kind.
⭐ Featured Cafe CGE29DM5TS5 Review”
“Love my new Café refrigerator! So much space and the backlighting make it easy to find what you're looking for. The white and rose gold is so stylish.”
Samsung Bespoke 29.0 Cu. Ft. White Glass French Door Refrigerator
Shop This Samsung Refrigerator
Another fashionable option comes from the Bespoke line of appliances by Samsung. This model comes in a stunning white finish that will impress your guests. It also has four total doors, so you can keep your freezer compartments separate, plus FlexZone technology that allows the bottom compartment to go from freezing to fresh for extra flexibility. Powered by triple cooling technology, this fridge does fresh three different ways.
⭐ Featured Samsung RF29A967512 Review:
“We are so glad we got the bigger fridge. It has so much space and we love the flex fridge/freezer option.”
Bosch® 800 Series 20.5 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator
The Bosch 800 Series refrigerator line is one of the most advanced on the market, delivery an exclusive system of cooling and preservation with four proprietary technologies. This model purifies the air, keeps every level of the interior fresh with equal air distribution, and monitors temperature settings for ideal food climates. Despite the power it delivers, you’ll be glad to know this stylish French door fridge runs on an Energy Star-rated performance.
⭐ Featured Bosch B36CL80SNS Review:
“This refrigerator, with the vegetable/fruit drawer and the deep door compartments, holds much more than my old one. I love that the shelves go all the way to the back wall of the appliance.”
If you have to ask, “Why is my fridge warm?” it might be time for appliance repair or replacement. Either way, the professionals at East Coast Appliance can help. We’re happy to show you newer models that will cause you less stress. Stop by today and see why we are the best place to shop for refrigerators in the east Virginia area.
Why Trust East Coast Appliance?
Locally owned and operated since 1988, East Coast Appliance is the largest independent appliance dealer in Virginia. We sell it ALL — from new name-brand appliances to scratch-and-dent appliances to our very own refurbished appliances. Aside from our huge selection of every major brand and everyday low prices, what sets us apart from our competitors is that we service what we sell and that we are locally owned and operated with factory-trained associates. And if you’re local, great news: East Coast Appliance is committed to providing the absolute lowest prices on the same available brand and model — simply bring in the ad of the local retail competitor while the lower price is in effect and you'll receive your price match.
Shop Refrigerators at East Coast
There is a reason we are dubbed “The Discount King” — for unbeatable deals, shop refrigerators online at East Coast Appliance. Our friendly associates are always happy to help you diagnose a fridge not cooling, whether you call us or use our online chat feature. Better yet, stop by one of our showrooms to see why we are the best appliance store in Virginia. Visit us today!
Learn More: How To Get Rid of Smell In Fridge: Fridge Deodorizer