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How do I Fix My Refrigerator That Is Not Cooling

Man kneeling at back of refrigerator to repair it

Having trouble with the refrigerator that is not cooling can be very frustrating and stressful because the refrigerator is where you keep all your food. However, there are many possible reasons why your refrigerator stops cooling your ice cream, milk, and many other related kinds of stuff.

It is important to diagnose the problem because there might be a possibility that several parts in the refrigerator may not be working properly. Regardless of having professional assistance in repairing your fridge, you can also try to fix it by yourself. Depending on what is causing your refrigerator not to cool your packages, this article will guide you on how to repair refrigerator cooling system.

How To Repair Your Fridge That Is Not Cooling

hands with a screw driver unscrewing a part from the back of a refrigerator


If your refrigerator is not cooling for an unknown reason, you can follow this step-by-step guide to fix the problem yourself. Fixing the problem that requires advanced methods should be left for the professional technician, as trying to do them yourself could make the problem worse. Therefore, before moving to the advanced and more complicated methods yourself, we suggest you try some easy solutions first.

Step 1 – Ensure Your Refrigerator Is Connected To The Power

The power cord that has flipped breaker or loose in its outlet can shut down your entire fridge. This step might seem simple, but it helps. Make Sure that the power cord in your refrigerator is firmly plugged in and the light is coming on when the door is opened.

Step 2 – Check The Thermostat Of Your Refrigerator

Thermostat dials in our refrigerator might get bumped by items like milk cartons or others, changing the initial set temperature. Apart from that, exterior digital thermostats might also get inadvertently changed by your fingers, or someone unknowingly changes the temperature, or lean against the specific control panel.

The thermostat is located in the back of the refrigerators. In this case, consider resetting the temperature to the right zone when necessary. Sometimes the refrigerator thermostat controller stops working, so you might have to purchase a low-cost, separate refrigerator thermostat if you don’t trust your temperature reading or think it is not working properly.

Step 3 – Clean Your Refrigerator Condenser Coils

man repairing refrigerator


If you have taken too long to clean the condenser coils, you will need to do so. Whenever the dust collects on them, they will to not regulate your appliance interior temperature well. Use the recommended brush to get rid of all dirt and dust on the surface.

Step 4 – Replace Your Refrigerator Gaskets If Necessary

With time the seals around the fridge door suffer from tear and wear. These seals are known as gaskets; if you notice that they are not sealing as they should, know that your appliance is leaking cool air. And this might be the reason why it is not cooling. However, consider checking for any tears, cracks, or loose in your refrigerator. If you notice them, call the expert to come and replace them.

Step 5 – Check If Your Refrigerator Is Overloaded

Overloaded refrigerators will probably fail to circulate the cool air appropriately. Further, they are a possible reason that those items are blocking the fridge cold air vent. Thus, consider cleaning your appliance, purge and toss anything suspicious and not useful anymore.

Depending on your refrigerator’s model and brand, its vents could probably be located along the sidewall or inside the back wall and should not be clogged with frozen vegetables, ice creams or any other thing.

Step 6 – Is your refrigerator evaporator/ fan motor working well

man with flashlight looking into the back of a refrigerator


The condenser fan motor enables cool air circulation. The condenser fan must rotate freely and must not get stuck.  Call a technician to come and fix, when you notice it is not cooling properly. Note that any refrigerator that groans and moans are a good clue that you may have a broken fan.

Step 7 – Ensure your refrigerator is located in the right place

In hot rooms, the refrigerators run constantly. The room where you place your fridge might affect its initial thermometer. The refrigerator might shut down in cold rooms since it thinks it’s already up to the temperature.

But dealing with electrical components is not easy, and in this case, it is always best to contact refrigerator repair centers for help. The above is a detailed guide on how you can try and successfully fix a refrigerator that is not cooling without further ado. However, there are some problems which we can try and tackle using the above guide. But when your refrigerator is still not working, call the expert right away. 

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