Your refrigerator ultimately serves one role in your home: keeping your foods fresh by storing and cooling them below room temperature.
You may need to learn how to identify issues affecting your fridge. Here are a few reasons why:
Is your fridge not cooling or preserving food as before? This simple troubleshooting guide can help you identify potential issues and how to solve them.
At times, your fridge may not have any broken components, despite not cooling your foods effectively. Here are easy fixes that you may carry out yourself to avoid an embarrassing conversation with the refrigerator repair technician.
Before you get the toolbox out, you might need to verify the temperature settings on your fridge. Your compressor may be running, but the dial or digital control settings may be wrong.
It’s a pretty common issue for households with kids who may unknowingly or purposefully adjust the dial, setting a higher temperature. Set the thermostat to the correct level.
The freezer and refrigeration compartments may require airflow for optimum performance. Too much stuff crammed in the fridge may block the vents, preventing the cold air from circulating. The foods in the middle layers may have less exposure to cold air. You can quickly solve the issue by clearing out some food boxes or organizing the fridge to support airflow.
Malfunctioning parts of your fridge could also cause it not to cool foods properly. Here are some technical issues that can help you troubleshoot your unit.
The condenser coils may collect grime over time. The clogged condenser coils may not dissipate the heat effectively, causing the unit not too cool to your desired temperatures.
You may solve the issue by regularly cleaning the coils. Remember to always unplug the fridge from the power source before starting any repair.
One of the most common reasons why your refrigerator won’t cool is typically frozen evaporator coils. Older models may require manual defrosting. You can open the cover from the freezer compartment to access the coils. If frozen, let them thaw for at least 24 to 48 hours.
Modern units often have a defrosting thermostat, heater, and timer. A malfunction in any of the components may cause your coils to freeze. You may require a professional’s input to troubleshoot the problem accurately.
Faulty fan motors can not only cause your fridge not to be cold enough but also let out disturbing squeaky noises. A malfunctioning condenser fan motor may fail to draw cool air past the condenser coils. You may have to replace the motor unit with a new one.
A defective evaporator fan motor may not circulate the cool air in the refrigeration unit. You may require a replacement if the motor noise persists.
A fridge that is not cold enough can be frustrating, with most of your food going bad. You may need to be exhaustive as you troubleshoot the probable reasons behind it. If the fixes are above your skill level, consult an appliance repair technician.