If you have a refrigerator that is no longer cooling, chances are good that the problem is either due to dirty condenser coils, a bad start relay, blocked air vents, or even a bad temperature setting, all of which can be addressed the very day the problem is discovered. If you have a refrigerator in Orlando, or in any other area in central Florida, that no longer keeps your food cool, Appliance Repair Orlando will take care of the problem.
Why is My Refrigerator Not Cooling? – The Most Frequent Causes
In case your refrigerator fails to cool food properly, you should know that the problem usually lies in one of several key components. Here is what our technicians examine on every repair visit to Orlando.
Clogged or dirty condenser coils
Condenser coils are located at the bottom or back of your appliance and play the role of releasing heat in order to cool food properly. The dust, pet hair, and grease accumulate inside of them making your compressor work harder than it supposed to do.
Start relay failure
Start relay is a small mechanism that transmits power supply to your compressor. As a result of its wear, the compressor does not operate properly causing your refrigerator to stop working.
Clogged vents or overcrowded fridge
In order to distribute cold air efficiently, your refrigerator needs clear vents. Overloading shelves with food items makes warm air accumulate near the front panel of your fridge.
An ice-covered evaporator coil
If there is a problem with the auto-defrost mechanism, an accumulation of frost develops on the evaporator coil inside the freezer and prevents air from entering the refrigerator section.
Damaged door seals
A crack or damage to the seal allows hot air to get in, and the compressor keeps working without stoppage while the temperature inside continues rising.
Incorrect temperature settings or environment
A refrigerator in a garage or in a kitchen where high temperatures are present often is unable to reach its required range, particularly in Florida summer.
Why Isn’t My Refrigerator Cold While the Freezer Keeps Working Properly?
It is among the most frequent variants of the problem in Orlando refrigerators. In the case when your freezer is working, but the refrigerator part does not, the problem is likely to lie in the flow of cold air from the freezer part to the fridge part, not in the compressor.
Possible reasons include the icing of the evaporator coil, a broken evaporator fan motor, or a malfunctioning air damper, which regulates the transfer of cold air from one compartment to another. One simple thing to try here is to open the freezer and listen whether the fan motor works when the door switch is pressed. If you don’t hear anything, it should be replaced. If there is a lot of ice accumulated on the rear wall of the freezer, the latter is the more likely reason.
Simultaneous Failure of Fridge and Freezer Cooling
When your fridge and freezer are not cooling together, then the real reason behind this problem is probably found in the shared cooling system instead of a single component of the appliance. Consider the following tips when diagnosing your device.
- Make sure that your fridge has an electric connection and the power outlet works properly.
- Ensure that your compressor works properly by checking its low humming sound in the rear part of the fridge.
- See whether there is a thick layer of dust on the condenser coils of your fridge.
- See whether there is a burning smell or clicking sounds from the area of the compressor – this means that you need to replace the start relay of your fridge.
- See if your thermostat was turned off accidentally.
If your compressor does not make a sound and none of these tips helps you to solve the problem with fridge and freezer not cooling together, then it may be related to your compressor or sealed system malfunction.
Freezer Not Cooling
If the freezer is not cooling on its own, but the refrigerator is operating normally, there seems to be a problem with the appliance on a more isolated level. Some common problems include an inefficient evaporator fan, faulty start relay for the freezer alone, or frost build-up which blocked the airflow inside the unit. Another common reason for freezer not cooling can be an overfilling of the unit which prevents air circulation through the vents.
If the problem of freezer not working involves the freezer losing power completely, but the refrigerator continues to light up and operate properly, it is a sign of some wiring or control board problems.
Refrigerator Not Cooling – How to Repair It? Steps for Solution
These are the things to try before getting any repairs done since most of the cooling issues get resolved with just these steps.
- Unplug your fridge, wait for ten minutes, and plug it again to reset its control board.
- Move it away from the wall and vacuum condenser coils properly.
- Set the temperature of the fridge to 37 degrees F and the freezer temperature to 0 degree F and let it run for twenty-four hours.
- Make sure there is nothing inside blocking the vents inside.
- Check door gaskets for holes using paper sliding test.
- Ensure there is enough space on each side of the fridge for proper air flow.
If you have tried all these steps and your refrigerator still not cooling then it indicates some replacement part is required and that’s when you need a professional diagnosis.
Whirlpool Refrigerator Not Cooling: Why It Is Unique
While the reasons why a Whirlpool refrigerator not cooling boil down to the same basic components, there are two particular components in Whirlpool refrigerators that have been known to cause trouble, namely the evaporator fan motor and the electronic control board. Users often note that the refrigerator compartment warms up first, whereas the freezer remains cold for some time; this means that either the fan or air damper causes problems, not the compressor. The reason why we stock most common Whirlpool parts on our Orlando service calls is that these components comprise a majority of all repairs performed on this particular brand of refrigerator.
Whirlpool Refrigerator Ice Maker Not Working: Common Causes
Why would a Whirlpool refrigerator ice maker not working? There could be one of the following reasons for the problem:
- The water supply line is kinked, frozen, or closed.
- The water inlet valve is malfunctioning and does not let any water to go through to the ice maker.
- The ice maker unit has gone into a fault mode and requires a reset.
The freezer - Temperature is higher than 10°F.
Reset Procedure for Whirlpool Refrigerator Ice Maker: Step By Step
The process of resetting your Whirlpool refrigerator ice maker usually goes like this, although the exact location of the reset button may differ between models:
- Find the reset button on either the front or side panel of the ice maker.
- Press and hold the button for ten seconds until you hear a chime or a signal from the indicator light.
- Close the door of the freezer and give the system up to twenty-four hours for a full cycle to take place.
- Check the water line and inlet valve if the ice maker remains inactive.
When the ice maker on your Whirlpool fridge still does not make ice even after the reset procedure, the parts that might need replacement are either the inlet valve or the ice maker module.
Other Causes of Whirlpool Refrigerator Not Making Ice
For a case where a Whirlpool refrigerator not making ice does not affect its normal operations, it is necessary to ensure that the power switch of the ice maker hasn’t been accidentally pushed to the off mode as it is easy to hit the switch while placing things inside the freezer. Another thing to make sure is that there are no clogs inside the water filter as this would prevent ice creation even if the valve operates correctly.
Frigidaire Refrigerator Not Cooling
The issues with Frigidaire refrigerator not cooling have quite a few common factors with the other manufacturers except for the fact that Frigidaire appliances develop issues with cooling faster due to unclean condenser coils. In addition, one of the typical complaints of the owners is that the appliance is cool but not cold enough; this problem is caused by a malfunctioning damper that doesn’t fully open.
Not Working Ice Maker: How to Fix the Most Common Problems
No matter which make your machine is, a not working ice maker problem is mostly about one of the following problems: absence of water in the machine, inadequate cooling in the freezer, need to reset due to a fault condition, and finally, a malfunctioned ice maker module. Considering those in turn and beginning from the water flow and the freezer temperature will help you solve the vast majority of ice maker problems without any component replacement.
Time to Call a Specialist Instead of Fixing Yourself.
Cleaning up the coils, vents, and resetting the ice maker is something most people can do themselves without any risk. The moment when your problem is related to the compressor, sealed refrigeration system, control board, or there is a burnt smell at the back of the unit – it’s high time to contact a specialist. It’s illegal to work with a sealed refrigeration system without a certification according to EPA regulations, besides, many people make mistakes with the control board.
Refrigerator Not Cooling Services for Orlando and Central Florida
Our techs provide services for refrigerator not cooling issues throughout Orlando, Winter Park, Kissimmee, Lake Buena Vista, and other areas in Central Florida. We specialize in repairing all top brands, such as Whirlpool, Frigidaire, LG, Samsung, GE, Maytag and more. In most cases, we can make one time repair, having necessary parts with us. If you need to fix your refrigerator not cooling issue today, contact us and our professional tech will fix it fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my fridge not cooling?
The most common reasons are dirty condenser coils, a failed start relay, blocked vents, or a frosted evaporator coil. Cleaning the coils and clearing the vents resolves a large portion of these cases without needing a part replacement.
My refrigerator is not cooling but the light still works. What does that mean?
This usually means the fridge has power but the compressor or cooling system has stopped functioning, which points to a start relay, thermostat, or compressor issue rather than an electrical problem.
Why is my fridge and freezer not cooling at the same time?
When both compartments lose cooling together, the compressor, start relay, or main control board is the most likely cause, since these components serve the entire cooling system rather than one section.
How do I fix a Whirlpool ice maker that stopped working?
Start with a Whirlpool refrigerator ice maker reset by holding the reset button for about ten seconds, then check the water line and freezer temperature if ice still doesn’t form within 24 hours.
Is a refrigerator not cooling always a sign I need a new fridge?
No. Most refrigerator not cooling issues come down to a single worn part like a coil, fan, or relay, and repairing that part typically costs far less than replacing the entire unit.
