There’s nothing worse than opening your fridge and realizing that everything inside is getting warmer by the minute. I’ve been there—milk turning lukewarm, veggies wilting, and that unsettling feeling of potential food waste creeping in. But don’t panic! Most fridge cooling issues can be fixed without calling a repair service. With a little troubleshooting and some DIY effort, you can get your fridge back to working condition.
Let me walk you through the exact steps I’ve used to troubleshoot and fix a fridge that stopped cooling. Grab a flashlight, roll up your sleeves, and let’s do this together!
Step 1: Check the Basics First
Before we assume the worst, let’s rule out the obvious:
✅ Is the fridge plugged in? – It sounds silly, but I’ve seen it happen! A loose plug or a tripped circuit breaker can shut your fridge off without you realizing it. Make sure the plug is firmly in the outlet.
✅ Is the temperature setting correct? – Someone in the house might have accidentally turned the dial. Check your fridge’s temperature controls and set it to around 37°F (3°C) for the fridge and 0°F (-18°C) for the freezer.
✅ Are the fridge doors closing properly? – If something is blocking the door from sealing properly (a rogue ketchup bottle, maybe?), cold air could be leaking out. Also, check the rubber door gasket for cracks or gaps.
Step 2: Listen for the Sounds of a Working Fridge
Your fridge should make a few distinct sounds when it’s running properly:
- A soft hum (this is the compressor working)
- A light fan noise (this is the evaporator fan inside)
- Occasional clicks (this is the thermostat cycling on and off)
If your fridge is completely silent, something isn’t right. If you hear a clicking noise but no hum, your compressor may be struggling to start, which we’ll cover later. But first, let’s move on to some simple DIY checks.
Step 3: Check for Airflow Blockages
One time, I had a fridge that mysteriously stopped cooling, and after panicking for an hour, I realized the culprit was me—I had packed it way too full!
🔹 Are the air vents blocked? – Cold air circulates between the freezer and fridge through small vents. If you’ve got a stack of leftovers shoved up against the vents, cold air won’t reach where it needs to. Rearrange your food so the vents are clear.
🔹 Is the freezer overloaded? – If you cram too much stuff into the freezer, the evaporator fan can get blocked, reducing airflow to the fridge.
🛠 Quick Fix: Move things around, leave some space near the vents, and give it a couple of hours to see if cooling improves.
Step 4: Clean the Condenser Coils
If your fridge has been running fine for years and suddenly stops cooling, dirty condenser coils could be the issue. This happened to me once, and I was shocked at how much dust had built up back there.
How to Clean the Coils:
- Unplug the fridge for safety.
- Locate the condenser coils—usually at the back or underneath the fridge.
- Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment or a coil-cleaning brush to remove dust and debris.
- Plug the fridge back in and listen—if the compressor kicks on, you may have just fixed your cooling problem!
💡 Pro Tip: Clean your coils every six months. A quick vacuum session can prevent bigger cooling issues down the line.
Step 5: Check the Evaporator Fan
A fridge’s cooling system relies on the evaporator fan to circulate cold air. If the fridge is warm but the freezer is still cold, the evaporator fan might be the culprit.
How to Test the Fan:
- Open the freezer door and listen—does the fan turn on?
- If it’s silent, press the door switch (usually a small button on the side of the freezer).
- If the fan still doesn’t turn on, it may be broken and need replacing.
🛠 DIY Repair: If you’re comfortable with minor appliance repairs, you can replace the fan yourself. It’s usually behind the freezer’s back panel and held in place by a few screws. Just be sure to unplug the fridge before replacing it!
Step 6: Check the Start Relay (If the Compressor Isn’t Running)
If your fridge is making a clicking sound every few minutes but isn’t cooling, the compressor might be failing to start. More often than not, the start relay (a small part that helps the compressor turn on) is to blame.
How to Fix It:
- Unplug the fridge.
- Locate the start relay—it’s a small box attached to the side of the compressor (usually at the bottom back of the fridge).
- Remove the relay and shake it gently—if you hear a rattle, it’s likely burnt out.
- Replace it with a new one (these are inexpensive and easy to swap out).
- Plug the fridge back in and see if the compressor starts running again.
🛠 Quick Fix: Start relays are one of the most common causes of cooling failure, and replacing them is a simple and cheap DIY fix.
Step 7: Defrost a Frozen Evaporator Coil
If your fridge has a lot of frost buildup in the freezer, the evaporator coil could be completely iced over, preventing proper cooling.
How to Defrost It:
- Unplug the fridge.
- Remove all the food from the freezer.
- Leave the freezer door open for a few hours (or speed up the process with a hairdryer on low heat).
- Once the ice is gone, plug the fridge back in and monitor if it starts cooling again.
💡 Pro Tip: If your fridge keeps freezing up like this, the defrost heater or defrost timer might need replacing.
Step 8: Call for Professional Help (If Necessary)
If you’ve tried everything and your fridge still isn’t cooling, it might be time to call in a professional. Here are some signs that you need expert help:
🔸 The compressor is running constantly but the fridge isn’t cooling.
🔸 There’s leaking refrigerant, which requires a professional repair.
🔸 The control board is malfunctioning, causing erratic temperature settings.
But in most cases, one of the steps above will fix the issue!
I know how frustrating it is when your fridge stops cooling—trust me, I’ve been through it. But the good news is that most cooling problems have simple fixes, and with a bit of patience, you can likely solve the issue yourself.
So next time your fridge starts acting up, don’t panic. Start with the basics, check for airflow issues, clean the coils, and work through these steps one by one. You’ve got this! 💪
