What to Do if a Fridge Not Cold Enough?
Technically Reviewed by Oleg Chudnovski, CEO on Mar 19, 2024 | Written by Fix Appliances CA Editorial Contributors
Since your fridge is made to keep food and beverages cold, we understand how frustrating it can be when the refrigerator is not cold enough. We have some tips to help it get back to running at its best.
Although a refrigerator may seem pretty simple, it is a somewhat complex piece of machinery. Several parts can create issues if you suspect your refrigerator is not cooling enough or your fridge is too cold.
So, if you see symptoms that your fridge is not cooling enough and require a diagnosis of the issue, here are some common problems and associated remedies that you may want to check out:
- Temperature Settings: Verify that the temperature settings are accurately adjusted to the suggested ranges.
- Refrain from packing the refrigerator too full: This may impede airflow and reduce the effectiveness of the cooling system.
- Condenser Coils: Regularly cleaning the condenser coils of dust and debris will ensure optimal heat dissipation.
- Door Seals: Inspect the door seals for damage or wear and replace them if necessary to prevent cold air from escaping.
- Thermostat, Compressor, or Refrigerant Levels: If the problem continues, there can be a problem with these parts that has to be inspected and fixed by professionals.
Let’s delve into this topic and examine it more thoroughly.
The Refrigerator Is Not Cold Enough
The problems that may lead to a refrigerator that is not cool enough may be pretty simple and easy to manage on your own; however, some can be somewhat more complicated and require a professional. Here are a few things that may be stopping your refrigerator from getting cold enough.
Simple Things You Can Check
Sometimes, the most obvious answers are the correct ones. Things like:
- Is your refrigerator plugged into a suitable power source?
- Has somebody turned the thermostat down?
- Is the door closing wholly and correctly?
- Are any interior vents blocked by items, thus keeping air from circulating?
These simple items are often overlooked and can keep your refrigerator from maintaining a cold temperature.
It May be a Bad Fan or Air Damper
Your refrigerator contains two fans that are a large part of the unit’s operation, and if they are not working, that can be a reason your fridge is not cold enough. The condenser fan cools items like the condenser coils and the compressor while they are operating.
When these items are operating, the condenser fan needs to operate to keep these critical items from overheating and ceasing to operate.
The evaporator fan is the fan that moves the air you feel when you open your refrigerator door. This fan pulls air across your evaporator coil, cooling the air down, and then it moves air through the refrigerator. Cold air will not enter your refrigerator if this fan is not working.
Another issue that may be causing problems is a faulty air damper. This item regulates the airflow between the freezer and the refrigerator. Your freezer may work adequately if it is not working correctly, but there may not be enough cold air in your refrigerator.
Issues With Major Components
The two essential components of your refrigerator that we previously highlighted, responsible for maintaining cold air, are your compressor and condenser coils. Problems with these components could result in your refrigerator not reaching the desired coldness.
The refrigerator compressor propels refrigerant vapour into the coils positioned at the back of your appliance. This compressing action, along with the associated pressure, generates heat. Subsequently, this heat transforms the vapour into a hot gas, which, in turn, cools down and absorbs heat from within the refrigerator.
If your fan is running, but the fridge is not getting cold, a faulty compressor may be the issue.
Suppose your condenser coils are clogged and thus are inhibiting the hot gas flow we mentioned earlier. In that case, that will significantly restrict the ability of your refrigerator to maintain a cold temperature.
How to Make Your Refrigerator Colder
Once you think you may have identified the problem of why your refrigerator temperature is not cold enough, the next question you will have is how you can solve it quickly and easily. Here are some simple tips to show you to hopefully get your refrigerator back to a frosty temperature in no time.
Give the Simple Steps a Once-Over
Please review the steps we mentioned and ensure they are appropriately corrected. Things like ensuring the refrigerator is plugged in, and the thermostat is set correctly are pretty easy to fix.
One item that is quite often overlooked when a fridge is not getting cold enough is a door that is not closing correctly. Without a proper seal, cold air will flow out the door.
Another simple fix is making sure that vents are not blocked. People often put food items in front of vents in the back of the refrigerator, not knowing that these vents are vital to the air flowing throughout the unit, thus keeping the unit cold.
Replacing Your Air Damper
A faulty air damper can keep cold air from moving into your refrigerator. If, after your inspection, you notice the air damper cannot close or open, it may be time to replace this part.
Since this unit is attached to both the refrigerator and the freezer, there will be parts you need to pay attention to in both areas. First, you must remove any screws holding the air damper in place. On the refrigerator side, be mindful of the thermostat sensor that will be around the damper.
On the freezer, be mindful of the motor that needs to be unscrewed and moved into the freezer out of your way. Once you have done all that, you remove the old air damper and put the new one in its place, repeating the steps we mentioned in reverse order.
Tackling Somewhat Bigger Problems
Replacing the two fans can be something the handy do-it-yourself can accomplish on their own. The first step with both is ensuring that the fans can spin properly without debris or objects stopping their operation.
By far, the more straightforward fix is the condenser fan. Usually, with a faulty condenser fan, the fix is replacing the motor.
You must buy a new motor from any online source or appliance store to perform the repair. From there, all you need to do is remove the mounting screws that hold the fan. Then, it is as simple as swapping out the old motor for the new motor.
A fix of the evaporator fan is somewhat more complicated. This fix will involve removing the entire evaporator panel from the back of the refrigerator.
Once done, you must remove the fan, mounting clip, blade, and wire harness. You then install the new motor into the wire harness and put it in its housing.
Let the Professionals at FIX Appliances CA Help
So, are you wondering how to make the refrigerator colder, and this is all starting to sound like too much for you to tackle? That is precisely why the professionals at FIX Appliances CA are here to help. We:
- Have a long track record of experience
- Are an area leader in refrigerator maintenance
- Carry the top-quality parts to get the job done right
- Have a well-trained staff of professional refrigerator technicians ready to help
- Are available 07:30 am-9:00 pm, seven days a week
We know everything about all of the complicated parts that make up your refrigerator. We have the knowledge, experience, and top-quality parts to complete the job quickly and correctly.
So, if your refrigerator is not getting as cold as you would like, give us a call or fill out a form to get it back in proper working order right now.
Date of page creation: September 25, 2017
Page update date: March 19, 2024
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Technician explained the inner workings of all the coils and explained what he was doing at each step, and was very thorough in completing the service.
Thank you to the technician Dima He was very profesional who clearly explained me what was wrong with my refrigerator. Presenting me the solution without pressuring me to decide I found the service excellent I definitely recommend this company and I will use them in the future
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