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REFRIGERATOR

Refrigerator Is Not Working At All

Gaya Chudnovski

Technically Reviewed by Gaya Chudnovski on Feb 26, 2024 | Written by Oleg Chudnovski, CEO

Authorized repair service for most home appliance manufacturers

Nowadays, it is impossible to imagine our home without a refrigerator, a freezer, a wine cooler or an ice maker. All these take care of our food and drinks in hot summer from spoilage, and even in winter, we need them to keep our meals fresh and cool.

Facing problems with the fan motor, defroster or compressor, you face the ensuing consequences which can take you by surprise at the most inopportune moment: a refrigerator not getting cold.

Refrigerator Not Cooling – Refrigerator Troubleshooting Guide & Repair

Unfortunately, a malfunctioning fridge can lead to food spoilage and water leaking, which may be a real disaster for your home. If you can see that the food acquires a strange smell and can’t be kept as it was, this is the first sign. If your refrigerator is old enough, it is time for replacement, as the repair can be more expensive. However, if the appliance is quite new, do not hurry. Our expert staff is ready to offer the best refrigerator repair services.

The professional team of refrigerator technicians at Fix Appliances CA, with almost twenty years of experience and knowledge on how to fix a refrigerator, is here to provide all possible assistance in determining the problem itself, offer solutions in the shortest possible time and return your refrigerator to life.

Common Causes Why the Refrigerator Is Not Cooling

Talking about the main issues of why a fridge is keeping warm or not getting cold at all, we would like to highlight the common causes:

  • Location of the refrigerator, including levelling
  • Overloaded appliance
  • The door gasket is faulty or dirty
  • Clogged condenser coils
  • Wrong temperature control settings
  • The motors are not working properly
  • Broken condenser fan
  • PCB control or inverter board is faulty

Some of the mentioned can be fixed easily, but most need the aid of licensed fridge experts who are qualified and trained to suggest all types of repairs in no time and at reasonably attractive prices.

Refrigerator Troubleshooting Guide

To begin with, we’ve set up this small useful fridge troubleshooting guide with some common issues when your refrigerator stops cooling that can keep your fridge from working as it should. These issues may be simple or complex. Let’s start with the basics:

Cold air leak Obviously, an open or poorly closed door is the main cause of your refrigerator not working properly.
No power While this may sound simple, there are instances when the refrigerator is unplugged, like during cleaning behind the fridge, and then not plugged in again.
Temperature control If the thermostat has been turned way up or completely off, the refrigerator will not operate. If your fridge stops cooling, make sure that your thermostat is set within that range between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit (or 1 to 3 degrees Celsius)
Blocked vents Many homeowners don’t know that a refrigerator contains vents that must be kept clear. These vents allow air to flow throughout the refrigerator, thus creating a cooling effect.
A dirty condenser coils Dust, dirt and debris on the coils are under or behind the fridge. These coils are the centrepiece of the cooling mechanism. In the case of impaired functioning, it can be a reason the compressor has too much load and stopped working.
Condenser fan Another culprit could be a compressor fan that does not spin due to dust and debris inhibiting the fan from spinning. If you notice that your compressor fan is not spinning freely, this can be a reason why your refrigerator is not operating way properly.
Evaporator fan The evaporator fan draws cold air into the refrigerator from the freezer compartment. When the evaporator fan is not spinning freely, the refrigerator will not be cold enough.
Ice maker There can be several causes: inlet water valve issues, clogs, damage or leak in the water supply tube, and blocked water dispensers. Etc. To get more requests, our ice maker repair services
Compressor issue Many compressor issues can be the reason for not cooling as well, such as failure to start, air leaking, pressure problems and so on, and a replacement is required.
Low on freon Refrigerant leaking can be one of the main reasons for not cooling. In this case, it is required for refrigerant freon recharge.
Other parts breakdowns Several other parts to a refrigerator need to be in working condition, such as a PCB control board, inverter board, timer, thermistors, starter, relay, capacitor and several electronic parts, and it’s time to repair the refrigerator.

If you find out that one of the things mentioned in our refrigerator troubleshooting guide is working improperly, this may be why your fridge is out of order. Do not delay the problem-solving. It is time to contact us for professional help, taking advantage of our qualified repair, original parts replacement on a same-day basis and a warranty.

Useful Tips On How To Fix Refrigerator Problems

A refrigerator helps to keep our food fresh longer. But over time, you may face cooling problems. Our technicians prepared several tips on how to keep your refrigerator cooling efficiently.

  • Tip#1: Check to see if the airflow has been restricted inside your appliance. Overfilling, especially in the vents, can prevent cooling air from flowing around the stored staff. Reduce the amount of food and drink you keep inside, leaving vents clear but not overboard. A full does not yet mean overfilled. The fridge keeps cool better than an empty one.
  • Tip#2: Ensure the door or doors are closed tight. In most cases, when too many items are oversized, this may prevent a door from closing as it should.
  • Tip#3: Check the refrigerator gasket or door seal for damage or wear. If a gasket is damaged, cool air may escape. Thus, it is easy to check its effectiveness: place a dollar bill or any paper against the refrigerator frame, close the door, and in case you pull out the dollar or a piece of paper easily when the door is closed, replace the seal. Pros must do this job, and they will install a new gasket in no time.
  • Tip#4: Check for dirt or dust buildup on the condenser. The condenser works with the evaporator to transfer heat from inside the fridge to the air outside. Dusty or dirty coils will reduce that heat transfer. Clean the coils at least once a year to prevent an expensive compressor failure. The process is relatively easy: unplug the unit and locate the condenser (you will find the coils mounted on the back or the bottom behind the front or back panel), carefully pull the unit off the wall and using a special brush or vacuum cleaner nozzle to clean the coils. Please, do not bend the coils while cleaning.
  • Tip#5: Inspect the refrigerator thermostat. An accidental bump could have changed the temperature settings. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for recommended coolness settings and, then reset the thermostat accordingly. Remember, the average tº for a fridge is 37ºF to 40ºF, and for a freezer – 0ºF (-27ºC). Allow 24 hours for your refrigerator to readjust.

Following this refrigerator repair guide and performing these routine check steps can keep things cooling efficiently and extend the life of your kitchen appliance. But in more complex issues, never try to repair them yourself. Trust this specific job for experts. Fix Appliances CA is prepared to resolve any issues with your refrigerator, from simple maintenance to serious and complicated problems.

Preventive Measures To Avoid the Fridge Not Cooling

Buying a refrigerator, we are sure this will work clocklike forever. But as with any appliance, this kitchen miracle requires constant care and maintenance. Anyone can handle these simple tasks.

  1. Check the door – it means never leaving a door open and checking seals to avoid cool air seeping out. Clean them twice a year with a toothbrush and a solution of baking soda and water.
  2. Keep coils clean – this means pulling the appliance from the wall to reveal the coils in the back (or snap off the grille if the coils are on the bottom front), then unplug the refrigerator and vacuum the coils with the brush attachment.
  3. Set the correct temperature – a fridge can run but not very long, and ensure that seals are in operating order.
  4. Fill it up and never overload – in both cases, these things can be the reason for improper refrigerator operation and even for stopping cooling. In the first case, a fridge needs so-called “thermal mass” (a certain volume of food to keep in) to maintain low temperatures when using less energy; and in the second case, free air must circulate your staff.

Look for Pros in a Refrigerator Repair? Contact FIX Appliances CA

DIY projects may be the way out when a refrigerator is not working, and you can tackle issues yourself. However, our team is at your service here at FIX Appliances CA and can get the same job done much more quickly and correctly the first time. As a result, you save your time and money as well.

Our professional team of highly trained fridge technicians have special tools, knowledge and experience in getting refrigerators that are not working back up. We can handle any troubles requiring kitchen appliance repair in Toronto and over the GTA areas.

Fix Appliances CA is one of the area leaders in fridge repair with friendly and prepared support staff, licensed and authorized technicians, and original parts of high quality. We are ready to meet your needs at the most convenient time for you, seven days a week. Thus, if you’re faced with a refrigerator that is not working, give us a call or book an appointment online. Let us get it working
for you!

Date of page creation: August 23, 2019

Page update date: February 26, 2024

Frequent Asked Questions

First, check if the plug is working and if there is power in it, then check the cord for any damage. If they are in working condition, thorough diagnostics should be made. Contact Fix Appliances CA as a professional fridge repair company to define the problem and resolve it the same day mostly.
The average cost for a refrigerator repair depends not only on the brand, type and model of your appliance but the issue it has. The price starts from 160 Canadian dollars excluding the costs for parts which require replacement.
From our experience, the widely faced refrigerator problems are not cooling, compressor issues, faulty evaporator fan, water leakage, too noisy and more. Sometimes it is not easy to define the problem at first glance but trying to do DIY projects may cause more damage. Trust this work to refrigerator repair technicians at our company.
The reasons can be different such as a clogged evaporator fan, dirty condenser coils, faulty compressor, blocked air vents, broken gasket seals, and many others. Some issues can be resolved and noticed with a little effort while others may require the assistance of a licensed technician.
When you are not sure what is the best, our technicians follow the 50%-rule. That is, if the repair costs will be 50 percent or higher, the fridge replacement will be the best decision. But if the problem is not serious and the price for it is much less, definitely worth it.
If the problem of the refrigerator not cooling is only caused by the ice-blocked vent, yes. But if the problem is connected to an unworked compressor or more, this does not help. And the reason can be found after the diagnostics of a fridge repair tech.
If the problem is only caused by the ice-blocked vent, yes. But if the problem is connected to an unworked compressor or more, this does not help. And the reason can be found after the diagnostics of a fridge repair tech.

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