The refrigerator is one of the few appliances that – to function properly – must remain on for 24 hours a day: it is easy to understand how an interruption of even a few hours can affect food’s correct maintenance. Also, a refrigerator that does not cool often results in unnecessary energy expenditure.
But why does the fridge stopped cooling foods? First, let’s see the possible causes of the refrigerator compartment’s failure to cool are and how it is possible to intervene in the most common problems.
Table of Contents
1. Incorrect use and damaged seals
One of the possible causes of the non-cooling of the cold room is to be found in the dispersion of cold air. If the refrigerator is left open for too long, or if the seals do not adhere well to each other, the refrigerator may not be cool enough.
In this case, the first thing to do is to clean the seals, the functionality of which can be compromised by dirt or food residues. Then, with a damp cloth, the entire cell frame is cleaned. If you notice significant cuts or signs of wear during cleaning, it is a good idea to replace the seals. If, on the other hand, the gaskets appear intact but dry and too hard, you can try to restore them with the help of a hairdryer … but with the awareness that this will be a temporary solution that will not repair us from the need to change the toppings to our fridge.
It is good to remember that the right conduct and proper maintenance are also important: the fridge should not be kept open for too long, nor should it be filled all at once or with hot food. It is also useful to know that foods should be positioned at least a few centimeters from the fridge walls to avoid ice formation or the stagnation of cold air near the walls.
2. The regulation of the thermostat
If the fridge does not cool, or on the contrary, it freezes our food, it can be due to the thermostat being set incorrectly. Correct regulation of the thermostat is essential for the correct maintenance of food: too high a temperature can interrupt the cold chain, exposing our food to mold and deterioration; too low a temperature can freeze them and even cause serious damage to the appliance.
The ideal temperature to set the fridge is around 1-2°C. So let’s check, first of all, to be sure to use our refrigerator correctly. If we suspect that the failure to cool down depends on the thermostat’s wrong setting, we can try to set it at the minimum temperatures for at least one day.
If the fridge efficiently resumes its work, i.e., maintaining a correct and constant temperature for at least 8 hours, we will have solved the problem with minimal effort.
Otherwise, if the operation does not produce the desired results and our fridge still does not cool properly, we must likely replace the broken or malfunctioning thermostat. For this operation, the help of a specialized technician is recommended.
3. Ice formation
One of the most common causes, when the fridge does not cool, is to form too much ice inside, which hinders the appliance’s correct functioning and can compromise its health.
This type of problem is found much more easily in the so-called no-frost refrigerators, where cooling occurs through a fan that moves cold air from the freezer to the refrigerator compartment.
This problem is easily identified: when you notice that the freezer works correctly and freezes food. But, simultaneously, the fridge cannot even keep it at a constant temperature, then almost certainly the problem is related to the formation of excess ice.
Among the most common problems found in no-frost refrigerators, and which prevent their operation, there are:
- The fan’s malfunction should activate the circulation of cold air from the freezer to the fridge.
- Breaking or malfunction the resistance.
- The presence of a temperature probe (the one that indicates the temperature to stop the freezer’s cooling) is out of range.
In these cases, it isn’t straightforward to try to fix things without a technician’s support.
What you can try to dispel any doubt is the defrosting of the fridge. You need to turn off the power to the refrigerator for 24 hours and leave the doors open, taking care to place basins and rags to contain the resulting water.
This procedure is generally sufficient to restore the correct functionality of the refrigerator. However, if the refrigerator still does not cool, the problem may be more serious and will almost certainly require a specialized technician’s help.
4. ” Technician ” problems
If your fridge is not cooling, and you have attempted all of the above, then it is presumable that the problem affecting your appliance is more serious than expected.
The compressor
The cause may be in the compressor’s malfunction, a small spherical object placed on the back of the fridge essential for maintaining a constant temperature. Can easily identify a compressor failure: if the refrigerator is silent, the compressor will likely be out of play if you do not hear a motor ” sticking ” from time to time. However, replacing the compressor is a particularly delicate operation; the involvement of a specialized technician is recommended.
The resistance
If it is not even the compressor, the problem may be due to the fridge’s resistance, which allows defrosting and prevents the formation of ice blocks, which, as we have seen, can compromise the fridge’s functionality.
To ensure that the problem is related to the resistance, you can check it with a tester: place one tip on the contact of the resistance and the other on the ground, with the tester positioned on the largest scale. If the tester indicates a value other than zero, then the problem with our fridge will almost certainly lie in the resistance, which will have to be replaced.
Refrigerant gas leaks
Unlike the frost one, the static refrigerator works thanks to refrigerant gas flow, the freon, inside the coils. If a coil shows signs of damage or wear, the gas may escape from it, negating the compressor’s work that sends it into circulation.
In this case, it will first be necessary to identify any leaks, then repair or replace the coils and refill the gas. In this case, it is not advisable to proceed with do-it-yourself solutions; it will be good to identify a specialized technician.
The electronic card
In the most technologically advanced refrigerators, an electronic card determines the operation of the individual parts of the appliance. If we have not identified the problem affecting our refrigerator, it may reside in the electronic component.
Before calling the usually specialized technician to proceed with the replacement, the only thing you can do about it is to check that this does not show burns or signs of damage. If there are no defects, it is possible that the cause of the problem cannot be attributed to the electronic board either … which could suggest the need to replace the entire appliance.
Don’t panic!
A refrigerator that does not cool does not always have to be changed or impose huge costs on repairs and replacements. As we have seen, many of the causes of the non-cooling of the refrigerator can be easily analyzed and resolved ” at home, “with due patience and a certain dedication to the cause.
It is also good to remember that many of the problems listed above are preventable with the correct use and proper refrigerator maintenance. For example, we always remember to keep it clean and tidy, not leave the doors open too long, not insert hot food, and not place the food on the cell walls.
If your fridge is static or static-ventilated, you will also need to manually defrost at least once a year, leaving the fridge off for 24 hours and letting the ice formed inside melt. Only frost-free refrigerators are designed for self-defrosting.