Your fridge might not appear to be cooling, but there may actually be a quick and simple fix.
People see the light on in their refrigerator and automatically assume it’s automatically cooling. However, later on to their shock, they realize the temperature inside their fridge is getting warmer and warmer.
Now if the fridge doesn’t seem to be cooling down, you might have a problem with your thermostat or your compressor is failing. This article starts by giving a good overview of the problem and then explaining the different parts. It then gives tips on what can be done if it is not working.
Read On.
Table of Contents
The Fridge is not Cooling but the Light is On: What Could be the Problem?
Check the Freezer Temperature
Ifs your fridge is not cooling, first, you should check the freezer temperature. It’s below 0 degrees Fahrenheit -18 degrees Celsius, that is the problem, and you need to add more ice or block ice to lower the temperature.
If the freezer temperature is above 0 degrees Fahrenheit -18 degrees Celsius, then there could be an issue with your compressor or evaporator coil.
If your fridge is not cooling, but the light is on, check these parts as well:
- Check if anything is blocking access to the evaporator coils. This could be a box of food or debris from cleaning your bin.
- Check if any leaks in the tubing leading to the evaporator coils. If there are, you will see water dripping into your appliance, which could cause freezing problems due to freezing water on those coils.
Is the Fridge Level?
The first thing to check is whether your fridge is level. If it’s not, the compressor will struggle to cool the fridge, and you may experience problems like this.
If your fridge is level and the light is still on, there could be a problem with the thermostat or some other component.
Check the Vents in your Refrigerator
If your refrigerator is running but not cooling, you may have a problem with the cooling mechanism. This can usually be resolved by checking the vents and ensuring they can run freely. They’re blocked by large pieces of food or other obstructions, you’ll need to remove them to get the air flowing again.
If this doesn’t fix the problem, you’ll need to troubleshoot further by checking whether any other fridge parts are working properly. Ifs some things are still cold while others aren’t cold enough, then there’s likely an issue with one of those components.
Checking Your Refrigerator’s Gaskets
Another common issue with fridges is that their gaskets may be damaged or worn out. If this happens in your kitchen, it could prevent cold air from getting into your refrigerator and cause it to overheat instead of cool down properly. If this sounds like what’s going on with yours, you’ll want to replace those gaskets immediately before anything else happens!
Try Adjusting the Controls
It may be a simple fix if your fridge is not cooling and the light is on. You should first check the settings on your fridge to ensure they are set correctly. Here’s how:
- Check the temperature controls. Set them to the coldest setting possible, usually “1”, and then back off a little so they’re set to “2.” This should help cool down your fridge quickly if it’s too cold inside.
- If that doesn’t work, try unplugging your refrigerator for a few minutes and then plugging it back in again. Sometimes this can reset some internal sensors or electronics, causing cooling problems.
- If those don’t help, you may have an issue with your compressor or fan motor going bad. These parts can be difficult to troubleshoot on your own. Still, you can usually find repair guides online that walk you through testing different parts of your refrigerator for problems using multimeters and other tools.
Check the Door Seals for Cracks and Tears
When the light is on, and the fridge is not cooling, there may be a few things that you can check to get the refrigerator working again.
Check the door seals for cracks and tears. These are usually located around the edges of the door or where it meets the refrigerator body. If these are damaged or missing, air can leak out of the refrigerator, causing it to overheat and shut down.
You may purchase new seals if your old ones are damaged beyond repair. Remove any tape or glue residue before applying new seals; otherwise, they will not seal properly and could fall off when you open the door.
Check for ice buildup inside your refrigerator. Ice buildup can cause moisture in your refrigerator’s interior walls, which will cause it to overheat and shut down temporarily until it dries out again. This can happen several times each year, depending on how often you use your refrigerator’s ice maker function and how consistently you clean out excess water inside your freezer compartment after using it.
Clean out all excess water from within your freezer compartment so that only a thin layer remains on top of any remaining ice cubes at the bottom of your freezer compartment after using your ice maker function.
Is your Vent Fan Running?
If your refrigerator is not cooling, but the light inside is on, it’s possible that the condenser fan motor has failed. The fan motor is located in the back of the refrigerator and continuously circulates cold air through the coils. If your refrigerator is not cooling, but the light inside is on, it’s possible that the condenser fan motor has failed. The fan motor is located in the back of the refrigerator and continuously circulates cold air through the coils.
If you find that your vent fan is not running, check these things:
- Is there a blockage in your exhaust pipe? Make sure there are no kinks or obstructions that could be blocking airflow from your refrigerator to the outside. Check for blockages by removing any covers or grills and cleaning out any debris that may have accumulated over time.
- Make sure there are no kinks or obstructions that could be blocking airflow from your refrigerator to the outside. Check for blockages by removing any covers or grills and cleaning out any debris that may have accumulated over time.
- If you find that your vent fan is not running, check these things: Is there a blockage in your exhaust pipe? Make sure there are no kinks or obstructions that
Final Word
The thermostat could be set too low for the ambient temperature. This is the most common cause of fridge problems. Check if the thermostat setting is too low by setting it to the highest position, and then check if the fridge works normally. If you find no change, check if some debris is blocking the fins inside the box of your fridge. If that’s not it, you may need to change a part inside your fridge.
