10 REASONS YOUR REFRIGERATOR IS NOT COOLING

If your fridge isn’t cooling, double check that it is still plugged into the electrical outlet and that the switch powering your kitchen appliances hasn’t been switched off at the breaker box. If the light isn’t turning on in a fridge that’s not cooling, check the power source.

Your refrigerator temperature should ideally be kept between 32ºF-40ºF for optimal performance. If your fridge stops cooling, make sure that your thermostat is set within that range. Depending on the location of your refrigerator’s thermostat, it can be easy for little ones to change the settings by accident or for food items to bump into the switch.

Refrigerators require proper airflow in order to cool properly. If your refrigerator isn’t cooling, it may be because food items are blocking the vents of the fridge and/or freezer compartments. Overstuffing your fridge with food can cause items to block the vents and prevent the cool air from circulating properly. This can also cause food in the fridge to freeze.

Organize your fridge in a way that ensures proper airflow and move any items that may be blocking the vents. Less commonly, your freezer vent may be frosted over. In this case, you’ll want to remove the ice.

Over time, your refrigerator may gather dust, dirt and other particles on the condenser coils. Generally located on the bottom or back of your fridge, these coils can become blocked by pet hair or dust. Blocked coils can make it more difficult for the heat from your refrigerator to be released, and may make the compressor work harder than it needs to.

To help prevent this problem, it’s recommended you clean your coils every two to three months if the environment around your refrigerator is particularly greasy or dusty, or if there is significant pet traffic in your home.

The soft, flexible seal that is found on the inside of your refrigerator door (gaskets) can become dirty or worn over time, which may prevent them from sealing your fridge properly. The gaskets help prevent cold air from escaping, keeping it within the refrigerator compartment instead. If you feel cold air escaping from your fridge, clean your gaskets and edges of your appliance with a sponge and warm, soapy water.

If after cleaning your gaskets, air continues to escape and your fridge is still not cooling, schedule a service call to have a technician help you with this issue.

As refrigerators go through the cooling process, heat is released when the vapor refrigerant condenses into liquid form. Your fridge needs at least a half inch of clearance on the sides and one inch in the back in order for it to work at optimal performance levels.

Refer to your refrigerator’s installation instructions and check that you have the appropriate clearance space for your fridge to cool effectively.

Your refrigerator may appear perfectly level, but even a slight tilt can affect the internal temperature. Uneven installation may prevent the doors from sealing properly, or cause other problems that lead to temperature fluctuations in the fridge. To troubleshoot the problem, grab a level and place it on top of the refrigerator, checking the leveling from both side to side and front to back. If the balance is a little off, don’t worry—just follow this simple leveling guide to help restore balance.

Most refrigerators come with at least one fan, usually located behind the appliance. This fan keeps the condenser coils cool and in turn helps prevent the compressor from overheating. If you notice that your fan has stopped working, then you may want to consult a professional for repair.

A refrigerator’s compressor kicks off the cooling cycle, drawing in refrigerant vapor (the cooling agent) to compress, then releasing it at a higher temperature and pressure. If your compressor is faulty, then the first step in the cooling process can be compromised and your refrigerator may have trouble keeping up.

It’s normal for a compressor to make whirring, hissing or dripping sounds, but there are some signs that can indicate a broken compressor. Your refrigerator compressor should run for a large portion of the day, but a compressor that’s running nonstop may be faulty. A circuit breaker that keeps tripping or a compressor making unusually loud noises may also point to a problem. Consult a professional if you think your refrigerator’s compressor isn’t performing at its best.

A compressor plays a primary role in keeping a refrigerator cool, so Maytag^® refrigerator compressors are backed by a 10-year limited parts warranty¹ to give you a cool you can count on, year after year.

The circuit board is essentially the brains of the refrigerator, controlling everything from temperature regulation to powering individual parts. If after checking for different possible causes and troubleshooting your fridge it still isn’t cooling properly, then you may have a faulty circuit board. Replacing these can be expensive, so hiring a professional to diagnose and repair may be your safest bet.