Why is my refrigerator is not getting cold at all.?

Question

The freezer is not cold either. The power is plugged in, but nothing is cold. The knobs are turned to cold.

Answer 1

It's possible that the compressor is dead or not working properly. Also try to dust off the coils in the back.

Answer 2

Make sure the refrigerator hasn't completely stopped and that the thermostat is set at the proper temperature. Is the compressor running?

The compressor is behind the refrigerator on the bottom. Usually black and the size of a football it doesn't seem to have any moving parts. If it sounds as though it is working, but the refrigerator still isn't being cooled then contact a qualified appliance repair person, you can do this by calling our 800 number found at the top of this page.

If the problem isn't lack of power and your compressor isn't humming your problem may be with the compressor, overload/relay or capacitor, timer, thermostat, or the condenser motor fan.



Two things to look at when a refrigerator is cooling poorly are:



Heavy frost build up or lint and dust collected on the cooling coils are usually the main culprit for poor cooling.

Evaporator coils:
The evaporator coils are located behind the walls/ceiling of the freezer. To access these coils you will need to remove a panel. a lack of cooling could be a sign that there is frosty built up on the cooling coils, a defect in the defrost system, or bad door seals.

3-4 times a day the refrigerator is supposed to defrost. If there is a problem with this function then the refrigerator will continue to try cooling and the frost will continue to accumulate on the evaporator coils, making it increasingly difficult -even impossible for the fan to draw air in though the evaporator. This will prevent the refrigerator from keeping cool enough.To determine if the problem is with the defrost system try defrosting manually. Empty the unit and shut it off allowing 24 hours for any built up frost to thaw. When you turn the refrigerator back on notice to see if it cools properly. If so, you may have a problem with the defrost system, maybe the timer, thermostat, or heater. If the refrigerator doesn't cool down normally, then there may be a problem with the compressor or coolant level.


Condenser:

If you have a self defrosting refrigerator then there will be a set of coils underneath the appliance that work along with a fan. These tend to become clogged over time and may need to be cleaned, otherwise your refrigerator will not cool properly. Using a brush, which you can get from a hardware store, or order from us, you can clean these coils relatively easy.

Answer 3

As you have seen there are a lot of reasons a refrigerator may not cool. If your fridge is 10 years or older and cleaning the coils don't work then just get a new one. If you call a technician out to fix the problem you will probably end up with more problems in the future, you would be better off buying a new one that is more efficient.

Answer 4

First thing to do is pull the fridge out and clean all the dust and lint that has collected on the back of it. Take the vacuum to it after the surface lint has been removed. It might just be that the compressor is not getting proper air flow. If that doesn't work it will depend on how old the unit itself is. Repairmen are very expensive and so are parts. Might just be time for a new energy efficient one which will save you money in the long run anyway.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Why is my refrigerator is not getting cold at all.?
The freezer is not cold either. The power is plugged in, but nothing is cold. The knobs are turned to cold.

Answer 6

The condenser coils could be blocked with dust, the condenser fan could be bad or stuck, the freezer fan could be stuck or bad, the freezer coils could be blocked with frost because the self defrost system is not working or the compressor is not running because of a bad relay. The list can go on and on. Without specifics one could write a mini service manual that would cover all manufacturer's units and waste everyone's time.

If you could provide the make and a model number and what IS working you may get a good and proper answer rather than all of these guesses and recommendations to buy a new unit.

Answer 7

If you can hear the compressor kick on, or if it stays on and nothing happens, check to see if there is a little fan at the back of your freezer. My fridge did that not cold thing too, so I just started with the easiest thing to fix. I f the fan isn't turning, then you can get a new motor for it, or take the blades off and the motor out and clean it all up. If the motor is beyond reapair, then go to a used part guy and see if he might have one around.
Your compressor maybe out, but I have no info on how to fix that, or you may have a freon leak. (get a pro to fix those things.)

Answer 8

You might need a new compressor or replace your refrigerator BUT before you do that; clean all dust and lint on the bottom by the motor. The cleaning might do the trick if compressor still good. Good Luck!

Answer 9

Well i think you should call out an engineer who repairs fridges. Or if your fridge is under warranty then phone the manufacturer and they will get someone out to you to fix it. If you are not under warranty then still phone the manufacturer's customer service number and tell them that im out of warranty so i will like to get an engineer out to my house and then they will probably charge you for fixing your fridge or call out charge.
Hope this helps you. If it has then please set my answer as the best answer.
thank you.

Answer 10

You should get a mechanic to check the compressor. If the refrigerant has got leaked, then also there will be no cooling.

Answer 11

There could be two reasons, the compressor has failed or the gas has leaked. In both cases you have to call an professional