Not Cool: What to Do When Freezer Works But Fridge Doesn’t

Have you ever gone to grab the milk for your morning coffee, only to find the refrigerator no longer feels cool? Stranger still, your freezer seems to be working just fine. If your freezer is working as it should, but your fridge is on the fritz, here are a few potential causes and how best to resolve the issue.

Note: When attempting any refrigerator troubleshooting steps, always be sure to unplug your fridge before engaging with any components.

8 Possible Reasons Why the Fridge Is Not Cold, But the Freezer Is

1. Overstuffed Fridge
2. Damaged Door Seals
3. Faulty Evaporator Fan Motor
4. Failing Defrost System
5. Stuck Damper Control
6. Defective Thermistor
7. Dirty Condenser Coils
8. Failing Temperature Control Board

1. Overstuffed Fridge

Let’s start with the easiest potential fix. Is your fridge filled to the brim with old food, large, bulky items, or hidden holiday meals from months past? If so, an overstuffed fridge could be at the root of your issue.

Refrigerators contain many different vents that enable cold airflow. If these vents become blocked, airflow may become limited, preventing proper cooling. The effect: a warm refrigerator and working freezer. Additionally, an overstuffed fridge could keep the doors from closing properly, which can allow cool air to escape.

How to Fix: Declutter your fridge

Believe it or not, an overstuffed refrigerator could be the reason the fridge is not cold, but the freezer is. Ensure that nothing is blocking the vents inside your fridge. Rearrange items to allow air to flow freely, get rid of expired food you no longer need, and, if necessary, consider getting a supplemental mini-fridge for added space and storage. If you notice ice buildup, defrost your fridge and freezer by unplugging the unit for a few hours and then wiping away any remaining water.

2. Damaged Door Seals

If the seals around your fridge door are damaged or worn out, warm air can seep in, making the fridge warmer than the freezer. This can also cause your fridge to work harder, leading to other potential issues.

How to Fix: Examine your door seals

Inspect the door seals for cracks or tears. If they’re damaged, a professional may need to replace them to ensure a proper seal. You can also test the seal’s effectiveness by placing a piece of paper between the door and the fridge. If you can easily pull the paper out, the seal probably isn’t tight enough.

3. Faulty Evaporator Fan Motor

Every refrigerator contains an evaporator, a set of coils that keeps the inside of the fridge cold. A small fan and motor are mounted near the evaporator, helping draw air over the coils and circulate it to the fridge and freezer. If this fan fails, you’ll likely be stuck with a warm refrigerator.

How to Fix: Check to see if the fan is working properly

To determine if your evaporator fan motor is faulty, start by locating this part. Most evaporator fans can be found behind the back of the freezer. Once located, troubleshoot using these tips:

• Check for blockages. Ensure that nothing is obstructing the path to the fan blades.
• Try turning the fan blade by hand. If the blade does not turn freely or seems unusually noisy, it probably needs to be replaced. Contact a professional.
• Check your fuse or circuit breaker. Make sure the fan motor is getting power. If the evaporator fan motor is receiving power but not turning, you likely need a replacement.

Note: A multimeter can also be used to test the motor windings for continuity. If continuity is lacking, a replacement may also be in order.

4. Failing Defrost System

When the defrost heater burns out or the defrost thermostat fails, frost can build up on the evaporator coils. As these coils become frosted, less and less air can pass through to keep your refrigerator cool.

How to Fix: Check the components of your defrost system

If you check the evaporator coils and they’re frosted over, you’ll need to test each component of the defrost system (defrost heater, defrost thermostat, defrost timer). To temporarily get the fridge up and running, remove the rear panel of the freezer and remove all the built-up frost—pouring hot water over the coils is best. If things cool down but fail again after a few days, you may have to replace one or more parts of the defrost system.

5. Stuck Damper Control

The damper control is an automatic or manually operated door that opens and closes to allow more or less cold air into the refrigerator. If this door is stuck or broken, it won’t let in enough cold air to maintain a proper temperature.

How to Fix: Check for cool air

Checking to see if there’s an issue with the damper is fairly easy — simply stick your hand in front of the vent to test it out. If you don’t feel cool air flowing into the fridge (but you know the evaporator fan is working), the damper is likely stuck or in a closed position. If the vent is removable, try taking it out and manually moving the damper. If that’s not successful, you may need to call in a professional for repairs.

6. Defective Thermistor

A thermistor is a temperature sensor that sends temperature readings from the fridge to the control board. If it’s defective, the refrigerator will likely not cool.

How to Fix: Test the thermistor with a multimeter

Similar to the evaporator fan, the thermistor can be tested with a multimeter. The thermistor resistance should change in conjunction with the temperature of the refrigerator; if the resistance does not change or does not have continuity, the thermistor may need to be replaced.

7. Dirty Condenser Coils

Condenser coils constantly expel heat out of the fridge to maintain the right temperature. When they become clogged by things like dust, dirt, and pet hair, heat removal becomes difficult. The result—a warm refrigerator.

How to Fix: Clean your condenser coils

Generally, condenser coils can be found in the bottom or back of the refrigerator. Consult your owner’s manual to be sure. Once you’ve located your condenser coils, check to see if they’re dirty. If they are, follow the steps below:

1. Use a small vacuum attachment to clear them of any debris.
2. Use water and a coil cleaning solution for washing.
3. Dry the coils with a clean cloth.
4. Plug them back into the fridge.

Still experiencing refrigerator problems? Move to the next step.

8. Failing Temperature Control Board

The control board is like the ‘brains’ of the refrigerator, monitoring temperature sensors, kickstarting the compressor and fans, and regulating the defrost cycle. A failed board will misread the temperature sensors, and the fridge will be unable to cool correctly.

How to Fix: Contact a professional

Since the temperature control board is less likely to be the cause of a non-working refrigerator, it’s important to check on the more frequently broken components first. If numbers 1-5 are functioning as they should, a professional may need to diagnose the problem or install a new board.

What To Do When The Fridge Is Not Working? Call on Rent-A-Center

If you’ve tried these fixes and your fridge is still not cooling properly, it could be a sign of a more complex problem. Rather than diving into a possible DIY disaster or spending money to repair an old appliance, why not upgrade to a fully functional, budget-friendly name-brand refrigerator from Rent-A-Center?

With Rent-A-Center, you’ll get free repairs and replacements for the duration of your rent-to-own agreement, an amazing deal, and a much simpler solution for those times when your freezer works but the fridge doesn’t or vice versa. Plus, with our flexible rental payment options and free delivery, you don’t have to let your groceries spoil or your wages go to waste. Instead, check out all that your local Rent-A-Center has to offer online or in-store today!