Your refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in your kitchen.
After all, this is where you keep most of your food. And if your refrigerator is not working right, it can lead to spoiled food that has to be thrown out.
So, if you’re starting to notice that your fridge is not as cold as it should be – here are 8 ways you can try to fix a refrigerator that is not cooling.
1. Check The Thermostat
One of the common reasons that a fridge is suddenly not getting cold enough is because the thermostat has been changed.
This is one of the easiest potential fixes when your fridge is not getting as cool as you would like.
Simply turn the thermostat back to a lower temperature and you should be good to go.
2. Check The Power Plug & Socket
As with all appliances, electricity is necessary to keep them running.
One reason that your fridge may be getting warmer is that the power plug doesn’t feed it the right degree of electricity.
Check to make sure that the power cord is securely plugged in properly. And if you’ve got an Ohmmeter handy, test the current going through the socket to make sure that you’re getting enough power from it.
3. Clean The Vents
It’s no secret that having good air circulation is an important aspect of the cooling process when it comes to your fridge’s cooling cycle.
Air has to get into all of the compartments as well as through the back, where the compressor is located.
Find the vents in your refrigerator and make sure that nothing is blocking them. Keep these areas clear to promote good circulation and cooling throughout the unit.
It may also be a good idea to take a look at the fans inside of your fridge, as well as those on the bottom or lower rear of your unit. You’ll want to make sure that they’re spinning freely and not clogged up in any way.
4. Clean Under The Fridge
Take the time to clean out the gunk from under your fridge.
Take the vent cover off and sweep out from under your unit.
You also will want to wipe this area down to make sure that there’s no excess dust or debris around.
Keep in mind that you should definitely turn the fridge off when you do this and don’t forget to turn it back on when you are done.
5. Clean The Door Gasket
In order to stay cool, your refrigerator has to be properly sealed.
Check the rubber door gaskets on your fridge to make sure that they are not cracked or warped.
In addition to this, make sure to wipe them down with a bleach solution and keep them clean so that don’t get demagnetized and so that a proper seal can be formed at all times.
6. Make A Little Room
While packing your freezer is ideal, your fridge needs a bit of extra space so that cool air can move around the unit unimpeded.
If you are stuffing your fridge to the brim, you are effectively blocking the airflow and thus causing the fridge to be warmer than normal.
7. Unblock The Freezer Vents
The vents from the freezer to the fridge make use of some of the cold air from the freezer to cool down the refrigerator.
Make sure that you keep these vents clean and clear of any debris or ice. If the vents ice up, it can restrict cool air from flowing through the unit, so defrosting the freezer might be a good idea to add to your quarterly maintenance checklist.
8. Check The Door Switch
Make sure that your door switch is working properly.
If it is not functioning correctly, your fridge might not be switching back to the cooling part of its regular cycle.
Test the switch by holding the switch with the door open to ensure that the light inside of your unit goes off.
We Can Help!
If you’re at a loss and none of the tips above helped you resolve the issue – it’s likely something pretty serious and you might just need the help of a professional appliance repair technician to fix it.
Thankfully, we’ve got your back!
If your fridge isn’t cooling properly – our professional fridge repair technicians in Abbotsford are always at the ready to come and help!
Just give us a quick call at 604-332-4984 and we’ll get you booked in for a quick and simple service visit.