Fridge Not Cooling Properly? Here’s How to Fix It in Minutes

 Fridge Not Cooling? Here’s the Simple Fix Guide (Step-by-Step)

A refrigerator that suddenly stops cooling is stressful. Your food can spoil fast, and most people panic. But don’t worry — 90% of cooling problems come from small issues you can fix yourself at home.

Fridge Not Cooling Properly Here’s How to Fix It in Minutes

This guide explains why your fridge is not cooling, provides step-by-step instructions on how to fix it, and outlines when to call a technician. Everything is written in easy vocabulary so anyone can follow.

What Does “Fridge Not Cooling” Mean?

It simply means:

• The inside of your fridge feels warm.
• Food and drinks are not getting cold.d
• The freezer might still be working (or not)
• The motor might be running nonstop. op

This is one of the most common home appliance problems in the USA.

Main Reasons Your Fridge Is Not Cooling

Below are the most common causes:

1. Dirty condenser coils

Dust on coils stops the fridge from releasing heat.

2. Blocked air vents

Food items may block the airflow inside the fridge.

3. Wrong temperature settings

The thermostat may be accidentally changed.

4. Overloaded fridge

Too much food blocks the movement of cold air.

5. Evaporator fan not working

The fan that moves cold air may be stuck.

6. Condenser fan not spinning

This fan cools the compressor.

7. Door seal (gasket) leaking air

If the rubber seal is broken, cold air escapes.

8. Frost or ice buildup

Blocks airflow and stops cooling.

9. Power issues

Loose plug or damaged power outlet.

10. Broken compressor (rare)

If the compressor fails, cooling stops completely.

⭐ How to Fix a Fridge Not Cooling (Simple Steps)

Follow these steps in order. Most fridges start cooling again before you reach step 7.

Step 1: Check the Power

Many people don’t realise the fridge has lost power.

✔ Plug is loose
✔ The outlet is dead
✔ The breaker has tripped

Fix: Unplug → wait 1 minute → plug back in.

Step 2: Set Temperature Correctly

Your fridge must be:

• 37°F to 40°F (fridge)
• 
  
• 0°F (freezer)

Sometimes, kids or visitors change settings.

Step 3: Clean the Condenser Coils

Dirty coils = no cooling.

Where are the coils?

• Behind the fridge
• 
  
• Under the fridge (for many models)

Fix:

Use a brush or vacuum → clean dust → restart fridge.

Result:

Most fridges start cooling in 2–4 hours.

Step 4: Check the Doors

If your door seal is loose:

1. Warm air enters
2. Cold air leaks
3. Cooling stops

Fix:

Close a paper sheet in the door.

If it pulls out easily, the gasket is bad → replace it.

Cheap fix: $15–$40.

Step 5: Look for Ice Build-Up

Open the back panel inside the freezer.

If you see:

❄ a lot of ice

❄ snow around the coils

❄ frozen fan

Then: air can’t move → fridge stops cooling.

Fix:

Turn off fridge → open doors → let ice melt for 4–6 hours.

This is called a manual defrost.

Step 6: Check the Evaporator Fan

If the freezer is cold but the fridge is warm → this fan is not working.

Signs the fan is bad:

• No air blowing
• Clicking sounds
• Fan blade stuck in ice.

Fix: Remove ice → clean → check for broken wire.

Cost to replace: $50–$150.

Step 7: Make Sure Air Vents Are Open

Move food away from vents.

Cold air must circulate.

Step 8: Avoid Overloading the Fridge

Too much food blocks airflow.

Take out some items and cool again.

Step 9: Check the Condenser Fan

This fan is near the compressor.

If it’s not spinning → fridge overheats → cooling stops.

Fix:

Clean dust → spin blade with finger (carefully).

If it’s stuck → replace the fan motor.

Step 10: Reset the Fridge

Every brand has a reset method:

Try this universal reset:

1. Unplug fridge
2. Wait 5 minutes
3. Plug back in

This resets the control board.

Fridge Not Cooling Properly Here’s How to Fix It in Minutes

⭐ Special Situations & Fixes

1. Fridge Not Cooling but Freezer Working

This is the most common issue.

Cause: evaporator fan or blocked vents

Fix: clean ice + check fan + open vents.

2. Fridge Not Cooling After Power Outage

A power surge may reset the motherboard.

Fix: unplug for 10 minutes → restart.

3. Fridge Not Cooling but Light Is On

Means the fridge has power, but the mechanical parts have failed.

1. Possible reasons:
2. Fan not running
3. Coils dirty
4. Thermostat broken

4. LG / Samsung / Whirlpool / GE Fridge Not Cooling

Brand-specific issues:

LG

– compressor failure (very common)

Samsung

– ice buildup in the evaporator

Whirlpool

– thermostat issues

GE

– faulty control board

You can write separate blog posts for each brand to rank faster.

⭐ When You Should Call a Technician

Call a pro if:

• The compressor is not running.
• The fan motor burnt
• Control board damaged
• The fridge is still warm after 24 hours.

Average repair cost in the USA:

$150–$400

⭐ How to Prevent Cooling Problems

Do this once a month:

✔ clean coils

✔ check door seal

✔ don’t overload

✔ Set the correct temperature

✔ keep vents open

Your fridge will last 10–15 years easily.