How to Fix a Freezer That’s Not Cooling
A common issue faced by homeowners that own refrigerators is a lack of refrigeration.
Many older refrigerators are recognized to lack their original cooling power. If a refrigerator abruptly ceases to function properly and stops cooling all together, it can cause a sense of alarm among those who own it.
As the fridge gets warmer, there is the potential for food to spoil. Many individuals turn to hiring an expert for help, which can be costly if a refrigerator is not covered by a guarantee. We pondered trying to discover ways to repair a refrigerator that does not remain cold independently.
This guide will discuss how to address cooling issues with Frigidaire refrigerators, a well-known home appliance brand. We have also attempted to include knowledge about preserving correct cooling in refrigerators.
So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Solutions to Fix a Freezer That’s Not Freezing
It is conceivable that your freezer is not reaching the desired temperature. Troubleshooting small troubles could be the result of minor dilemmas like a space in the seal, when the freezer is adjusted to the fridge mode, or when the fridge/freezer is opened too much. A good way to see if the seal of the refrigerator is making a secure connection is to put a dollar bill in the doorway before you shut it. Once the door is closed, try tugging on the handle. If the door opens effortlessly, there must be a space between it and the frame. Inspect and determine if this is one of the common issues. It is possible that your refrigerator might need a component to be replaced. One of these repairs mentioned below could help you get your freezer working again:
1. Cleaning the Refrigerator Condenser Coils
If the coils on the refrigerator are coated in debris, they can obstruct the proper operation of the freezer and fridge. You can look in the owner’s guide to discover directions on how to clean the coils of your refrigerator. Make sure you switch off the electricity to the fridge before you commence cleaning the coils. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to take an extra step and pull out the plug. In the majority of refrigerators, the coils can be found behind the mesh on the lower front side. A coil brush can be utilized to scrub the condenser coils.
2. Change the Refrigerator’s Defrost Sensor
The freezer’s coldness regulator is also referred to as the defrost bi-metal termination regulator. This device will activate if the temperature of the evaporator rises high enough that there is a risk of overheating. Once the defrost sensor is activated, it cuts off the energy being sent to the defrost heater. Sometimes the defrost sensor trips due to a malfunction. When the temperature gets low, a layer of frost accumulates on the evaporator fins, which hinders the refrigerator and freezer from proper cooling.
You can use a volt/ohm meter to check if the defrost sensor has a continuous connection. If the reading on the sensor does not change when it is heated to around ) degrees Fahrenheit, then the defrost sensor needs to be replaced.
3. Fix the Refrigerator Defrost System
Refrigerators are equipped with an automatic defrost system that works to eliminate frost from the evaporator and enhance the thermal exchange. As the process of defrosting occurs, the compressor ceases working and the defrost heater is activated, which melts the accumulated frost from the evaporator fan blades. The condensation trickles down and collects in an evaporator pan beneath the evaporator before continuing through a defrost pan adjacent to the compressor. The water disappears from the drain pan before the next icy wave kicks off. If the defrost cycle does not work, it will be necessary to identify and solve the issue.
4. Replace the Fridge Condenser Fan
A fan is situated beside the condenser in the refrigerator’s apparatus cabinet. The fan operates to reduce the temperature of the warm refrigerant that has been released from the compressor. The refrigerant needs to be cooled off prior to passing through the expansion valve and entering the evaporator. If the condenser fan has any problems, it must be switched out.
5. Replace the Refrigerator Compressor Start Relay
The beginning relay is the electrical part that supplies power to the commencement windings of the compressor motor when it is activated. Once the compressor has been initiated, the PTC start relay will soon discontinue supplying voltage to the start windings. This is accomplished to keep the motor in motion using the rotor coils. If the starter relay is faulty, the compressor will not be supplied with enough voltage for it to run. At times, a fault in the electric wiring could be the source of the difficulty and fixing the starter switch electrical wiring solves the difficulty.
6. Change the Refrigerator Evaporator Fan
The evaporator assembly has a fan that is installed on it, located inside the refrigerator. This fan moves air over the evaporator fins and into the refrigeration compartment. Occasionally, this condenser has an imperfection which leads to the freezer not becoming cold.
7. Examine the Refrigerator Temperature Control Board
The board that is responsible for regulating the temperature in a refrigerator manages the functions of the compressor as well as other important components within the unit. The compressor is situated in the appliance section, and the panel at the rear of the fridge is behind it. In order to determine if the temperature control board is defective, the refrigerator tech sheet provides several diagnostic tests. The temperature board needs to be switched out if it is not dealing with the parts properly or has ceased to work effectively.
8. Change the Refrigerator Temperature Control Thermostat
The thermostat, which is either for controlling temperature or cooling, has a tube linked to it that detects the temperature inside the fridge. The control housing contains this thermostat which has a cooling function. The temperature inside the cabinet is managed by the compressor turning on and off depending on the reading from the temperature sensor tube. If the thermostat is no longer registering the temperature accurately and if it is not switching the compressor on and off correctly, the freezer will not be cooling sufficiently and will have to be exchanged.
9. Check the Refrigerator Thermistor
One of the potential causes of a fridge not performing to the correct temperature is a malfunctioning thermistor. The thermostat communicates the temperature to itself. A damaged thermistor could result in an irregularity in the temperature of the freezer or refrigerator.
10. Examine the Refrigerator Defrost Timer
The timer responsible for governing the automatic defrost process in the refrigerator operates by setting off cycles at predetermined times. This appliance utilizes an electro-mechanical system which powers and operates the various parts of a refrigerator. The connections in the defrost timer have to be activated in order to start the defrost cycle. At the commencement of the cycle, the compressor is shut down and the defrost heater is activated for a predetermined period. This melts the frost off the evaporator fins. This enhances efficient heat exchange across the evaporator. When the set unfreezing cycle concludes, the defrost timer changes back to its original position, enabling the refrigerator to resume its typical cooling function.
If the defrost timer fails to advance once switched on, it must be substituted. Error in the connections of the clock could also cause the defrost heater to always be powered or never be powered. This will still need to be replaced even under these conditions.
11. Check the Refrigerator Compressor
Sometimes, the refrigerant does not get compressed. The most frequent cause of this is a problem with the starter and/or too much power on the motor. If the compressor appears to be in acceptable condition but fails to power up, you will need to change the starting equipment and/or overload protectors. If the compressor is not functioning or can’t successfully compress the refrigerant, it will have to be swapped out.
How To Fix A Frigidaire Fridge That Has Stopped Cooling After A Power Outage?
A frequent issue people have with their Frigidaire refrigerator not staying adequately cool is when there was a power cut. The sudden rise in voltage may cause strain on the refrigerator compressor, so you should start by inspecting that component.
Seek out a faint humming sound, and in the event that you cannot detect it, go to the chief control panel to survey the start relay. A defective start relay will not transmit electricity back to the compressor, resulting in the refrigerator not cooling. Employ a multimeter to check if the voltage is 120V AC. If it does not work correctly, you should replace that component as soon as practicable.
In a few instances, the compressor could be in proper working order, thus the condenser fan should be the next element to be examined. The fan blades should be spinning continuously and if they aren’t, it could be a sign that the motor is broken.
Changing out the fan motor is essential so the compressor does not overheat which affects the refrigerator’s cooling performance. It’s simple to switch out the motor; just remove a few screws and it will come off the fan housing. Be certain to verify that the fan is functioning properly before finishing your job.
What To Do If Your Frigidaire Refrigerator Isn’t Cooling Properly, But The Freezer Works Fine?
The evaporator fan is likely to be the cause of why a freezer in a fridge is running correctly but the refrigerator is not. The evaporator fan has to be functioning correctly in order for your refrigerator to obtain the essential cold air.
Find the fan and examine the fan blades to confirm that they are turning smoothly. If not, then the subsequent component to examine should be the motor of the evaporator fan.
A multimeter should be utilized to determine the reliability of the motor and if there is no answer, the device should be replaced. We would also suggest replacing the motor if it is making a lot of noise.
If the engine is operating properly, the following step would be to examine the evaporator coils. If the defrost system is defective, the evaporator coils of the refrigerator could be covered with ice, stopping the insides from cooling correctly.
Disconnect the fridge from the power for a few hours to give the coils a chance to melt, plug it back in, and the perfect temperature should be back to normal in 24 hours.
What To Do If Your New Frigidaire Refrigerator Doesn’t Cool?
Many individuals become alarmed when they discover that their newly purchased Frigidaire refrigerator is not cooling sufficiently. To figure out what is going on, one should inquire if the refrigerator is still in its demonstration state.
At the same time, press and hold the adjust freezer and ice-off buttons for three seconds in order to deactivate the mode.
Lower the temperature on the thermostat to the coldest setting and wait until the room starts to cool. If the refrigerator is still not cooling, unplug it for three to five minutes and then plug it back in. This should get your refrigerator running again, and the cooling process should start.
It is important to be aware that it could take two days to two days and a half for the interior of a fresh refrigerator to reach its most ideal temperature.
Examine the thermostat of your fridge to make sure it is set correctly, and then wait for the inside to chill. If it does not become cooler after a few days, then get in touch with the Frigidaire customer service and they will send out an authorized specialist to examine the system.
How To Reset A Frigidaire Refrigerator?
It’s crucial that you look over the user’s manual given by the appliance company prior to continuing with learning about how to reset the cooling apparatus. Examining it carefully will inform you of every detail regarding the refrigerator and its components. These manuals consist of questions & answers helpful in dealing with usual complications without help.
Don’t fret if you can’t find the instructions, you can obtain them online by using your Frigidaire fridge’s model number. You can reach out to the customer service team at Frigidaire for detailed information regarding your refrigerator and its capabilities.
You can restore the correct temperature in a refrigerator by resetting it. For Frigidaire refrigerators, a reset button is not typically included. To reset the appliance, you will have to unplug the refrigerator, leave it idle for five minutes, and then plug it back in. This should reset your fridge and restart the cooling.
If this doesn’t work out, you can try a full restart. This is much like a regular reset, but with one difference; pause for an extra half hour to forty minutes, then plug the refrigerator back in again. This should restore the majority of the configurations, so you’ll need to reconfigure them.
Once the reset is finished, the refrigerator can need up to 24 hours to reach its regular temperature, so don’t repeat the reset or keep opening the door repeatedly.
Some Frigidaire refrigerators possess the ability to quickly cool or freeze food using the Power Cool and Power Freeze buttons. By holding both buttons down for a few moments, you will achieve a full reset and return to the factory defaults. Do not do a hard reset too often as it can cause wear and tear on the compressor of the refrigerator.
Final Words
That concludes our discussion on approaches for resolving a Frigidaire refrigerator which is not cooling. We wish that the advice we provided will assist you in diagnosing the malfunction of your refrigerator and return it to its conventional cooling levels.
It may be difficult to identify an issue with your fridge, especially if you don’t have any familiarity with home appliances. In these types of situations, it would be beneficial to seek the advice of a qualified expert to locate suitable solutions.
Additionally, do not disassemble any parts if your Frigidaire refrigerator is still covered by the guarantee. It would be wise to contact the brand for assistance, and they can dispatch a technician to repair your refrigerator.
