Why Your Fridge Doesn't Work While Freezer Does

You never want to face the problem of one of your freezers not cooling. Before you worry and fear that you will lose all your food, keep in mind that there may be a simple solution to this difficult problem.

If these DIY fixes don’t work or you fear a defrost system failure, let the pros at Appliance Repair Expert of Montreal assist you with your problem.

Troubleshooting Manual: Refrigerator Isn’t Cooling But Freezer Is OK

Call a refrigerator repair specialist immediately if your refrigerator isn’t cooling, but your freezer is fine. But first, try to test the effectiveness of the troubleshooting tips our team has prepared.

The refrigerator is full

An overloaded refrigerator is a common cause of the problem. If too much food is in the refrigerator compartment, proper airflow may be obstructed. Your food will be warmer than it should be if there is improper cold air circulation.

How full should the fridge be? Any container that is more than 3/4 full will interfere with the airflow in your appliance. Try these expert tips:

Discard old foods, drinks, and condiments.
Wash shelves and drawers with warm, soapy water.
Use jars, baskets, and containers to put food away.

Fridge door seal is dirty or damaged

If your refrigerator is not cooling, but the freezer is working properly, it is worth checking the door seals. It’s easy to overlook, but a dirty, broken, or torn seal can prevent the door from closing tightly and letting in cold air.

The strength of a refrigerator door seal can easily be checked at home. Here’s how to do it:

Grab a piece of paper or a dollar bill.
Hold it around halfway inside the refrigerator door after opening the door.
Try to pull it out while closing the door. The door gasket isn’t functioning properly if it can be removed with little effort.

Use a cloth and warm soapy water to clean the door seal. Keep an eye out for damage along the door seal. If there is a tear, it must be replaced. This can be done by a refrigerator technician.

Condenser coils need cleaning

Unclean condenser coils are another typical cause of a refrigerator not cooling. The coils dissipate heat to keep the inside of your refrigerator at a constant temperature. You’ll notice that your refrigerator is warm if the heat can’t dissipate effectively due to dust, dirt, and debris.

To keep your refrigerator running properly, we usually recommend cleaning the condenser coils at least once every six months. Just stick to these simple steps:

Unplug the refrigerator and use the owner’s manual to locate the coils.
Vacuum the coils with the long hose nozzle to remove dust and dirt.
Use a brush to remove any encrusted dirt.
Reconnect the refrigerator to the mains, then give it at least 24 hours to adjust to the desired temperature.

Faulty defrosting system

If none of the suggestions above were successful and you are still perplexed as to why your fridge isn’t chilly, but your freezer is, read on. The defrost system can have a problem. If this mechanism malfunctions, frost can build up on the evaporator coils, making your refrigerator struggle to maintain its temperature.

If any of these components malfunction, a specialist will have to replace them:

To remove frost from the coils, the defrost timer periodically turns the heater on or off throughout the day.
The defrost control board determines the start time of the defrost cycle.
Defrost thermostat: determines the time to turn on the heater by controlling the evaporator coil temperature.

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