What To Do When The Refrigerator Is Not Cooling

Electrical appliances tend to malfunction once in a while, and the causes can vary from faulty power supply to compressors. Some things can be done to troubleshoot the refrigerator unit.

When following the below steps, make sure to have proper tools at hand and be wary of the electrical wires, as whenever working with electrical appliances, caution is essential. The most common yet eluding problem is when the refrigerator stops cooling. It can cause dairy products, food, and meat to go stale. The purpose of refrigerating is to keep the food cold enough is to preserve it for later use.

Here are some conventional troubleshooting techniques that can be followed to repair or find out what is causing the problems in the refrigerator. It is recommended to hire a whirlpool refrigerator repair service as these refrigerators are under warranty and shouldn't be meddled with by anyone else, but if the warranty is void, then follow these steps:

Condenser Coil Dirty

A condenser coil dissipates heat as refrigerant passes through it. These coils are usually present under the refrigerator. Overtime debris and dirt may gather on the coil and decrease its efficiency to dissipate heat, which will cause the refrigerator to take a longer time to cool down. Check these condenser coils and if dirt or debris is spotted on it, clean it, and then check the performance.

Condenser Fan

The condenser fan draws air from the condenser coils and compressor. The purpose of this fan is to aid in the cooling of the refrigerator. If there is a malfunction in the condenser fan motor, then the refrigerator will fail to provide the necessary cooling. First of all, check for obstructions. If the fan is obstructed by something, it will not work. If the fan is not moving, try to move it by hand. If there is no obstruction and the fan is still not working, then consider replacing the motor of the fan.

Start Relay

If the start relay is not functioning correctly, it will prevent the compressor from working. When the compressor does not work, the refrigerator will not be cold enough. Try to check for the start relay by using multimeter from start to ending terminals. If there is no continuity or there is a burnt odor coming from it, replace it.

Evaporator Fan

The evaporator fan will ensure the circulation of cold air throughout the refrigerator and the freezer. It also cools the coils. Depending on the model of the refrigerator, there can be multiple evaporator fans. Check for the whirlpool refrigerator model to see how many fans are in it. Most models have a single fan which is located in the freezer compartment. When the evaporator fan isn't working, the freezer will get cold, but the refrigerator will not due to lack of circulation. Similarly, check the fan for obstructions and try to move it by hand. If it is making loud noises, or not working altogether, replace the motor.

In most cases, the problems require minor cleaning and maintenance, but it will make sure the defective part is replaced with a new one to ensure the refrigerator won't completely be dead.