If you have ever opened the fridge to grab a chilled bottle of drink and ended up with a room-temperature one, it indicates an issue with the refrigerator. At the same time, when you open the freezer and see ice cubes, it raises the alarm even further. There could be multiple reasons why the fridge isn't working while the freezer is working normally. This blog highlights some key reasons the fridge isn't working while the freezer is working normally.
Reasons Why the Fridge is Not Cold but the Freezer is Cold
The fridge and freezer are part of the same cooling system, so if the freezer functions normally but the fridge doesn’t, it indicates a fault with the fridge's cooling system. Here are the basic reasons the fridge isn't cooling while the freezer is.
Overstuffing the Refrigerator
One of the most common reasons the fridge doesn't work while the freezer does is an overloaded fridge. When you store too many items, it restricts the air circulation within the compartment and the items. As a result, the refrigerator fails to maintain a cool interior.
Tip to Prevent Overstuffing:
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Dispose of stale and old food.
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Clean the refrigerator regularly with lukewarm soapy water and a clean cloth.
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Rearrange the shelves to ensure proper air circulation.
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Make sure the stored items don’t occupy more than ¾ of the fridge's total space.
Dirty Condenser Coil
The condenser cools the refrigerant, maintaining a cool temperature inside the refrigerator. However, when the coil is covered with dust and debris, its effectiveness is reduced. As a result, the fridge won’t get cool, whereas the freezer works normally.
Tip to Maintain a Clean Coil:
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Clean the condenser coil every 6-12 months.
Damaged Fridge Door Seals
Damaged or worn-out door seals can be one reason the fridge isn't cooling. The damaged door seal allows warm air to enter the fridge, making it warmer. Worn-out seals can put more strain on the fridge's operation, potentially creating other issues.
Tip to Identify the Damaged Door Seal:
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Examine the door seal for wear and tear by placing a sheet of paper between the door and the fridge. If the paper comes out easily in your hand, it’s a sign of some damage in the door seal. Therefore, call a professional and get the door seal replaced.
Defect in the Evaporator Fan Motor
Every refrigerator has an evaporator to keep the fridge cool. The evaporator has a fan and motor mounted nearby to draw air over the coil and circulate it into the fridge and freezer. If the fan and motor stop functioning, the fridge's cooling system fails.
Tip to Check the Evaporator Fan:
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Check if there’s any obstruction in the path of the fan.
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Check that the fan is securely connected to the power supply. If it’s connected and still the fan is not working, call a professional to replace the evaporator fan.
Failure of the Defrost System
When the defrost heater burns out, frost builds on the evaporator coils, reducing airflow and keeping the fridge from cooling.
Tip to Check the Defrost System:
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Check the different parts of the defrost system, like the defrost heater, defrost thermostat, and defrost timer. To temporarily fix the issue, remove the freezer's rear panel and all the frost, then pour hot water over the coil. Even after this process, the fridge doesn't resume its cooling, or get one or the other parts replaced.
Higher External Temperature
Refrigerators perform best when kept inside the home at about 70°F (21°C). However, when the temperature rises beyond this, it affects the cooling system. This is why the fridge experiences cooling issues when kept in a warm room that receives direct sunlight or when it's kept near hot appliances like an oven.
Tip to Maintain Ideal Temperature:
The best way to maintain an ideal external temperature is to keep the refrigerator indoors, out of direct sunlight.
Faulty Thermistor
A thermistor is a sensor connected to the control board that monitors the air temperature. When the thermistor fails, the refrigerator stops cooling.
Failure of the Temperature Control Board
A temperature control board failure could be one of the reasons the fridge isn't cooling. The function of the temperature control board is to provide voltage to the fan motor and compressor. If there’s any defect in the sensor, get it replaced or repaired.
Conclusion
When the fridge is not cold, but the freezer is, it raises concern among homeowners because finding the cause is important for smooth functioning. There are multiple reasons discussed in this blog, and any one of them could be the cause of your refrigerator's malfunction. You can take the appropriate step to fix the problem.
