Refrigerator Repair Tips For When The Fridge Stops Cooling

Not Cool! - Here’s How to Identify the Problem & Fix Your Broken Refrigerator

You might not realize it, but your refrigerator is one of the hardest working appliances that you own. Day and night, the mechanisms inside your fridge are constantly running to maintain a cool temperature so that your perishable items stay fresh for as long as possible. As time goes on and parts begin to wear, it natural that you may need to perform additional maintenance and repairs to keep your fridge staying cool. While some repairs can be costly, others are easy to do without the hassle of calling a handyman for backup.

If your refrigerator has suddenly stopped cooling, here are three common problems that occur and tips on how to fix them.

Problem 1: Start Relay

If your refrigerator isn’t cooling, it could be a problem with the start relay. The start relay is a machine that controls that compressor inside your fridge. If your start relay begins arcing or overheating, your compressor could begin to malfunction or stop running altogether. As a result, your fridge will not continue cooling.

To determine whether or not your issue stems from a faulty start relay, first, you’ll need to test it with a multimeter. The multimeter will determine if there is continuity between the run and start terminal sockets. If the multimeter test fails, you’ll know that it’s time to replace your start relay. Supco is a reliable brand that makes a variety of replacement parts to choose from. Here are some that we recommend:

Supco 3 n’ 1 START - $14.08

Supco Ultimate Series - $9.00

Supco Starter POW-R-PAK - $8.58

Problem 2: Evaporator Fan

Another refrigerator cooling problem can develop if the motor to your evaporator fan dies. An evaporator fan works by pulling air over the cooling coils in your fridge, then circulating that air throughout your refrigerator.

You can determine whether or not this is the problem by finding the fan to see if it’s working. Some refrigerators have one fan while others have multiple fans. You’ll want to find each fan in your fridge to see if the fan blades are turning. If the blades aren’t turning, trying turning them manually. If that doesn’t’ work, you’ll want to replace you’re the evaporate fan motor. You can search here to find the right model for your refrigerator – Search Evaporator Fan Motors .

Problem 3: Condenser Coils

Refrigerators, like HVAC units, contain condenser coils that dissipate heat as refrigerant runs through them. However, if your condenser coils become dusty and dirty, they’re forced to work harder and become less efficient at cooling your unit. Eventually, this accumulation of debris will prevent your refrigerator from maintaining a suitable internal temperature for maintaining your goods.

If this is the case with your refrigerator, you’ve lucked out! Cleaning coils is cheap and easy to do. All you need is some Nu-Calgon Evaporator Coil Cleaner . This product is a high performance, heavy-duty detergent that’s specifically formulated with special surfactants that develop into a foam and require no rinsing. This aerosol cleaner can be sprayed either right side up or upside down and is ideal for use on most coils, but particularly suited for cooling or evaporator coils.

Are you looking for more tips on caring for and repairing your refrigerator? Visit our refrigerator page for additional information that could help. Then shop our huge selection of replacement parts.