How do I fix a fridge that is not cooling?
The checks that solve most fridge cooling problems — airflow, door seal, coils and thermostat — before calling an engineer.
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Time
- 1 hr
- Read
- 2 min
- Safety
- caution
Short answer
Check the door seal, make sure vents inside are not blocked by food, clean the dusty condenser coils at the back, and confirm the thermostat has not been knocked. Overpacking and a dusty coil account for most fridges that are running but not cold enough.
A fridge that runs constantly but is not cold has a heat-removal problem rather than a power problem. Heat leaves through the coils at the back, and cold circulates inside through vents. Anything blocking either causes exactly this symptom.
Safety
What you'll need
- Fridge thermometer
- Vacuum with a brush attachment
- Cloths
- Torch (optional)
Step by step
- Put a thermometer in the middle of the fridge and check the actual temperature.It should read 0–5°C. Built-in dials are frequently inaccurate.
- Check the door seal by closing the door on a piece of paper.If the paper pulls out easily, the seal has failed and warm air is getting in continuously.
- Clean the seal — a sticky or dirty seal does not compress properly.Warm soapy water and a cloth, folding the seal back to reach the channel.
- Check the vents inside are not blocked by food.Cold air circulates through specific vents, usually at the back. Packing food against them stops circulation entirely.
- Make sure the fridge is not overfilled — air needs to move.A packed fridge has warm pockets. This is a very common cause.
- Unplug it and vacuum the condenser coils at the back or underneath.Dust insulates the coils so heat cannot escape. This is the most-missed maintenance job on any fridge.
- Check there is a gap behind and above the appliance for airflow.Built-in units need their ventilation gaps clear. Pushed tight against a wall, they cannot shed heat.
- Confirm the thermostat has not been knocked to a warmer setting.Easily done when loading the fridge, and easily missed.
Tips
- A fridge in a hot room, a garage in summer, or in direct sun works far harder and may not reach temperature at all.
- If the freezer is fine but the fridge is warm, the problem is usually airflow between the two compartments rather than the cooling system.
- Frost building up thickly reduces efficiency. Defrost if your model is not frost-free.
Common mistakes
- Never cleaning the condenser coils — Dust prevents heat escaping, so the compressor runs constantly and the fridge still does not get cold.
- Packing food against the internal vents — It stops cold air circulating and creates warm zones.
- Eating food that has been warm for hours — Above 5°C for more than a couple of hours, perishable food should be discarded rather than risked.
Questions people ask
Why is my fridge running constantly but not cold?
Usually dusty condenser coils, a failed door seal, or blocked internal vents. All three make the compressor run without being able to remove heat effectively.
How do I test a fridge door seal?
Close the door on a sheet of paper. If it slides out with no resistance, the seal is not compressing properly and needs cleaning or replacing.