How to Fix a Fridge That Isn’t Cooling Properly
A fridge that isn’t keeping food cold is a stressful problem — you risk spoiling food and potentially wasting hundreds of dollars in groceries. Before calling a technician, there are several things you can check and fix yourself. Here’s a systematic troubleshooting guide.
Step 1: Check the Basics
Temperature Setting
Start with the obvious. Someone may have accidentally bumped the temperature dial or digital control. The fridge compartment should be set between 2°C and 5°C. The freezer should be set at -18°C. If the dial or display shows an unusual reading, reset it to the correct temperature and monitor for 12–24 hours.
Fridge Location and Ventilation
Fridges need airflow to dissipate heat from the condenser coils. Check there’s at least 5cm clearance on the sides, 5cm at the top and 10cm at the rear. If the fridge is in direct sunlight or next to a heat source (oven, dishwasher, heating vent), it will struggle to maintain temperature.
Door Seals
Place a piece of paper between the door and the door seal, close the door and try to slide the paper out. If it slides out easily, the seal has lost its grip and is letting warm air in. Inspect the seal visually for cracks, tears or sections that have come loose from the door frame. A damaged door seal is a common cause of poor cooling and is replaceable.
Step 2: Check the Condenser Coils
The condenser coils are usually at the back or underneath the fridge. If they’re coated in dust and pet hair, heat cannot dissipate properly. Unplug the fridge, pull it away from the wall and use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to clean the coils. Plug back in and test.
Step 3: Check the Evaporator Fan
The evaporator fan circulates cold air from the freezer compartment through the fridge. If you can hear the compressor running (a low hum) but the fridge isn’t cold, the evaporator fan may have failed. Open the freezer, listen for the fan. If you can’t hear it, it may need replacement — this is a job for a technician.
Step 4: Check for Ice Build-Up on the Evaporator
Frost-free fridges use a defrost heater to periodically melt ice from the evaporator coils. If the defrost heater or defrost thermostat fails, ice builds up on the coils and blocks airflow entirely. Symptoms: fridge not cooling but freezer still works, fan noise is muffled, visible ice on the back wall of the freezer. Solution: manual defrost (unplug fridge for 24–48 hours with doors open and towels on the floor), then plug back in. If the problem recurs within a few weeks, the defrost heater has failed and needs replacement by a technician.
Step 5: Check the Compressor
The compressor is the heart of the cooling system. If you can’t hear any hum or motor sound from the fridge at all, the compressor or start relay may have failed. This is not a DIY fix — contact a technician or consider replacement.
When to Call a Technician vs. Replace the Fridge
Call a technician for: failed evaporator fan, door seal replacement, defrost heater failure, thermostat failure. Consider replacement for: compressor failure (repair cost often exceeds the value of an older fridge), refrigerant leak, or any fridge more than 10–12 years old where repair cost approaches 50% of replacement cost.
Shop New Fridges at Oceania Appliances
If your fridge is beyond economical repair, we stock a wide range of replacements from Westinghouse, LG, Samsung, Hisense and Fisher & Paykel. Free delivery across Sydney. Visit 2/14 Centre Place, Wetherill Park, call or WhatsApp 0422 489 492, or email support@oceaniaappliances.com.au. Open 7 days, 10am–8pm.