A refrigerator is arguably the most important appliance in your home. It is responsible for keeping all your food and drinks cool so that they do not spoil quickly. It is also one of the most used appliances and therefore tends to have the most issues with it as well. The average refrigerator will last anywhere from 10 to 15 years, and maybe longer if proper care is taken and yearly maintenance is performed. Regardless of how well you take care of your appliance, problems will eventually start to occur, with one main issue being your refrigerator stops cooling. Although this is major problem, before you grab your phone and call you local appliance repair service for your refrigerator repair, take a look at a few typical checks and fixes below that you can do yourself that may be able to solve the problem.

1. Check the Thermostat

Checking the settings on your thermostat should be the first thing you do. This is a very simple fix that not many homeowners think about. When your  refrigerator stops cooling, most believe it is something major, but as you remove and put items back up, you can easily hit the thermostat especially if it is the knob type, and set it to a higher temperature. Just check the setting on your thermostat and ensure it is at the temperature you want your appliance to be at.

2. Check the Door Seals

Another cause for your refrigerator not cooling off is the door seal. This gasket is responsible for sealing the door to the body of the refrigerator to trap the cold air inside. Overtime this seal can shift causing it not to seal perfectly, and thus letting cold air escape. It can also collect dirt and grime, or can even become moldy that prevents a good seal. Cleaning it every year or so with bleach and a rag should help maintain a proper seal. If the gasket has any kind of damage to it, then you will need to order a new seal. Still, this is a much cheaper option than an appliance repair company.

3. Check the Door Switch

Similar to the seals, if you have a faulty door switch then your refrigerator will continue to leak cold air and may not cool entirely to the set temperature, or may not cool at all since many refrigerators are designed to stop cooling when it gets a signal the door is open. A quick check to make sure your door switch is working properly is to open the door and push the switch to make sure the light inside the appliance turns off. If it does, then it is working properly. If not then something is wrong with the switch and you may need to call your local appliance repair service.

4. Lack of Space / Clogged Vents

This next check deals with the circulation through your refrigerator. Proper circulation throughout the entire appliance is key to keeping the entire refrigerator cool. If there is something blocking or restricting the air flow, then it may not be cooling properly. First you can check how full your appliance is. Overstuffing your refrigerator can restrict air flow. So if you feel like you have too many items in your fridge, try to clear out some space to see if that helps. Another reason you may not be getting proper airflow is a clogged or blocked vent. If there are items that are completely blocking air from efficiently moving through the vents, then move them. The vents can also be blocked by spilt food and other particles, so it is a good habit to clean these out every 6 months to a year to ensure proper air flow for better cooling.

5. Clean the Coils

One final item you can check is the coils and other parts located below your appliance. The coils and compressor are the engine that allows your

refrigerator to stay cool, and when there is a problem with them, your appliance will definitely not cool efficiently, if at all. Since these are typically located underneath the refrigerator or on the back, dust and other particles will easily build up over time and can prevent them from properly releasing stored up heat. To prevent this, vacuum underneath your refrigerator to remove the dust and it may be a good idea to slide it out from time to time and do a good cleaning of the area below and behind where the fridge sits.

Conclusion

After checking and following all the fixes that are listed above, and your refrigerator still will not cool off, then it is time to call your local appliance repair company. Here at Waco Appliance Repairs, we will do a full checkup of your appliances to make sure that everything is in proper working order. We have the experience to diagnose and pin point the exact issue your appliance has and will get it back to working efficiently as if it were brand new. If you are uncomfortable with trying to work out the problem yourself after checking out these tips, then do no hesitate to call in the professionals.