Refrigerator Not Cooling

If your refrigerator isn't keeping food cold, these are the most likely causes, ranked by frequency.

Common Causes

1. Evaporator Fan Motor — Most likely. The fan circulates cold air from the freezer to the fridge. When it fails, the freezer may still be cold but the fridge warms up.
2. Condenser Coils (dirty) — Coils clogged with dust force the compressor to overwork. Clean coils every 6 months.
3. Start Relay — A bad start relay prevents the compressor from starting. Shake it — a rattle means replace.
4. Thermistor / Temperature Sensor — Sends false readings to the control board, causing under-cooling.
5. Door Gasket — A warped or torn door seal lets warm air in constantly.

Diagnostic Steps

1. Check the freezer temperature — if it's at 0°F but the fridge is warm, the evaporator fan is likely the issue.
2. Listen for the compressor running (low hum from the back). Silence = start relay or compressor failure.
3. Inspect the door gasket for gaps by closing the door on a dollar bill — if it slides out easily, the seal is bad.

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