Not having access to cold or frozen food because of a malfunctioning refrigerator is quite inconvenient. Frigidaire refrigerators are well-known for their durability and efficiency, making them a top brand on the market. Yet eventually, even the most trustworthy home equipment will break down.
Fixing a Frigidaire refrigerator that isn’t cooling or freezing requires determining the root cause of the problem and acting accordingly. If your Frigidaire refrigerator isn’t cooling or freezing properly, this article will show you how to diagnose the problem and several possible options to fix it. Also, we will discuss the reasons why your Frigidaire refrigerator is not cooling or freezing. So, let’s get into it.
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Reasons Why Your Frigidaire Refrigerator Is Not Cooling or Freezing?
Having an issue with your Frigidaire refrigerator and it’s not cooling or freezing? Well, there are numerous reasons why it’s not cooling or freezing, including clogged air filters, thermostats not working or a damaged start relay. However, it is possible that the issue is also caused by the overloading of items on the refrigerator, a dead compressor or a dirty condenser coil. So, let’s have a deep look to resolve the Frigidaire refrigerator not cooling or freezing issue.
Faulty Evaporator Fan Motor
If your Frigidaire refrigerator is not cooling or freezing then it may be caused by several reasons. However, the evaporator fan of your refrigerator is authorized by an electric motor which is similar to a condenser. Generally, the evaporator is playing a major role in cooling your refrigerator and it goes through the condenser which becomes a liquid and helps to send the evaporator. As we know, refrigerant makes it easy through the evaporator and that’s why it turns into a gas through evaporation.
Sometimes, the freezing or cooling issue is mainly caused by a faulty evaporator fan motor. Just like the condenser fan on your fridge, the evaporator fan fails through wear and tear. Also, it’s possible that the fan blades get clogged by the presence of dust and debris. Therefore, make sure to check whether your evaporator fan is damaged or not by testing your operator fan motor.
In addition, look for anything that has clogged your fan motor with dust or debris and ensure to clean it by turning the blades by your hand to determine if the fan motor has seized up. Plus, you can try using a multimeter which you may find easily on Amazon and find out if there are any electrical damages or issues in the motor. If there is any broken or damaged evaporator fan, then you will have to replace it if it’s not working anymore.
Damaged Temperature Thermostat
Another possibility is damaged temperature thermostats and due to this, your Frigidaire refrigerator is not cooling or freezing anymore. The thermostat is an electrical component of the fridge and that’s why it’s damaged due to faulty wiring. However, the thermostat utilizes a small tube which contains a gas to measure the temperature as well as change the fridge temperature, so does the pressure inside the tube.
There may be a chance that your tube develops a leak and loses all of its pressure and that your refrigerator doesn’t cool anymore. But, you can figure out the problem by verifying whether your thermostat is working or not. By doing this, you will be able to replace the thermostat by calling any technician member and solving the problem as soon as possible.
Faulty Control Board
Almost every refrigerator contains at least one control board and that’s why it ultimately controls the components of your fridge. With the control board, your refrigerator communicates and connects with each of the components in order to work properly. Sometimes, the control board can fail due to excessive heat or moisture. Also, they can be damaged due to errors in the manufacturing process.
However, if your control board on your Frigidaire refrigerator is damaged then you have to replace it with a compatible one by calling technician support. Therefore, make sure to verify all the components are working on your fridge by testing them first.
Dirty Condenser Coils
The condenser uses low temperature and high pressure to turn the refrigerant from gas to a liquid part. However, the condenser coils must be in contact with the cool air that allows your Frigidaire refrigerator to cool. But, sometimes the presence of dust or debris can build up on the outside of the condenser coils. And with this, the condenser coils become insulated and that’s why the heat doesn’t evaporate from your refrigerator.
This may cause your refrigerator to work a lot in order to cool your fridge, making your fridge far less energy efficient. Therefore, if the dust and debris take a part in the condenser coils, your refrigerator won’t be able to cool properly. Therefore, it is essential to clean the condenser coils at the back of your refrigerator and ensure to power off your refrigerator before cleaning the condenser coils.
Damaged Condenser Fan Motor
The condenser fan motors evaporate air from condenser fins, allowing refrigerant to cool more quickly than the normal. However, if the fan is not working, there may be a chance that there is enough airflow over the condenser to make the fridge cool faster. Basically, the fan on your Frigidaire refrigerator is powered by an electric motor, and this motor can wear out for sometime. This might happen if corrosion takes place or if the motor ever operates at high voltage level.
Make sure to check whether your fan motor is working or broken. However, if the fan motor is damaged, then you have to replace it. But before replacing the motor, it is essential to checkout if there’s another issue that is messing with the fan motor.
First, you have to check if there is anything that could be stopping the fan blade from running properly. If not, try to spin the fan blades with your hand to see if the fan motor fan is locked or not. If yes, try replacing it. After that, if the fan blades are free from dust or debris and the fan is spinning perfectly, try using a multimeter to verify the continuity of the fan motor. Unfortunately, if the fan motor fails to spin properly, you will have to replace it.
Broken Compressor
A broken compressor might be the reason for not cooling your Frigidaire refrigerator. In fact, the compressor in your fridge is nothing more than a pump that circulates refrigerant. Occasionally, the compressor on your fridge fails for some reason. And, if there’s a lot or too little refrigerant within the system, then it can put stress on the compressor and cause it to wear out.
Alternatively, the air, moisture and even debris and dust gets inside the compressor which may damage your compressor on the fridge. But, you can easily diagnose the problem by testing the compressor with a multimeter. And, if the multimeter shows that there is an open circuit, then you have to replace the compressor. Replacing the compressor is a huge process because it flushes the refrigerant from the system and only a perfect technician member can do this.
Broken Start Relay
There may be a chance that your compressor start relay has been damaged or broken. The start relay on your Frigidaire refrigerator is a component that allows your compressor to start. But, without the start relay, the compressor hasn’t enough power source to get running automatically. It is possible that the start relay may burn out if it’s exposed to a voltage surge.
Well, if the start relay components on your compressor may be broken, then you have to replace it. You can also try testing the start relay with your multimeter and check if there is any issue. Also, if you have noticed that your start relay smells burnt out, then you also have to replace it by contacting the technician support.
Broken Start Relay Capacitor
Just like the start relay compressor, the start relay capacitor is another component that allows to get your compressor started. Basically, the start capacitor usually fails when they are overheated. In addition, the capacitor could overheat if it is repeatedly turned on and off. Make sure to test your start relay capacitor by using a multimeter. If you have found the broken capacitor, then you have to replace it by contacting the technician support.
Broken Thermistor (Temperature Sensor)
Thermistor is another component of your Frigidaire refrigerator that helps you to stay at an acceptable temperature range. However, it’s an electrical resistor that changes the temperature range which makes it a thermal resistor which is also known as “Thermistor”.
Sometimes, the thermistor can fail to work due to the internal components of the thermistor becoming separated from one to another. It may be possible that your thermistor is broken or gets overheated which prevents the fridge from getting cool. Therefore, make sure to test the thermistor by using a multimeter. Now you will be able to see its resistance changes as the temperature of the fridge changes. But, if you have not seen any changes, then you have to replace the thermistor by calling any technician support.
Fix Frigidaire Refrigerator Not Cooling or Freezing
The Frigidaire refrigerator not cooling or freezing is caused by number of users as we have mentioned earlier which includes faulty evaporator fan motor, faulty control board, damaged temperature thermostat, dirty condenser coils, damaged condenser fan motor, broken compressor, broken start relay, broken thermistor, etc. These are the main reasons which cause your fridge not to cool or freeze.
Thankfully, you can easily troubleshoot and resolve the Frigidaire refrigerator not cooling or freezing issue by following our mentioned solutions. Before we start, it is essential to take care of your safety before we start, in order to ensure that nothing goes wrong. So, take a look at the safety note.
Safety Note: Power Down Your Frigidaire Refrigerator
Before removing or replacing any hard materials or electrical components for testing it is working or damaged, make sure to power down your Frigidaire refrigerator. By doing this, you may be able to prevent damage to the components and prevent yourself from being electrocuted. If still there are some electrical components just like capacitors, it will store their charge and should not be tempered with it.
- Make sure to power down your Frigidaire refrigerator by unplugging the plug from the power source. (If the fridge is far away from the wall or the power switch is easily accessible).
- Otherwise, find the circuit breaker in your breaker box and power off the circuit. Make sure your refrigerator has lost power and you can check, by opening the fridge doors and see if the fridge light.
Make Sure the Power Supply is Working
The first thing is you have to verify if the power source is working or not. However, your fridge will not work anymore if the power has gone out. Make sure the interior lights and exterior lights of your fridge are lit. Therefore, if your fridge has a power source and the internet and exterior lights are lit, there may be another reason which causes the fridge not cooling or freezing.
In addition, if there is no power source on your fridge, make sure to check the electrical breaker. You can also reset the breaker in the event of a trip. To reset the breaker, find the GFCI and reset it as well. Once you have reset the breaker and still there is no power source, try running an extension to another outlet and test again to check the results. In case, if it’s not working anymore, there’s an issue with the power outlet or has an electrical issue. You should consider calling a technician for further assistance.
Adjust Your Refrigerator Temperature
If your Frigidaire refrigerator is not cooling or freezing, then you have to check the temperature and ensure it is set as correct. However, shifting items or other goods mistakenly touches the thermostat controls which can make a huge impact in the results in changing the settings that make the temperature warmer on your Frigidaire refrigerator.
Similarly, if you are encountering an issue with the ice production or something, it is suggested you to verify the temperature settings in your freezer. However, if you don’t know what temperature should be set for optimum cooling on your refrigerator, it is recommended to set between 35-37°F. You can also verify the right temperature settings by referring to your user manual for your model refrigerator you have.
Exceeding Refrigerator Storage Capacity
Placing cold items in your Frigidaire refrigerator may help you to maintain its temperature. However, if you place too many food items in your fridge, then it may block air vents that bring cool air from the freezer. Also, a packed temperature can limit airflow between the food items which cause the temperature to rise.
While placing any food items in the refrigerator, make sure to place them away from the air vents that provide the cold air. Ensure to keep the refrigerator ¾ of the way to help in maintaining the internal temperature and allow for airflow between the food items.
Try Cleaning Refrigerator Condenser Coils
A refrigerator’s condenser coils need to be cool refrigerant in order to produce cool air from the air vents on your fridge. Make sure to note that dirty condenser coils cannot cool the refrigerant, leading to a rise in internal temperature. It is recommended that you clean your refrigerator condenser coils every 6 months to ensure the coils work properly in order to cool the refrigerator.
Here is how you can clean your Frigidaire refrigerator coils by following the steps below:
- First, refer to your user manual that you have got with your Frigidaire refrigerator and locate the condenser coils on your model refrigerator. (Many condenser coils are located behind an access panel on the rear of your refrigerator or behind a front grill at the bottom of your fridge).
- Once you have found the condenser coils on your fridge, then unplug your refrigerator from the power outlet.
- Remove the panel or grills to access the condenser coils.
- Again, clean the condenser coils and the area around them with a narrow hose vacuum attachment.
- Now use an appliance brush to remove the dust and debris particles.
- You can also try using the vacuum cleaner to clean the surface on the floor at the bottom of condenser coils.
- Once you are done with the cleaning process, replace the panel or grills and restore the refrigerator’s power back by inserting the plug back to the wall socket.
- Now, try checking if your Frigidaire refrigerator is cooling or freezing.
Refrigerator Door Not Sealing Properly
As most refrigerators have rubber seals around their perimeters, they provide an airtight seal when closed. This keeps the cold air inside the fridge and prevents the warm air from entering inside. However, if your Frigidaire refrigerator isn’t cooling or freezing sufficient, they may have a dirty or damaged seal which allows the cold air to escape and warm air to enter inside.
Make sure to check whether your fridge door is covered with dust or debris particles or if there is any damage like rips or tears. If there is any damage to the door seal, it is suggested you clean with a damp cloth or try cleaning with other objects to restore the cool temperature back. If there is any damaged seal on the door, then you have to replace it by contacting the technician member team.
Try Checking Your Refrigerator Part Failure
If you have tried the above mentioned troubleshooting strategies and are still facing an issue with your Frigidaire refrigerator, it is possible that there’s an issue with the internal components which fails due to some hardware or technical issues. Here are some major hardware issues that prevent your refrigerator from getting cool.
- Failed evaporator or condenser fan motor: The evaporator fan allows the refrigerant to cool as it flows throughout the evaporator or condenser coils on your Frigidaire refrigerator. And, if the evaporator fan fails to work, the refrigerant may not cool properly.
- Faulty start capacitor: The start capacitor is basically a component which provides the electrical voltage needed to start the compressor production of cool air. Therefore, if there is a faulty or damaged start capacitor, your refrigerator won’t be cool anymore.
- Malfunctioning thermostats: Thermostats play a major role to control the temperature of the refrigerator. However, if the thermostat is malfunctioning, then it won’t be able to provide the signal to the compressor for additional cool air.
Therefore, these are some hardware issues which prevent your refrigerator from getting cool. In such a case, you have to hire a professional technician to resolve the damaged components as soon as possible.
Contact Technician Team
As we mentioned, the Frigidaire refrigerator not cooling or freezing issue is caused by a number of reasons. There also be hardware issues such as faulty start capacitor, malfunctioning thermostats or a failed evaporator or condenser fan motor. In such cases, you have to contact a professional technician team to replace the damaged components on your Frigidaire refrigerator as soon as possible. You can also contact the support team for further assistance.
Conclusion
When your fridge stops working, it might throw a wrench in your day. Fortunately, we have discussed some solutions for resolving the problem. If the problem persists or if you’re not confident in your ability to make intricate repairs, it’s best to call in the experts. Hopefully, you’ve been able to use this guide to fix the cooling and freezing issues with your Frigidaire refrigerator working properly again, and you can now enjoy your food at the ideal temperature. Please let us know if there are any further questions.