Fridge Is Not Cooling, Freezer Works
When your freezer is cold, but the refrigerator is warm, it’s often a sign of an underlying issue that needs attention. This could be due to a malfunctioning air damper, which regulates the cold air flow between the freezer and fridge compartments, or a faulty temperature sensor that’s not accurately detecting and controlling the temperature. Another common culprit is a clogged drain line or a failing defrosting system, leading to ice buildup that hinders proper air circulation. In such cases, simply defrosting the fridge might not be enough, and professional repair is typically required to restore optimal cooling. Our technicians are equipped to diagnose and fix these issues promptly, often completing repairs on the same day. Learn more about our refrigerator repair services.
Main Issues When Freezer Is Cold, But Refrigerator Is Warm
Description and Troubleshooting of Problems
Air Damper Is Not Working
The air damper is essentially a small motor that controls the flow of cold air from the freezer to the refrigerator. It measures the temperature inside the fridge, and if it’s too warm, the air damper opens to allow more cold air from the freezer until the desired temperature is reached. Once that temperature is achieved, the air damper closes. If the air damper is malfunctioning or not working properly, you might notice that the freezer is working well, keeping everything frozen, while the refrigerator is either too warm or the food is freezing. This depends on whether the air damper is stuck in the open or closed position. In this case, after checking all other components of the refrigeration system, the air damper should be replaced.
Temperature Sensors Are Not Working
In some refrigerator models, particularly those from brands like Samsung, LG, GE, Kenmore, Thermador, Sub-Zero, and KitchenAid, there is a dual cooling system. This means that there is a coil in the freezer responsible for cooling only the freezer, and a separate coil in the fridge for cooling only the fridge. In this case, the air damper is not used. Problems can arise with the defrosting system, restriction system, or fan motor. This is a common issue across all refrigerator brands and models. If the temperature sensor is not working or is malfunctioning, the fridge cannot defrost properly, leading to frost buildup on the coil, and the fan is unable to circulate cold air. As a result, the fridge may not cool at all or may not reach the correct temperature. In some cases, the temperature sensor might be working but not correctly sending data about the actual temperature inside the fridge to the control board, which can lead to improper or no defrosting at all, causing incorrect temperatures inside the fridge. If the temperature sensor is faulty, it needs to be replaced.
Malfunctioning Defrosting System
This is one of the most common problems in refrigerators across all brands. If the defrosting system is not working properly, it can lead to frost buildup on the coil, sensors, and fan, which often stops working after freezing. It is important to monitor your refrigerator’s performance, and if you see even minimal frost buildup or ice at the bottom of the freezer, this indicates that it needs to be checked. If you do not notice this problem early on, it can lead to a drop in refrigerator temperature and cause other components, like the fan or air damper, to fail. When this problem occurs, the first step is to defrost the fridge and freezer, check all system components such as the defrost thermostat, temperature sensor, fan motor, air damper, and others. In most cases, the drain line also freezes and water starts leaking inside the fridge and onto the floor. Our technicians typically carry all the necessary parts for same-day repairs in 90% of cases, with the repair usually taking one to two hours.
Faulty Fan Motor
The fan motor is responsible for circulating air inside the fridge or freezer. Depending on the refrigerator model, there may be one or two fans. When the fan stops working, the coil quickly freezes, and the temperature inside the fridge starts to rise. Often, when the fan motor is faulty, it doesn’t just stop but its rotation speed decreases, so you might still hear it running, but the fridge won’t be cold enough. Before completely failing, the fan motor may also start making noise, which can be intermittent, indicating that the fan is about to fail soon. In this case, the coil and drain line need to be defrosted, and the fan motor replaced. In refrigerators with two fans—one for the fridge and one for the freezer—usually, only one fan fails. It’s important to address this issue early on to reduce repair costs and possibly only need to replace one part rather than several.
Clogged Drain Line
The drain line is responsible for draining water after the defrosting system activates. The water flows to the compressor area where it evaporates as it passes through a container with a low-pressure tube containing hot refrigerant. If the drain line is clogged due to buildup, dirt, dust, or freezing, it leads to water and ice buildup, coil and fan freezing, and ultimately improper operation of the refrigeration system, causing the temperature to rise in both the fridge and freezer. Often with this issue, you may see ice forming at the bottom of the freezer, and after a while, the fridge starts leaking water through the freezer door. To fix this problem at an early stage, it’s enough to defrost the coil and drain line, clean them, and this should resolve the issue. However, if the drain line has been clogged for a long time, it can cause other components of the refrigeration system to fail, requiring more parts to be replaced. It is crucial not to delay addressing any refrigerator issues, as early intervention by a technician can significantly reduce repair costs compared to waiting until the problem worsens.
Repair Cost
| Replacing the air damper | $245 — $380 |
| Replacing the temperature sensor | $220 — $345 |
| Repairing the defrosting system | $280 — $425 |
| Replacing the fan motor | $325 — $430 |
| Defrosting and cleaning the drain line | $170 — $320 |
The repair cost may differ based on the refrigerator’s brand and model, as well as the complexity of the issue.
Contact Us For Any Refrigerator Repair Service
We’re prepared to handle any refrigerator problems, whether it’s a cooling issue or a complete breakdown. Prefer not to make a phone call? No worries! Simply fill out the brief form below to get in touch. Schedule your refrigerator repair with one of our technicians today!
Call us today: (863) 594-1784
or fill out the form and we will contact you ourselves.
Teodor Appliance Repair delivers exceptional appliance repair services across Florida. Renowned for our dependability and dedication to excellence, we handle a broad spectrum of appliance maintenance. Our technicians are adept at diagnosing and fixing problems with refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, ovens, and more. For convenient location access, check us out on Google Maps using these links: