Why Is My Fridge Not Cooling?

The condenser coils release the heat extracted from inside the fridge to the surrounding air. Over time, dust, pet hair and kitchen grease accumulate on the coils, forming an insulating layer that prevents heat from escaping efficiently. The fridge has to work harder, the compressor runs longer, and the internal temperature gradually rises.

This is one of the most common causes of a fridge not cooling adequately — and one of the easiest to address. On most fridges, the condenser coils are located either underneath the unit behind a front grille or at the back. Vacuuming or brushing the coils clear restores heat dissipation and often resolves mild cooling issues immediately.

How often the coils need cleaning depends on the environment. Homes with pets or dusty conditions may need coil cleaning every six months. A general annual clean is good practice for most households.

The rubber gasket that runs around the fridge and freezer door creates an airtight seal when the door is closed. When this seal deteriorates — cracking, warping or losing its magnetic grip — warm air continuously infiltrates the cabinet. The fridge cannot maintain the set temperature regardless of how hard the compressor works.

Checking the door seal is straightforward. Close the door on a piece of paper and try to pull it out — there should be noticeable resistance. If the paper slides out easily, the seal is not creating adequate contact at that point. Run this test around the full perimeter of both the fridge and freezer doors.

Visible damage such as cracks, tears or sections of seal that no longer sit flush against the cabinet confirm the seal needs replacing. Door seals are available as appliance spare parts

for most fridge makes and models, and replacement is a job most handy homeowners can manage with basic tools.

If the seal looks intact but the paper test shows poor contact, the seal may have lost its magnetic strength or the door may be slightly misaligned — both worth checking before assuming the seal needs replacing.

Inside the fridge and freezer compartments, vents circulate cold air from the evaporator fan throughout the cabinet. When these vents are blocked — by overpacked shelves, food items pushed against the back wall, or ice build-up — cold air cannot circulate properly. The result is warm spots, uneven temperatures, or a fridge that struggles to cool the lower shelves.

If your freezer is working but the fridge compartment is warm, a blocked or frozen evaporator fan vent is one of the most likely causes. On frost-free models, the evaporator fan runs to distribute cold air from the freezer section into the fridge. If this fan fails or the vent between compartments is iced over, the freezer stays cold while the fridge section warms up.

Start by checking that food is not blocking the vent openings inside the fridge. If there is visible ice build-up around the vents or at the back of the freezer compartment, defrosting the unit manually — turning it off and allowing it to thaw — sometimes resolves the blockage. If ice re-accumulates quickly after defrosting, the automatic defrost system may have failed, which is a repair job.

The thermostat monitors the internal temperature and signals the compressor to run when cooling is needed. A thermostat that is reading incorrectly or has failed may not call for cooling at the right time — either under-cooling because it thinks the fridge is cold enough, or running the compressor constantly because it cannot register when the temperature has been reached.

A simple test: turn the thermostat dial to its coldest setting and listen for the compressor to respond. If the compressor starts running and the fridge begins to cool, the thermostat may have been set too warm. If there is no response, the thermostat or the connection between the thermostat and the compressor may have failed.

Thermostat replacement is generally within a technician's scope rather than a DIY repair, as accessing and testing the component correctly requires some disassembly and an understanding of the fridge's electrical system.

Refrigerant is the fluid that circulates through the fridge's sealed system, absorbing heat from inside the cabinet and releasing it through the condenser coils. If the sealed system develops a leak, refrigerant levels drop and the fridge loses its ability to cool effectively.

Signs of a refrigerant issue include: the fridge running constantly without reaching the set temperature, the freezer section also losing cooling performance, and the back of the fridge feeling unusually warm at the condenser area. You may also notice a chemical smell in some cases, though refrigerant leaks are not always accompanied by an obvious odour.

Refrigerant handling is regulated in Australia and must be carried out by a licensed technician. This is not a DIY repair. If refrigerant loss is suspected, the sealed system needs to be assessed, the leak located and repaired, and the correct refrigerant charge restored. Topping up a leaking system without addressing the source of the leak is a temporary fix at best.

You can safely check and address:

Condenser coil cleaning — vacuum or brush the coils at the back or underneath the unit
Door seal condition — the paper test, visual inspection, and seal replacement if needed
Internal vent blockages — rearranging food, clearing ice build-up manually
Thermostat setting — confirming the dial is set to an appropriate position
Door alignment — checking whether the doors close flush and adjusting the levelling feet if the fridge is not sitting level

Call a technician when:

The evaporator fan is not running or the automatic defrost system has failed
The compressor is not starting despite the thermostat calling for cooling
Refrigerant loss is suspected
The fridge is running constantly without reaching temperature after the above checks have been done
The cooling problem persists after cleaning the coils and checking the seals and vents

For fridge repairs on the Central Coast, Eurocoast Appliance Service diagnoses and repairs across all major fridge brands. If you are not sure whether your fridge is worth repairing or due for replacement, our guide on when to repair vs replace your fridge covers the factors worth considering before making that call.

For Gosford-area residents, fridge repairs Gosford bookings can be arranged directly through the locations page.

Contact Eurocoast Appliance Service to arrange a diagnostic visit if your fridge is not cooling and the above checks have not resolved the issue.

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