Den Appliances Fridge Not Cooling? Causes, Checks and When to Call a Technician
Whether the fridge is warm and the freezer is fine, or both have stopped cooling, here's what usually causes it and what you can check yourself first.
Start by working out which of the two situations you have, because they point to different faults.
| What you notice | Likely cause | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge warm, freezer cold | Defrost heater, sensor or timer; evaporator fan; blocked damper | Is there thick ice on the back wall inside the freezer? Can you hear the freezer fan? |
| Fridge and freezer both warm | Compressor or start relay; condenser fan; gas leak; control board | Is the compressor at the back running, or clicking on and off? |
| Fridge too cold, freezing food | Faulty thermostat or temperature sensor; damper stuck open | Check the temperature setting |
| Freezer iced up | Defrost fault; worn door seal | Close the door on a sheet of paper; if it slides out easily, the seal is worn |
| Water under or inside the fridge | Blocked defrost drain | Look for ice or water at the bottom of the back wall |
| Fridge runs non-stop | Dirty condenser coils; poor door seal; gas leak | Clean the dust off the coils at the back or underneath |
Checks You Can Do Yourself
- Check the setting. Make sure the thermostat hasn't been turned down, and after a power outage, that the fridge has restarted.
- Check the door seal. Close the door on a sheet of paper in several places. If it slides out without resistance, the seal isn't holding.
- Give it air. Leave a gap at the back and sides, and don't pack food against the vents inside.
- Clean the condenser coils. Unplug the fridge and vacuum the dust off the coils at the back or underneath.
- Try a manual defrost. If the freezer's back wall is covered in ice, unplug the fridge, move your food to a cooler box, and leave the doors open for 12–24 hours with towels down. If it works again afterwards but the problem returns within days or weeks, the defrost system has failed and needs a repair.
After a Power Outage or Surge
If your fridge stopped working after the power came back on, a surge may have damaged the control board, start relay or, on inverter fridges, the inverter board. Check the plug and breaker first. If it's still dead, a technician can test it and tell you whether the damage was caused by a surge, which you may be able to claim on insurance.
Repair or Replace?
Most fridges last 10 to 15 years. A common rule is to repair if the fridge is under about 8 to 10 years old and the repair costs less than half the price of a comparable new one. Premium and built-in fridges from brands like Smeg, Miele, Bosch and Siemens are usually worth repairing.
When to call a technician
- A manual defrost fixes it only temporarily
- The compressor clicks on and off but doesn't run
- Both the fridge and freezer are warm
- You hear loud buzzing or knocking from the back
- It stopped working after a power outage
Call or WhatsApp 064 067 4863 with the make and model, the symptoms, any error code and your suburb. More than 10 years' experience across Cape Town and Gqeberha.
FAQs
Why is my fridge not cooling but the freezer is working?
Usually a defrost fault or a failed evaporator fan. Ice builds up on the freezer coil and blocks the cold air that normally flows into the fridge section. A technician can test the defrost heater, sensor and fan.
How long should I wait after unplugging before I restart my fridge?
If you're doing a manual defrost, leave it off until all the ice has melted, usually 12 to 24 hours. After switching back on, allow a few hours to reach temperature.
Is it worth repairing a 10-year-old fridge?
Often yes, if the fault is a defrost part, fan, relay or thermostat. If the compressor has failed or there's a major gas leak, replacement is usually better value on an older fridge.
Do you repair fridges at home?
Yes. Fridge repairs are done on site at your home or business in Cape Town and Gqeberha.
Book a repair or request a quote
Call or WhatsApp with your appliance type, make and model, the fault or error code, and your suburb. More than 10 years' experience across Cape Town and Gqeberha.