
Is your refrigerator giving you trouble? If your food isn’t staying as cool as it should in the fridge, but the freezer seems to be working just fine, this article has some solutions for you. It’s a frustrating issue—but a pretty common one, meaning there are some well-known causes and fixes.
The good news? Many of the problems behind this can be tackled on your own—no need to call a professional. From blocked vents to frozen evaporator coils, we’ll walk you through the potential culprits and provide simple, step-by-step instructions to get your fridge cold again.
1. Gaps in the Refrigerator Door Seal
If the freezer is working fine but the fridge isn’t cooling properly, the first thing to check is the fridge door seal (gasket). A damaged or worn-out seal lets cold air escape, making it hard for the fridge to maintain the right temperature. The freezer’s door seal may be fine while the seal on the fridge isn’t.
Try closing the door on a thin sheet of paper at various points around the door—if the paper slides out easily, the seal might need cleaning or replacing. If any parts of the seal look damaged, worn, or loose upon inspection, it will need replacing.
Here’s how to clean and replace the seal:
- Open the door and clean the seal with warm, soapy water and a soft cloth and sponge, then dry thoroughly with a towel.
- Wait several hours to see if the fridge is now cooling properly.
- If still unresolved, order a replacement seal that matches your fridge model.
- For press-in seals, pull the old seal out of the groove, and then press the new seal into place, starting at the corners.
- For screwed-on seals, loosen the screws or retaining strip around the edge of the door holding the seal in place, but don’t remove them completely. Pull the old seal out from under the screws or retaining strip. Position the new seal under the screws or retaining strip and then tighten the screws.
2. Door Is Being Opened Too Frequently or Left Open
If the fridge door gets opened too often or left open, it lets warm air in, making it harder for the fridge to maintain the right temperature. Even if it’s left just slightly ajar, the fridge will struggle to keep up.
Make sure nothing is blocking the door from closing fully, like overstuffed shelves or a protruding item. And if you or someone in your household keeps popping into the fridge every few minutes, try to cut back on that.
Finally, always give the door that last little push to make sure it’s latched and fully closed.
3. Temperature Settings Need Adjusting
Sometimes the problem is as simple as having the wrong temperature settings. The fridge and freezer often have separate controls, so it’s possible for the freezer to be set correctly while the fridge isn’t. Maybe someone accidentally bumped the dial or adjusted the temperature without realizing it.
Depending on your model, you’ll likely either have a manual dial or a digital control panel to adjust the temperature. If it’s a dial, check it’s not on one of the warmer settings and turn it to a colder setting if necessary. If it’s digital, ensure the fridge is set around 37°F (3°C) and the freezer at 0°F (-18°C).
4. Vents Are Blocked
Blocked vents could also be the problem. Air needs to flow freely between the freezer and refrigerator compartments for the appliance to work efficiently.
Here are some tips to follow:
- Avoid placing food or containers directly in front of the vents.
- Don’t overstuff your fridge. Aim to keep it about two-thirds full for optimal performance.
- Make sure there’s some space between items so air can move freely.
5. Frozen Evaporator Coils
Frozen evaporator coils are another common culprit. The evaporator coils are typically located behind the back panel inside the freezer. When they freeze over, they cannot do their job properly: absorbing heat from inside the refrigerator.
This can result in the fridge being too warm, while the freezer may stay cool since it’s located near the frozen evaporator coils. The cause of frozen evaporator coils often is:
- Faulty defrost system: If the defrost heater, timer, or thermostat isn’t working properly, ice will keep building up on the coils.
- Door left open: A door that’s not fully closed or has a bad seal can lead to ice buildup.
Follow these steps to address frozen evaporator coils:
- Check the refrigerator and freezer door seals (see previous section for instructions).
- Unplug the refrigerator.
- Remove the rear panel inside the freezer and take off the cover protecting the evaporator coils.
- If frozen, leave the door open and let the coils thaw for several hours. Or, you can speed up the process with a hairdryer. This will just be a temporary fix if the underlying issue is not also addressed.
- Inspect the defrost system. This can be trickier, but you’ll want to test the defrost heater, thermostat, and timer with a multimeter.
- The defrost heater and thermostat are typically located near the evaporator coils, while the timer may be located in the control panel or behind the kick plate.
- Replace any components found to be faulty. Don’t hesitate to call a professional if you need help carrying out these repairs.
6. Faulty Evaporator Fan
The evaporator fan has an important job: blowing cold air from the evaporator coils into both the fridge and freezer. If this fan isn’t working properly, it may cause uneven cooling—potentially leaving your freezer frosty while your fridge warms up.
Here’s how to check if the evaporator fan is the issue:
- Start by unplugging the appliance.
- Remove the freezer’s rear panel and the evaporator cover.
- Locate the evaporator fan near the evaporator coils.
- Check if the fan is obstructed or has broken blades.
- Disconnect the wires to the fan and test it with a multimeter.
- If the fan doesn’t have continuity or is damaged, replace it.

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