Fridge freezer not cold
If your fridge freezer is running but not cold, check the power and thermostat first, then the condenser coil, fans, door seals and airflow. Full defrost fixes most cooling drops.
Likely causes, ranked
- Condenser coil badly dusted / appliance in hot enclosed space Possible — A fridge-freezer boxed into a tight alcove or sited next to an oven cannot reject heat, so the cabinet stays warm. Check ventilation gaps around the appliance.
- Blocked condenser coil or dead condenser fan Very likely — Dust on the coil or a silent condenser fan stops heat rejection — the compressor runs almost non-stop but the cabinet never cools.
- Iced-up evaporator / failed defrost Likely — Ice on the rear freezer wall blocks airflow to the fridge side; a defrost that never completes is a common board or heater fault.
- Failed door seal Possible — Warm air leaks in around the seal and the compressor runs constantly without cooling the cabinet properly.
First checks
- Unplug the fridge freezer for 10 minutes, plug it back in and set the thermostat to the middle setting. A compressor that clicks on and off every few minutes and never cools is a tell-tale sign of a failing start relay or compressor.
- Pull the appliance out and vacuum or brush the condenser coil (on the back or below). Dust on the coil is one of the most common causes of poor cooling. Listen for the condenser fan — if it is silent while the compressor runs, the fan motor is likely dead.
- Open the freezer and press the door switch — the evaporator fan should run. A silent or grinding fan means cold air is not being circulated, so the fridge section warms even when the freezer is fine. If the fan is iced in, a full 24-hour defrost clears it.
- If ice builds up on the rear freezer wall, the automatic defrost has failed. Unplug with doors open for 24 hours, wipe dry and restart. If cooling drops again within a week, the defrost heater or sensor needs an engineer.
Safety
Unplug or switch off at the wall before any check. Never work on gas appliances, refrigerant circuits or anything beyond external access yourself.
Call a professional when…
The compressor is silent or clicks on and off, the fans run but the fridge still does not cool after a full defrost, or you smell burning. Compressor and sealed-system work needs a registered engineer.