Our troubleshooting guide includes simple fixes if your refrigerator isn’t keeping its contents cold enough.

Check for Spoiled Food

There’s no need to panic.

Keep an eye out for signs that the food has spoiled and should be tossed.

open fridge with food

Credit:Getty Images / AndreyPopov

Look for mold, for instance, and slimy or off-textures in fresh produce.

Also, check for sour odorssuch as rancid salad dressingwhich can indicate that food or condiments have spoiled.

Then, follow our suggestions below on potential problems and solutions.

In addition to the actual temperature, you should watch out for excessive condensation on food and beverage packaging.

Why Is My Fridge Not Cooling?

8 Possible Causes

1.

An issue that is easy to overlook is the temperature setting.

Check the dial or the digital control panel to determine what temperature the fridge is set to.

ensure to check both the refrigerator and freezer.

If it’s too high, change the temperature to ensure the food stays cold.

After changing the temperature, it will take about 24 hours for the temperature inside the fridge to stabilize.

Recheck the temperature after this period to determine if this fix worked.

If not, proceed to the next possible cause.

Overpacked or Cluttered Contents

Refrigerators cool the contents of both the fridge and freezer compartments.

However, when the refrigerator is overpacked, it may have difficulty regulating the temperature.

To fix this issue,clean the air ventsandreorganize the refrigeratorso that nothing is blocking the air vents.

Poor Installation Location

Thelocation of a refrigeratorcan make it difficult for the appliance to maintain the set temperature.

Uneven Surface

When a fridge doesn’t sit level, it can affect its functionality.

This issue is relatively easy to check with a bubble level.

Set the level on the top of the fridge to determine if it is out of level.

Check thecircuit breakerassociated with the fridge to verify that it is turned on.

Press the reset button and test whether this resolves the problem.

If you suspect one of these issues could be causing the fridge’s problem, contact a repair professional.

Small kitchens will benefit fromcounter-depth modelsthat take up less room in the work area.

How often should I clean my refrigerator and freezer?

Oregon State University Extension.

Why is My Refrigerator Not Cooling?

Common Issues & How to Fix Them.

Erie Institute of Technology.