Refrigerators are amongst the most important kitchen appliances to store food items meant to be used at a later date. Although refrigerators seldom experience any problems provided they are maintained, sometimes certain problems can be a bit frustrating. If you come across your fridge not being as cold as it should be while the freezer is working perfectly fine, there is a problem that needs to be fixed by an appliance repair technician. Let’s take a look at some tips that will help troubleshoot the problem.

Overstuffing The Fridge

One of the most popular reasons your fridge might not be working but the freezer is that you must have over-packed it. More often than not, homeowners tend to shove things inside the fridge, which blocks the airflow. Even though refrigerators come with an ample amount of space to store items, that does not mean that you overstuff them.

Every refrigerator has a limited amount of space available to ensure efficient and effective storage. However, some people shove the food items into the freezer section thinking that there is enough space available. Then again, you will simply end up blocking the airflow that goes to the fridge as well. As a result, the fridge will be comparatively warm.

In this case, the problem is not with the unit itself but the way it is being used. This is why it is important that homeowners always go through the user’s manual at least once to avoid potential problems.

Check The Evaporator Fan

As mentioned earlier, refrigerators require proper maintenance. Just like other household appliances, your refrigerator requires annual inspection and maintenance to ensure a longer lifespan. If you ignore it, its lifespan will be reduced.

Components such as the evaporator fans and coils are expensive replacements. Once they are damaged or malfunction, you can only replace them. In most cases, the coils and fans break down due to the accumulation of dirt, grime, and dust.

The accumulation impedes the performance of the evporator fan, which burdens the motor, makes it hotter and eventually, the fan breaks down. From the outside, the unit might seem fine but the fridge will be warm.

Thermostat Issues

The thermostat is the brain of the refrigerator. Modern units are quite smart in terms of electricity consumption and effective cooling. However, if the thermostat malfunctions or is not calibrated, the fridge might not cool but the freezer may be doing its job perfectly.

This is because the thermostat is not communicating properly with the entire unit. In this case, you are going to need the help of a professional who can diagnose the problem.

While you check the thermostat for issues, you should also consider defrosting the unit. Defrosting is part of maintenance and does not require a professional to do it each time. You can simply shut down the unit and wait for the ice to defrost for a few hours if it does not come with an automatic defrosting feature.

Once the ice is gone, grab a soft cloth and brush to remove any remnants.

Ensure Sufficient Airflow

Remember, your refrigerator will only perform at its optimum if it has sufficient airflow to work with. Refrigerators contain different sections for different food items. Therefore, consider the way you arrange the food items in your fridge and make sure the vents are not blocked.

Overstuffing the refrigerator blocks the airflow as mentioned earlier. As a result, ice will build up in the wrong places and several food items may rot since cool air will not reach them.

Check The Defrost System

Modern refrigerators come with a defrost system that activates several times during the day when the system develops ice in unwanted areas. As a result, it might cause issues with your fridge and freezer. Therefore, if you observe that there is some ice anywhere on the unit’s back, it means that there is a problem with the defrost system.

Contact an HVAC professional who can rectify the problem immediately so that the health of the unit is not compromised.

Final Word

Concluding, the issue of your fridge not cooling but the freezer working fine can be solved following the tips highlighted above. However, make sure that you maintain your refrigerator and inspect it regularly for anything unusual so you can call in a refrigerator repair Fairfax service right away if any problem arises. This will help prevent basic problems from turning into expensive ones later down the road.