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Refrigerator · Repair Copilot

Fridge not cooling

A refrigerator that runs but won't cool is one of the most common — and most fixable — appliance problems. Most of the time it's dirty condenser coils, a bumped thermostat, blocked vents, or a worn door seal, not a dead compressor. Point your camera at the back of the fridge and inside, and SightLine walks you through the checks one at a time before you call anyone.

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Steps to fix fridge not cooling

  1. Confirm it's plugged in and the outlet is live — test another device in the same outlet.
  2. Check the temperature dial or panel: set fridge to ~37°F and freezer to ~0°F, and rule out "demo/showroom" mode.
  3. Make sure inside vents aren't blocked by food and the fridge has a few inches of clearance from the wall.
  4. Unplug it, pull it out, and vacuum the condenser coils (back or behind the front kick-plate) — the #1 fixable cause.
  5. Do the dollar-bill test on the door gasket; clean or replace a leaking seal.
  6. If the freezer is cold but the fridge is warm, check for a dead or iced-over evaporator fan.
  7. Heavy frost on the freezer back wall? A full 24-hour manual defrost often clears a stuck cycle.

Safety first: if a step calls for gas, a main water or sewer line, a service panel or main breaker, or a sealed refrigerant system, stop and call a licensed pro — Repair Copilot will tell you when you're there.