You notice your KitchenAid Refrigerator not cooling when you go to grab a nice cold beverage to taste, so you slam the door shut to save what little cool air is left and wonder what to do.
This post will show you the reasons why your KitchenAid refrigerator is not cool, and it also explains how to solve these cooling problems. Let's take a look at our list of top reasons why your refrigerator is warm.
1. Condenser Coils are Dirty
The condenser coils responsible for dispersing heat are usually located under the refrigerator. If they develop a thick layer of dust, hair, and other debris, they won’t dissipate the heat effectively, causing the refrigerator to work harder to cool down. The refrigerator will not be able to maintain the proper temperature if the coils are significantly dirty.
- Check the condenser coils to determine if they are dirty — if the condenser coils are dirty, wipe them off with a long bottle brush or use a vacuum hose to clear the debris. We recommend cleaning your condenser coils once or twice each year to avoid future problems.
2. Condenser Fan Motor
The condenser fan pulls air through the condenser coils and sends it over the compressor. If the condenser fan motor is not working properly, the refrigerator won’t cool properly.
- Check the fan blades for any obstruction keeping them from spinning freely. If not, try turning the fan motor blade by hand to see if they turn without a hitch. If the condenser fan motor won't turn freely, then the motor is bad and should be replaced.
- If the blades spin freely, test the motor with a multimeter to check for continuity. If the condenser fan motor does not have continuity, it needs to be changed.
3. Evaporator Fan Motor
The evaporator fan draws air over the cooling or evaporator coils and makes sure the air circulates in the refrigerator and freezer compartments. Without it, the freezer may still get cold, while the refrigerator will not get cold.
- Turn the blades of the evaporator fan with your hand to determine if the evaporator fan motor is defective. If they don’t turn freely, replace the fan motor.
- Additionally, if the motor is unusually noisy, replace it.
- If the motor does not run at all, test the motor windings for continuity. If they do not have continuity, change the motor.
4. Start Relay
The start relay works in conjunction with the start winding to start the compressor, and thus cool the refrigerator. If this relay is defective, the compressor won’t run and temperatures will rise.
- Test the start relay with a multimeter for continuity between the run and start terminal sockets and replace it if necessary.
5. Temperature Control Thermostat
The temperature control thermostat directs voltage to the condenser fan motor, evaporator fan motor, and compressor (if applicable). If it is unable to do this, it may prevent the refrigerant system from running.
- To determine if the thermostat is defective, rotate the thermostat from the lowest to the highest setting and listen to hear a click. If the thermostat clicks, it is not likely defective. If the thermostat does not click, it is bad and needs changing.
6. Start Capacitor
The start capacitor provides a power boost to the compressor during start-up. Without it, it is very unlikely the compressor will start. As a result, the refrigerator will not cool.
- Use a multimeter to determine if the start capacitor is defective. If there is none, replace it.
Other factors
- Also check the compressor, temperature control board, or main control board if there is nothing wrong with these parts mentioned above. However, it is highly unlikely that these 3 are the problem.
- Location – Sitting close to a heat source or in a garage will affect the ability to cool quickly and easily.
- Contents – The number of items in the refrigerator will also contribute to how well it cools. It will take a longer time to cool than if there aren’t any if there are too many items or if there is hot food.
- Installation – If the refrigerator was installed recently, it will need some time to cool properly, sometimes 24 to 48 hours. Be sure to close the door well and don’t open it too often.
- Mode – Check to see if the refrigerator is in "demo" mode or "showroom" mode. The display panel will light up and all the lights will show but the refrigerator will not cool.
