Frigidaire Refrigerator Not Cooling? (Here’s why and how to fix it)

There are only a few things worse than melted ice cream on a very hot day. A Frigidaire refrigerator that isn’t cooling is easily one of them.

Depending on how well you’ve been maintaining your fridge, you can usually resolve a cooling problem by organizing its contents or cleaning gunk. In some cases, you might have to replace a faulty component to get your fridge back in good shape.

So you can improve the efficiency of your fridge and enjoy a much-needed ice cream break on a hot day, we’ll delve into the most common causes of cooling problems. We’ll also show you how to troubleshoot them.

Why is my Frigidaire refrigerator not cooling?

If a Frigidaire refrigerator isn’t cooling, it’s likely due to power surges, improper installation, unorganized food storage, dirty gaskets, or dirty condenser coils. 

Malfunctioning internal parts can also prevent your fridge from cooling. In such cases, a replacement is necessary to fix the issue.

Here are a few quick fixes to help you troubleshoot the issue.

• Make sure the fridge is connected to a power source.
• Confirm that the fridge door is closed.
• Reset the fridge.

If the problem persists after these fixes, keep on reading as we delve into more detailed instructions to resolve your fridge’s cooling problem.

How to Fix a Frigidaire Fridge That Isn’t Cooling

If a Frigidaire fridge isn’t cooling after a power surge, reset it by unplugging its cord for 10 to 15 minutes. Once you restore power, the fridge should start cooling properly.

Check if your fridge is installed and organized properly. Then, clean it inside and out to boost its cooling efficiency.

Here’s a quick overview of the most common reasons why a Frigidaire fridge won’t cool and how to troubleshoot them.

Causes	Solutions
Power Surges	• Unplug the power cord or turn off the circuit breaker.  • After 10 to 15 minutes, restore power and check if your fridge is cooling.
Improper Installation	• Keep about 2” of clearance from the back wall to improve air circulation. • Set a minimum clearance of 1” from the cabinet to the top of your refrigerator. • Maintain at least 1/2” up to 1” of clearance on all sides of the refrigerator.
Unorganized Food Storage	• Stock the door bins with non-perishable items like condiments and sodas. • Store deli meat, eggs, cheeses, and party platters in the shallow drawer or the bottom shelf where it’s colder than the rest of the fridge. • Keep your vegetable and fruits fresh in the crisper drawers.
Dirty Door Gasket	• Mix 1:3 parts vinegar and water in a bowl. Dip the soft cloth or toothbrush in the mixture and use it to clean the dirty gasket.
Damaged Door Gasket	• Take out the new door gasket and lay it out on a flat surface. • Leave it for 1-2 days to remove any creases and kinks. • Before installing the new gasket, unplug the refrigerator and open the door. • Pull out the rubber gasket on the door, starting from the top corner of the fridge.  • Work your way around the door until the seal is fully removed. • Position the new door seal over the shelving. Push the gasket into the channel and work your way around the door.  • Repeat the same process for the other doors that might have a bad seal. • Restore power to your refrigerator.
Dirty Condenser Coils	• Unplug the power cord or turn off the circuit breaker. • Unmount the panel to expose the coils. Skip this step if it doesn’t apply to your unit. • Use a soft-bristle brush to remove dirt on the vent and coils. • Vacuum all the excess dirt and dust. Use a damp cloth to pick up stubborn bits of dust. • Let the coils fully dry before restoring power.
Faulty Condenser Fan Motor	• Unplug the fridge or turn off the circuit breaker.  • Move the fridge around to access the back panel. Then, use a 1/4” nut driver to unmount the back panel. • Unthread the two mountain screws on the fan motor using a 3/8” socket wrench with a long extension.  • Unthread the remaining screws holding the fan motor in place with a 1/4” socket wrench. • Disconnect the electrical connector to release the motor and fan blade. • Use needlenose pliers to remove the fan blade from the motor. • Install the fan blade on the new motor. Just carefully slide and push the fan in until the shaft sticks out about a quarter of an inch. • Reinstall the mounting screws to hold the new motor in place. Plug the electrical connector. • Reinstall the remaining screws to secure the motor. • Mount the back panel. Move the fridge back to its original position and restore power. • Check if the fridge is cooling.

Power Surges

A power surge refers to a short and sudden increase in voltage in an electrical circuit. Although it can happen in a fraction of a second, it can affect your appliances and outlets.

For most modern appliances like your Frigidaire fridge, these power bumps can cause software glitches that lead to performance issues. Simply put, it can be the underlying cause of your fridge’s cooling problem.

Luckily, a reset will clear whatever glitches are preventing your fridge from cooling properly.

Solution: To reset a Frigidaire fridge, unplug the power cord, or turn off the circuit breaker. After 10 to 15 minutes, restore power and check if your fridge is functioning properly.

Improper Installation

Due to the refrigeration process, the sides of your refrigerator should feel a little warm, which is completely normal. However, if it feels very hot, it’s most likely due to poor installation.

Your refrigerator needs ample space around it to ventilate properly. If you install it too close to the wall, it might start to overheat and break down.

Solution: Check if your fridge is installed near heat sources that can contribute to the increase in its temperature. Move the fridge, if necessary.

Here are the minimum clearance requirements for refrigerators.

• Back: Keep about 2” of clearance from the back wall to improve air circulation.

• Top: Set a minimum clearance of 1” from the cabinet to the top of your refrigerator.

• Sides: Maintain at least 1/2” up to 1” of clearance on all sides of the refrigerator.

Tips: • Avoid installing your fridge next to heat sources like radiators, ovens, and dishwashers. This can raise the internal temperature of the appliance. • Don’t place your fridge in direct sunlight. • Refer to your user manual for more detailed installation instructions for your specific Frigidaire fridge model.

Unorganized Food Storage

An overpacked or disorganized fridge can restrict the flow of cool air from the vents. As a result, the cooling system will work harder to keep your food cool and fresh.

Unfortunately, it can lead to premature damage of an internal component, which will require a replacement. To prevent that from happening, be more mindful of what you load on the fridge and where you put it.

Solution: Rearrange your fridge contents, placing them in their designated shelves and bins. Locate the air vents in your unit and make sure they aren’t obstructed.

• Door bins: As the warmest zone in the fridge, stock the door bins with non-perishable items like condiments and sodas. You can also add frequently used items and small food jars for easier access and better visibility.

• Cool-zone drawer: Store deli meat, eggs, cheeses, and party platters in the shallow drawer or the bottom shelf where it’s colder than the rest of the fridge.

• Crisper drawers: Keep your vegetable and fruits fresh in the crisper drawers. Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and cucumbers are a few examples of items that should go in the crisper drawers.

• Middle shelves: Add leftovers, yogurts, fruit cups, snacks, and some dairy products in the middle shelves, where the temperature is the most consistent.

• Top shelves: Reserve the second warmest area in the fridge for leftovers, cooked foods, and other ready-to-eat items. Beers and ciders can also go on the upper shelves.

Tips: • Don’t push food items all the way back so that the air vents can remain unobstructed. • To prevent overloading, remove items that don’t have to be refrigerated, including citrus fruits, hot sauces, potatoes, honey, and more. • Label where food goes to make it easier for you and everyone in the household to replace and organize items once supplies run out. • Declutter the fridge every few months. Check the expiration dates on products that have been sitting on the shelves for a while—then purge, if needed.

Dirty Door Gasket

Dirt, grime, and even food scraps will often find their way into your fridge’s door gasket, especially when you don’t clean it regularly. A dirty gasket will prevent your door from sealing, allowing cool air to seep out of the fridge.

Ideally, you should clean the gasket quarterly. However, whenever you spill food accidentally or you notice mold growth, you should clean the gasket right away to prevent it from getting brittle.

What you’ll need:

• Soft cloth/toothbrush
• Vinegar
• Warm water
• Bowl

Solution: Mix 1:3 parts vinegar and water in a bowl. Dip the soft cloth or toothbrush in the mixture and use it to clean the dirty gasket.

Quick Note: Never use sharp tools to clean hardened food scraps and gunk on your door gasket. It can puncture and tear the rubber seal, which you would have to replace.

Damaged Door Gasket

A refrigerator’s door gasket will deteriorate over time due to exposure to heat, chemicals, and mold. However, proper installation and maintenance can help you extend its lifespan.

Once a door gasket is defective, you must replace it to protect the quality of your food and prevent high energy costs.

What you’ll need:

• New rubber gasket
• 1-2 days of prep time

Solution: First, prep your new door gasket for installation by taking it out of the package and laying it flat on a surface. Leave the rubber seal for 1-2 days to remove any kinks and creases.

To replace a damaged door seal on a Frigidaire fridge, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug the refrigerator and open the door.
• Step 2: Pull out the rubber gasket on the door, starting from the top corner of the fridge. Work your way around the door until the seal is fully removed.
• Step 3: Position the new door seal over the shelving. Push the gasket into the channel, starting from the top corner again.
• Step 4: Repeat the same process for the other doors that might have a bad seal.
• Step 5: Restore power to your refrigerator.

Dirty Condenser Coils

No matter the brand, every refrigerator has a set of condenser coils that dissipate the heat absorbed by the refrigerant. Over time, dirt and dust can accumulate on the coils or the vents, making it harder for your refrigerator to eliminate heat. 

Cleaning the condenser coils every six months will keep your fridge running in optimal condition. If you have pets that shed, you should clean the coils more frequently. 

The condenser coils are often located under or at the back of the fridge. Depending on your unit, they could be exposed or behind a panel.

What you’ll need:

• Vacuum cleaner
• Soft-bristle brush
• Soft cloth

Solution: To clean your refrigerator’s dirty condenser coils, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug the power cord or turn off the circuit breaker.
• Step 2: Unmount the panel to expose the coils. Skip this step if it isn’t applicable to your unit.
• Step 3: Use a soft-bristle brush to remove dirt on the vent and coils.
• Step 4: Vacuum all the excess dirt and dust.
• Step 5: Use a damp cloth to pick up stubborn bits of dust.
• Step 6: Let the coils fully dry before restoring power.

Quick Note: You may opt to use those small vacuum cleaners with built-in brush extensions. You can also invest in a condenser coil cleaning kit.

Faulty Condenser Fan Motor

A condenser fan motor is one of your refrigerator’s most vital components. Located next to the compressor, the fan motor draws in air to cool the condenser coils and compressor and releases it through the front grille.

Sometimes, obstructions like dirt build-up or loose screws can prevent the fan blades from turning. However, if the fan motor is defective, replace it immediately to protect the compressor from overheating, which may cause premature failure.

Replacing a faulty condenser fan motor is an easy fix, which you can opt to perform yourself. It should only take a couple of minutes and a few tools.

What you’ll need:

• 1/4” nut driver
• Socket wrench (1/4” head)
• Socket wrench (3/8” head with long extension)
• Needlenose pliers
• New condenser fan motor

Solution: To replace a Frigidaire refrigerator condenser fan motor, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug the fridge or turn off the circuit breaker.
• Step 2: Move the fridge around to access the back panel.
• Step 3: Use a 1/4” nut driver to unmount the back panel.
• Step 4: Unthread the two mountain screws on the fan motor using a 3/8” socket wrench with a long extension. 
• Step 5: Unthread the remaining screws mounting the fan motor with a 1/4” socket wrench.
• Step 6: Disconnect the electrical connector to release the motor and fan blade.
• Step 7: Use needlenose pliers to remove the fan blade from the motor.
• Step 8: Install the fan blade on the new motor. Just carefully slide and push the fan in until the shaft sticks out about a quarter of an inch.
• Step 9: Reinstall the mounting screws to hold the new motor in place.
• Step 10: Plug the electrical connector.
• Step 11: Reinstall the remaining screws to secure the motor.
• Step 12: Mount the back panel.
• Step 13: Move the fridge back to its original position and restore power.
• Step 14: Check if the fridge is cooling.

Frequently Asked Questions

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