Opening the freezer door of your Whirlpool refrigerator and not feeling a blast of cold air is never a good thing. Because food spoilage can happen quickly and cost money, it's important to quickly find out what's wrong with your freezer temperature.
The good news is that there are several approaches you can take to diagnose what is preventing your freezer from getting cold. This article details some common causes of problems with your Whirlpool freezer and provides some troubleshooting steps you can take to determine your next course of action.
Possible Causes Whirlpool Freezer Does Not Freeze
Let's be honest: Appliances can break down over time, even with the best maintenance and care. A number of things can cause a Whirlpool freezer to not freeze properly. That's why it's important to get the problem fixed as soon as possible – some problems you can fix yourself, while other problems may require you to have your appliance repaired by a service professional, such as those found at Cinch Home Services.
To help you determine your next steps, here are some possible causes of your Whirlpool freezer not working properly.
Dirty condenser coils
Whirlpool refrigerator not cooling usually can be caused by dirty condenser coils. As the refrigerant passes through them, the condenser coils take over to help dissipate the heat. When these coils develop a buildup of dirt, dust, or other debris, heat can become trapped and cause your freezer to stop producing enough cold air.
One way to tell if your condenser coils are dirty is to see if your refrigerator has been noisier than usual lately. This can be the case when you are doing a lot of general temperature control work due to dirty condenser coils.
You can usually clean refrigerator condenser coils yourself. After unplugging your Whirlpool refrigerator, move it away from the wall to gain access to the back and bottom of the appliance. If the coils are under the refrigerator, you may see a finger guard that can be removed for easy access. Then use a vacuum with a hose attachment and a drying brush to remove all dirt and debris from the coils.
Check temperature settings
Although its location may vary by model number, every Whirlpool refrigerator has a control panel where you can check your thermostat. The temperature control can be accidentally bumped or touched during use, causing the temperature settings to be too high.
If you don't know where your refrigerator's thermostat is located, check your owner's manual for information. Next, make sure your refrigerator's temperature readings match what the manual says is ideal. Sometimes there can be a problem with the temperature control thermostat itself; however, the warm air in your Whirlpool freezer is usually just a function of an accidentally pushed temperature button.
check the door seal
Another reason for your Whirlpool freezer not freezing properly could have something to do with the door seal or gasket. Often, if the freezer door seal is not in good condition, cold air can escape from the freezer.
The door seal traps cold air inside, so you don't want one that is old, rotten, or one that allows for airflow. If you notice that the refrigerator door seal has sagging, gaps, or other defects, call a service professional to have it replaced.
Check the power cord and power source.
It may seem obvious at first, but checking that your Whirlpool freezer's plug is fully seated in the power source is another step you can take. Sometimes a cord or plug can come loose. If you have a multimeter, a small, portable device designed to check all forms of electrical wiring and appliance connectivity, this may be a useful place to put it.
As a first step, open the freezer door to see if any lights come on inside the freezer cabinet. No light or flickering can indicate an absence or lack of adequate power. Check the refrigerator's power cord for holes or damage, and also test the outlet to make sure power is flowing. Similarly, check your home circuit breaker to make sure the fuse that controls power to the refrigerator hasn't blown. If so, turn it back on or replace the fuse.
How to test a starter relay
Your Whirlpool freezer that won't freeze could be the result of a bad or failing starter relay. Your appliance's starter relay powers the compressor, which maintains ideal temperatures in the refrigerator and freezer. You can locate your refrigerator's starter relay by consulting your owner's manual.
Once found, look for signs of corrosion or other wear associated with age and use. A service professional can replace a starter relay fairly easily by removing the faulty one, verifying the model number, and replacing it.
How to Test the Refrigerator Evaporator Fan Motor
Your refrigerator's condenser fan motor does the job of removing the heat given off by the evaporator coils from the air. In addition, some newer model number appliances also have evaporative fan motors that circulate cool air. Your freezer will begin to defrost if your refrigerator's evaporator fan stops working.
Since most evaporator fan motors are designed not to run when the freezer door is open, you will need to locate the freezer door switch. This switch is usually the same color as the exterior of the freezer and is the part of your appliance that prevents the evaporator fan motor from running at unnecessary times. Start by looking for the switch at the bottom of the freezer door frame or check your owner's manual to locate it.
If you press the freezer switch, the cabin light should turn off and the evaporator fan motor should turn on. Evaporator fan motors are normally audible, so you should be able to hear a slight hum or spinning sound from the fan if the motor is running properly. The motor is probably faulty if it won't start while you hold down the freezer switch. If you can still hear the motor but the cabin is not holding in cool air, the evaporator fan motor is probably not the problem.
How to Reset a Whirlpool Refrigerator
Sometimes the best way to deal with a malfunctioning appliance is just a good old-fashioned reset. Just like when your refrigerator signals the need for a new water filter with a little warning light that needs to be reset to remove it, your control board may need a reset. Whether your home recently lost power, your appliance was accidentally set to the wrong mode, or any number of other factors, a reset can be an easy fix.
To restore power to your Whirlpool freezer, turn off the appliance by turning off your household circuit breakers and/or unplugging the refrigerator for five to 10 minutes. Make sure the control panel works after plugging it back in. Check again that the cooling function is enabled on the control board.
To reset the appliance control panel, locate the freezer and refrigerator door switches. Press each of them, along with the temperature control button, three times within 10 seconds. When you release the third and final time, the letter "S" should appear on the control panel for the freezer section and the letter "E" for the refrigerator section.
Now, press the refrigerator temperature button just once. You should see some numbers on the control panel. The number "1" should appear for the freezer. Your control panel has been successfully reset once you see the display for the refrigerator section go blank and the freezer continues to display the number "1".
Protect your appliances with Cinch
It is always good to have professionals on hand to help you when something goes wrong with the main appliances in your home. CommonCinch Home Protection Plan, you have access to expert help when matters go beyond basic DIY repairs.
While the Cinch Appliance Plan does not extend to freestanding freezers, we do provide coverage for side-by-side refrigerators with freezers and other major appliances.Request a free quoteto find the right coverage for you and your family.
notice to reader
The content of this article is intended to provide possible solutions, but does not guarantee that the problem will be fixed. However, to avoid further problems, seek an expert opinion similar to that offered by a Cinch service provider.