Read this article if your Whirlpool refrigerator has stopped cooling food. In it, we examined the most common problems that provoke the system to malfunction. Whirlpool refrigerator cooling problems most often occur for the following reasons:
Disconnect the refrigerator from AC power before carrying out repair or diagnostic work. Use the instructions for household appliances when you look for where which item is located.
The condenser coil is part of a closed refrigeration system in which the refrigerant circulates. It absorbs the heat generated inside the refrigerator and removes it to the outside, moving along a long curved tube (coil).
Over time, naturally occurring dust settles on the condenser coil. The larger it is, the worse the coil removes heat to the environment. The equipment begins to work more intensively, energy costs increase, but the main thing is that the products inside are cooled worse, which leads to their accelerated spoilage.
Fortunately, this problem is easy to solve and does not require any knowledge. Take a rag and remove dust and other deposits from the surface of the elements. To do this, unplug the refrigerator from the mains, gently move it away from the wall or pull it out of the niche and turn the coil towards you.
Dampen a cloth in warm water with or without soapy water, wipe off all dust with it. Instead of a rag, you can use a vacuum cleaner or a brush.
Inspect the surface of the coil every six months. If there is dirt, remove it. So you will ensure good cooling of the products and save on electricity, which will be more consumed. Few people know about the need to keep the coils clean.
The coil works more efficiently in conjunction with the condenser fan. It constantly circulates air around the coil, causing heat to dissipate faster. The motor is responsible for the operation of the fan. The efficiency of the system depends on its integrity.
If you notice that the food in the refrigerator is not cooling well, pay attention to the condenser fan motor. See if the blades are spinning. In principle, its work is audible, since the rotation of the blades is accompanied by a noise effect.
The condenser fan motor can fail due to normal wear and tear or a short circuit between the windings. But before removing it, make sure that nothing prevents the blades from rotating. Perhaps there is something stuck between them. Check them manually. If they spin well, then that’s not the problem.
A short circuit is a more serious problem. In this case, the engine will have to be replaced. To remove it, unplug the refrigerator and follow these steps:
Use the instructions for your refrigerator to make it easier to understand its technical device.
In addition to the condenser fan, your refrigerator also has an evaporator fan. When the refrigerant passes through the evaporator section of the cooling system, its temperature is very low. The evaporator cools the inside of the refrigerator by absorbing heat and supplying cold air.
The evaporator works efficiently as long as the fan performs its functions, helping to distribute cold air.
If the food in your Whirlpool refrigerator starts to spoil faster, look at the evaporator fan. There is an option that it failed for the same reasons – a short circuit, normal wear and tear. The longer a household appliance lasts, the more likely it is that the engine has stopped working due to wear and tear.
We recommend checking the evaporator fan motor windings for continuity with a multimeter. To do this, put the device in the continuity test mode. Press the desired key to enable continuity check. Connect the probes to the measuring circuit. If the integrity is not violated, you will hear a beep.
So, if the circuit breaks, you need to buy a new evaporator fan motor and replace the old one. How to do it:
Turn on the refrigerator, check the operation of the fan. Spinning means everything is fine, there will be no more problems with cooling products.
The temperature inside the refrigerator is controlled by a thermostat. It starts and stops the fan and compressor motors. If the refrigerator gets hot enough, the thermostat will energize the cooling system. Once it is cool enough, the thermostat will turn off the cooling.
If the thermostat is malfunctioning or not functioning at all, it will not supply power to the cooling system. As a result, the temperature in the refrigerator will remain high. Products will spoil quickly. Without the normal operation of the thermostat, the use of household appliances is meaningless.
You need to replace the temperature controller. It is located inside above the top shelf behind the door and is covered with a decorative panel. To remove it, you will need to dismantle the top door.
The thermostat may be in a different location. It all depends on the model of the refrigerator. Use the instructions from the manufacturer of the equipment to determine its location. We also recommend watching a video of replacing the temperature controller.
Disconnect the thermostat, put a new one in its place. Check the operation of the refrigerator.
The start relay powers the compressor, which pumps refrigerant into the condenser. If the refrigerator is warm, the relay commands the compressor to turn on, which starts the circulation of refrigerant through the refrigeration system, causing the refrigerator to cool.
A breakdown of the relay directly affects the ability of the refrigerator to perform its tasks. It will not keep the compressor running within the set time range or will not start it at all. This will result in the Whirlpool refrigerator not being able to cool food properly.
How to determine the relay failure? Pay attention to the presence of extraneous sounds. A clicking sound coming from the back of the refrigerator is an indicator that it is time to change the relay. In this case, the sound may appear even when the compressor is not running. Another clear sign of relay failure is the burning smell that appears after a short circuit.
Replace broken start relay. Turn the refrigerator with the wall towards you, lean towards the compressor. To the right or left of it, you will see a plastic protective case. The relay is inside, connected to the compressor.
Please note: if the relay is constantly working, this does not mean that the problem is in it. It’s most likely the compressor. Call a specialist who will diagnose or try to do everything yourself. To do this, take a current clamp and place one of the wires going to the compressor between them. Start the technique and see the current value. It should be in the range of 0.5-1 A. If the current consumption exceeds the rated current by an order of magnitude, then the compressor motor is faulty.
Whirlpool refrigerator not cooling or freezing
If there is no cold air in both chambers, the cause is probably the compressor or a fault in the main control board. In this case, there is light inside the refrigerator compartment, but the control panel does not respond to button presses. You won’t be able to enter diagnostic mode.
Whirlpool refrigerator not cooling well
If the refrigerator compartment is warm, inspect the condenser coil. It must be clean. Then the functioning of the sealed system of the refrigerator will be ensured.
Another reason is a refrigerant leak or insufficient charge. Contact the service center, because it will not be possible to solve the problem on your own.
Whirlpool refrigerator not cooling after power outage
The main control board fails as a result of power surges. Repair of this element is not very expensive. The exact price can be found after the diagnosis. In any case, the refrigerator will have to be taken to a service center or to call a specialist at home.
