Why Your Refrigerator Stops Cooling (And When to Call a Pro)

By Fairview Appliance Repair · 7/28/2026

A refrigerator that will not stay cold is stressful, but the cause is usually one of a handful of parts. Before you write off the whole unit, run through the basics.

Start with airflow and cleaning

Pull the fridge out and vacuum the condenser coils on the back or underneath. Dust-caked coils cannot shed heat, so the compressor runs constantly and still loses the fight. Make sure nothing is blocking the vents inside the fresh-food and freezer compartments either, since packed shelves choke the cold air that is supposed to circulate.

Common failure points

If the coils are clean and it still is not cooling, the usual suspects are a failed evaporator fan, a defrost system that has iced over, a bad start relay on the compressor, or worn door gaskets letting cold air leak out. A technician can test each of these in a single visit and tell you which one is at fault.

When to call us

If the freezer works but the fridge does not, or you hear the compressor clicking on and off, those are signs worth a same-day look. We quote a flat rate before we start, and if the unit is genuinely past its life we will tell you that instead of selling you parts.