So one day you wake up and decide to prepare a nice chilled cup of cold coffee. You go to get milk from the fridge but what you see is that all the things which you have kept inside it have gone bad. The very first thing to enter your mind would be that the fridge’s control board has become faulty due to which the whole system has shut down.
Little do you know is that only the fridge section has stopped working and not the freezer part. So now you are worried about your Kenmore Fridge not cooling but the freezer working perfectly fine.
Kenmore Fridge not Cooling but Freezer Working – Potential Reasons
Don’t panic yet as I am here to help you regarding this issue. First of all you need to stay calm if you really want to solve this issue. I will be providing you several DIY solutions which, if applied correctly, will help you get rid of this issue. Following are the potential reasons why your Kenmore fridge has stopped cooling but the freezer is working.
- Overstuffing
- Dirty Condenser Coils
- Defective Evaporator Fan Motor
- Faulty Thermistor
- Failure of Defrost System
How to Deal with these Potential Issues?
This section will talk about the solutions which you can adopt in order to solve the above mentioned issues. I will be explaining the issue first and then jumping to its solution part so stay tuned!
Also Check: 4 Ways To Find Kenmore Refrigerator Size By Model Number
Overstuffing:
So one of the most basic and common reasons why your Kenmore fridge doesn’t cool but the freezer works fine is overstuffing. When the fridge section gets full, air refuses to circulate properly and as a result the fridge gets warmed up.
Fix Method:
The fix for overstuffing is simple and straightforward – don’t overstuff your fridge. Keeping too much food in the freezer will cause the refrigerator to warm up so it is recommended to put only ¾ items in the fridge so the air gets circulated easily. Make sure that the vents which run between your freezer and refrigerator are not covered.
Dirty Condenser Coils:
Another reason for your Kenmore fridge not working is the presence of dirty condenser coils. These coils are present on the bottom or back of the refrigerator and can become clogged with debris, pet hair and dust. The presence of such coils will restrict the refrigerator to not perform cooling.
How to clean the condenser coils?
To clean the condenser coils you need to follow the below mentioned steps.
- Unplug the fridge.
- Make sure to vacuum the coils using a brush attachment.
- Take some coil cleaning solution and wipe down the coils with it.
- Now rinse the coils with water and dry them using a clean cloth.
- If you cannot locate the condenser coils then use the user manual and take help from it.
Defective Evaporator Fan Motor
The evaporator fan motor is present in the freezer and is responsible for circulating air throughout the fridge. In case the fan motor gets faulty, the freezer will continue working but unfortunately the refrigerator won’t.
Fix Method
- First you need to ensure that there is nothing blocking the path of fan blades.
- Make sure the fan motor is getting power correctly.
- If it is getting enough power and still not working then you need to make a replacement for it.
- Last but not the least, check the evaporator fan motor for possible blockages and make sure that it is getting power before replacing it.
Faulty Thermistor
A thermistor is responsible for monitoring the air temperature in the fridge. So if you experience your Kenmore fridge not cooling then it could be due to the presence of a faulty thermistor.
Fix Method
In order to make sure that the thermistor is actually faulty, you need to test it.
- Unplug the fridge.
- Remove the panel present on the back of your freezer compartment.
- Find the thermistor and test it using a multimeter.
- If there is no continuity shown then you need to buy a new thermistor.
Failure of Defrost System
Last but not the least, you have to consider the possibility of the defrost system to be a failure. Defrost system is responsible for melting ice buildup and frost on the evaporator coils. If your freezer is cold but the refrigerator is not cooling then a failed defrost system might be the real culprit behind it.
There are multiple reasons why your defrost system could growthinsta fail but the most considered one is the presence of a faulty defrost timer. The timer controls when and how often the freezer enters the defrost mode. In case it has gone faulty, your Kenmore refrigerator will stop working.
Fix Method
Make sure the defrost timer is working properly. In case it has become faulty, you need to make a quick replacement for it.
Then the next thing is to make sure the defrost system is working properly. If the case is otherwise then your fridge will stop working but the freezer will continue to operate. But if you are unable to troubleshoot the issue then you need to call the refrigerator repair company to get help from.
Also check: GE Cafe Refrigerator Problems
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my fridge not getting cold but the freezer is?
If your Kenmore fridge or any other fridge isn’t working but the freezer is fine then it might be due to leakbio the presence of a faulty defrost system. The defrost system is responsible for melting ice buildup and frost on the evaporator coils.
How do I get my fridge to start cooling again?
Following are the steps to perform when you come across a faulty refrigerator.
- Examine the power plug.
- Make the appropriate adjustments to the thermostat.
- Clean the inside vents properly.
- Inspect the door gaskets as well and create more space.
- Check the door switch.
Didn’t find any luck? Call a technician right away!
Concluding Thoughts:
Coming across a faulty fridge having an operational freezer section could be hard to troubleshoot but I have made this painful task easier for you. Follow the above DIY solutions and check whether the issue still persists or not. If the issue didn’t get resolved then call a technician to get the job done in the right way.
Jennifer is a seasoned writer and editor who plays a crucial role in our team. Growing up in an environment where appliance repairs were a common sight, she developed a genuine passion for DIY appliance troubleshooting.
Jennifer’s knowledge encompasses a variety of appliances, and she excels at demystifying complex issues. Whether it’s refrigerators, air conditioners, or microwaves, she’s dedicated to providing clear, actionable solutions.
Jennifer keeps a vigilant eye on emerging DIY trends, always eager to share innovative techniques with our readers. Her mission is to inspire individuals, especially women, to embrace appliance troubleshooting as an achievable skill.