Why is my refrigerator not cooling?

Wondering what's going on in there?

How your fridge stays cold, in plain English

A fridge doesn't make cold. It moves heat out of the box and into your kitchen. That's why the bottom or back of a fridge feels warm.

Each number matches a step below. The fridge has no cold-maker of its own. Its cold air comes from the freezer.

The compressor pumps. This is the hum you hear. It pushes a cooling liquid, called refrigerant, through sealed pipes.
Coils let the heat out. The condenser coils at the bottom or back give off heat into the room. A small fan blows air across them.
Cold coils make cold air. Behind the freezer's back wall, the refrigerant gets very cold. A fan blows air across these coils and into the freezer. A small heater melts the frost here a few times a day.
A flap sends cold air to the fridge. Pros call it the air damper. It opens when the fridge needs cooling.

So a warm fridge usually comes from one of these:

A setting, the power, or a door that doesn't seal.
The heat can't get out: dusty coils or a stopped coil fan. Both sections warm up.
The cold air can't reach the fridge: frost, a stopped freezer fan, a stuck flap, or food against the vents. The freezer stays cold.
The cooling itself failed: the compressor, its start part, or a refrigerant leak.

That's why the questions at the top ask whether the freezer is still cold. It splits the causes in half.

Who to call

Rather not do it yourself? Call an appliance repair tech.

That's a fine choice. Maybe you're busy. Maybe you're selling the house and just want it done right. An appliance repair tech can find out why it isn't cooling and fix it.

$120–$400New fan or defrost part

$200–$1,000New compressor

Most repair companies charge $60–$150 to come out, and many put that toward the repair.

Find refrigerator repair near you

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What to say

Calling a pro? Here's what to say.

A few lines to read when they pick up, and the questions to ask before anyone comes out.

Before you call

Under a year old? Call the maker first.

Store protection plan? Call them first.

4.5 stars or more, and works on your brand.

Say this

Hi. My refrigerator isn't cooling. When's the soonest you can get here? And what's your fee for the visit? Does it go toward the repair?

Always ask

What's your fee to come out, and does it go toward the repair?
Do you work on my brand, and can you bring the likely part on the first visit?
Will you tell me the full price before you start any work?

Watch out if

They push a brand-new appliance on the first visit for a small problem.
They won't give you a price before starting.
They want you to pay for parts before they've found the problem.

Feeling pushed to decide on the spot? You can say no and hang up. You owe nothing for a phone call.

Know what's wrong before they come

Answer up to 5 quick questions. We'll give you the words a pro uses.

Answer the questions →

More of a list person?

Common symptoms, causes, tests and costs

Find the row that sounds like your fridge. The quick test is something you can check yourself in a few minutes.

What you notice	What it probably is	Quick test	Do it yourself	With a pro	Verdict
No light, no sound, display dark	The fridge isn't getting power	Plug a lamp or phone charger into the same outlet	Free	Not needed	FIXSee the answer: The fridge isn't getting power
Set warm or off; screen says Demo, Showroom or Cooling Off	The setting is wrong	Look at the controls inside or on the door	Free	Not needed	FIXSee the answer: The setting is wrong
Just installed or just loaded with a lot of food	It just needs more time	Give it 24 hours and check again	Free	Not needed	FIXSee the answer: It just needs more time
Freezer cold, fridge warm; food pushed against the vents	Food is blocking the cold air	Look for food touching the vents in the fridge	Free	Not needed	FIXSee the answer: Food is blocking the cold air
Dollar bill slides out easily; seal dirty, torn or flat	The door seal is leaking cold air	Close the door on a dollar bill and pull it out	Free	$60–$300	FIXSee the answer: The door seal is leaking cold air
Both sections cool or warm; coils thick with dust	Dusty coils can't get rid of heat	Pull off the bottom grille and look at the coils	$0–$60	$60–$130	FIXSee the answer: Dusty coils can't get rid of heat
Freezer cold, fridge warm; thick frost on the freezer's back wall	Frost is blocking the cold air	Look for thick frost on the back wall of the freezer	Pro job	$120–$400	CALLSee the answer: Frost is blocking the cold air
Freezer cold, fridge warm; no fan sound, no air from the vents	The freezer fan stopped	Press the door light button and listen for the freezer fan	Pro job	$120–$400	CALLSee the answer: The freezer fan stopped
Freezer cold, fridge warm; the fan runs and the vents are clear	The cold-air door or its temperature sensor	Freezer cold, fan running, vents clear, fridge still warm	Pro job	$100–$400	CALLSee the answer: The cold-air door or its temperature sensor
Both sections warm; the fan by the coils isn't spinning	The coil fan stopped	While it hums, look for the fan near the bottom back	Pro job	$120–$350	CALLSee the answer: The coil fan stopped
Clicks every few minutes but never runs, or stays silent	The compressor or the small part that starts it	Listen near the bottom back for a click every few minutes	Pro job	$200–$1,000	CALLSee the answer: The compressor or the small part that starts it
Runs all the time; coils clean, fan spins, still not cold	A refrigerant leak	Clean coils, spinning fan, and it still won't get cold	Pro job	$150–$1,400	CALLSee the answer: A refrigerant leak
Silent or not cooling, and the other parts check out	A problem with the fridge's brain	Rule out everything else first	Pro job	$200–$1,000	CALLSee the answer: A problem with the fridge's brain

2026 U.S. averages, rounded. Pro prices include parts and labor. Most repair companies charge $60–$150 to come out, and many put that toward the repair. Nights, weekends and big cities cost more. See all repair prices

Want proof it's working?

The glass-of-water test

A thermometer tells you more than your hand can. You need a kitchen thermometer and a glass of water.

Put a glass of water on the middle shelf of the fridge.
Leave it for at least an hour without opening the door much.
Put the thermometer in the water and read it after a minute.
It should read 40 degrees or below. Around 37 degrees is ideal.
Do the same in the freezer with a thermometer between two frozen packages. It should read about 0 degrees.

Fridge 40 or below: it's working.
Fridge above 40, freezer near 0: cold air isn't reaching the fridge. Take the questions at the top.
Both too warm: the fridge can't get rid of its heat, or the cooling failed. Take the questions at the top.

Not sure it's safe to keep running?

Unplug it right away if…

You smell burning or see smoke from the back or bottom.
The breaker trips again after one reset.
The plug or outlet feels hot, or looks scorched.
You hear loud grinding or banging from the bottom back.

And keep your food safe: food in a fridge above 40 degrees for more than 2 hours may not be safe to eat. When in doubt, throw it out.

Got a big repair quote?

Should you repair it or replace it?

Most fridge repairs cost a few hundred dollars. Angi puts the average at about $275, with most jobs between $150 and $400. A new fridge runs about $675 to $3,000. Ask yourself three things:

How old is it? Most fridges last about 10–15 years, some longer. The date is on the sticker inside.
Is it under warranty? Compressors and sealed parts often have longer coverage than the rest of the fridge.
The half rule. If the repair costs more than half the price of a new fridge, get a replacement price too.

Example: a $200 fan motor on a 6-year-old fridge is worth doing. A $1,000 compressor on a 13-year-old fridge is worth comparing with a new one.

Ran into a word you don't know?

Fridge words, explained

Tap through these before you go looking. The drawings show roughly what each part looks like.

Temperature control: The dial or screen where you set how cold the fridge and freezer get.
Door seal (gasket): The rubber strip around the door that keeps cold air in.
Vents: Small slots inside the fridge where cold air from the freezer comes in.
Condenser coils: Metal coils at the bottom or back that let heat out into the room.
Coil fan (condenser fan): A small fan near the bottom back that blows air across the coils.
Freezer fan (evaporator fan): A small fan behind the freezer's back wall. It blows cold air into the freezer and fridge.
Defrost heater: A small heater behind the freezer's back wall that melts frost a few times a day.
Air damper: A small flap that opens to let cold air from the freezer into the fridge.
Thermistor: A small sensor that tells the fridge how cold it is inside.
Compressor: The pump at the bottom back that moves the cooling liquid. It's what hums.
Start relay: A small part clipped to the compressor that helps it start.
Refrigerant: The cooling liquid that runs through the fridge's sealed pipes. Only certified techs can work with it.
Control board: The fridge's brain. A circuit board that turns the compressor, fans and defrost on and off.
Breaker: A safety switch in your home's breaker box (the gray metal panel).
Model number: A code on a sticker inside the fridge. You need it to order the right part.

Still have questions?

Questions people ask most

Why is my fridge not cold but the freezer is?

When the freezer is cold but the fridge isn't, something is blocking the cold air the fridge gets from the freezer. It's usually frost on the back wall, a stopped freezer fan, a stuck flap, or food against the vents.

Is a refrigerator that's not cooling an emergency?

A refrigerator that's not cooling is urgent because of your food, but usually not dangerous. Food above 40 degrees for more than 2 hours may not be safe, so keep the doors shut and move food to coolers if it's warming. Unplug it and call if you smell burning, see smoke, or the plug feels hot.

How long does a fridge take to get cold?

A fridge can take up to 24 hours to get cold when it's new or after a big load of groceries. Keep the doors closed and leave space for air to move.

What temperature should my fridge be?

A fridge should be 40 degrees or below, ideally around 37. The freezer should be around 0 degrees.

Can I fix a fridge that's not cooling myself?

You can often fix a fridge that's not cooling yourself. Settings, blocked vents, a dirty door seal and dusty coils are all do-it-yourself fixes. Fans, defrost parts, the compressor and refrigerant are jobs for a pro.

Will unplugging my fridge reset it?

Unplugging it for 5 minutes resets the control board on many models. If the freezer's back wall is iced over, check your maker's instructions first. On many fridges, unplugging it for about 24 hours with the doors open melts the ice for now. The frost will come back until the defrost part is fixed.

Why does my fridge work in the house but not in the garage?

A fridge may work in the house but not in the garage because many aren't made for very hot or very cold garages. Whirlpool notes that indoor models may struggle there. Check your manual for the temperatures it's rated for.

Who do I call for a refrigerator that's not cooling?

Call an appliance repair tech who works on refrigerators. If it's under warranty, call the maker first. The setting, the vents, the door seal and the coils are free checks to try before anyone comes.

How much does it cost to fix a fridge that's not cooling?

Fixing a fridge that's not cooling often costs nothing, if it's the setting, the vents, the seal or the coils. A fan motor runs about $120–$400. A compressor runs about $200–$1,000.

How we built this

The questions follow the order an appliance tech checks a warm fridge: power and settings, whether the freezer is still cold, then the freezer's fan and frost or the coils and coil fan, and last the door seal. Each answer makes some causes more likely and others less likely.

Prices are 2026 national averages from published repair-cost guides, rounded. Your local prices will differ.

How we make money: some links go to parts stores that pay us a small commission, and some pro listings pay us when you call them. Verdicts come from the diagnosis, not from who pays more.