❄️ Troubleshooting guide

Refrigerator not cooling

A fridge that's running but not cold is one of the most common calls we get in New Orleans — and the cause is usually one of a handful of parts. Here's how to narrow it down safely before it costs you a fridge full of food.

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Most likely causes

What's actually going on

Dirty condenser coilsIn Louisiana heat, coils caked with dust and pet hair can't shed heat, so the fridge runs but never gets cold. Cleaning them fixes a surprising number of "not cooling" calls.
Evaporator fan not runningIf the freezer is cold but the fridge is warm, the fan that moves cold air between them has usually failed. You'll often hear silence where a soft whir should be.
Frozen defrost systemA failed defrost heater or timer lets frost pack the coils solid until air can't pass — the fridge slowly warms over a day or two.
Start relay or compressorIf nothing is running at all and you hear a click every few minutes, the start relay or compressor may be the culprit — a tech-level fix.

Check it yourself

Safe steps before you call

Work through these in order — they're the same first checks a good technician makes.

Check the settings and the door. Make sure the temp dial wasn't bumped and the door is sealing — a warm kitchen and a weak gasket alone can warm a fridge.
Pull it out and clean the coils. Unplug it, find the coils (back or bottom-front behind the kick plate), and vacuum them clean. Give it 24 hours to recover.
Listen for the fans. Open the freezer and listen. Silence with a warm fridge points to a dead evaporator fan.
Feel for airflow. No cold air coming through the freezer vents usually means a frost-blocked or fan problem — time to call.

When to call a pro: If the coils are clean, the door seals, and it's still warm after a day — or you hear clicking with no cooling — the next steps involve sealed-system and electrical work. That's where 4U comes in: Andre pinpoints it and quotes you upfront before any parts.

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