Refrigerator and freezer not cold

Hi @josephdroege

If the condenser unit (located near the compressor motor) is clogged with dust then the heat absorbed by the refrigerant gas as it passes through the evaporator unit in the freezer compartment cannot be released as quickly when it passes through the condenser unit, which reduces the cooling efficiency of the cooling system. If the condenser unit is clogged with dust etc, try vacuuming it clean. After vacuuming, reconnect the power and then allow a bit of time before checking the temperatures in both compartments. Be safety aware and disconnect the power to the refrigerator before vacuuming

What are the actual temperatures in both compartments e.g. freezer should be ~0°F and refrigerator ~37°F - 40°F?

Depending on the actual temperatures in each compartment gives an indication of what may be wrong and what to check.

For example, if both compartments are >50°F then it could be a sealed system problem e.g. faulty compressor (is it running?), a blockage in the evaporator unit or filter dryer or even a leak of refrigerant gas from the sealed system.

If it is a sealed system problem then depending on your location you may need to have a licensed repairer check it out, due to the environmental regulations regarding the handling of refrigerant gases. Also they have the necessary equipment to access the sealed system to check if it is OK or not.

How old is the refrigerator and have you had it since new? There's a 5 year manufacturer's warranty on the sealed system and a 10 year manufacturer's warranty on the compressor in your model. Bear this in mind if it is a sealed system problem. The sealed system comprises the compressor, evaporator, condenser, drier and connecting tubing.

If the temperatures are not cold enough, (as in the example above) but nearer to what they should be for each compartment, then here are some some things to check.

Can you hear if the evaporator fan (inside the freezer compartment behind a panel) is running? It will stop when the door is opened and start again when the door is closed. It will be running as long as the compressor motor is running.

If the fan is not running, this could be due to a faulty fan, faulty fan power supply, faulty door reed switch or perhaps it is an auto defrost problem.

It there's a defrost problem, what can happen is that instead of all the ice which accumulates on the evaporator unit being melted during every auto defrost cycle, it builds up and eventually covers the fan which stops it working and this causes the temperature (mainly the temp in the refrigerator compartment) to rise higher than it should. Usually the freezer temp is OK as this is where the evaporator unit (which produces the cold temp) is located.

If there's a defrost problem this could be due to a faulty defrost heater, a faulty defrost thermostat, a blocked drain leading from below the evaporator unit in the freezer to the evaporator pan under the cabinet near the compressor motor or a faulty control board.

Hopefully a start to finding out what's wrong.