Your milk is cold, but your ice cream is soft and your ice cubes are wet. A fridge that works while the freezer does not is a common problem, and it often points to a fault with the way cold air is shared between the two sections. It can happen in any home, including many across London.
This guide explains how a fridge freezer shares its cold air, the most common causes, what you can safely try at home and when to call an engineer.
If your fridge is cold but the freezer is not, the usual causes are a layer of ice on the cooling coil, a faulty evaporator fan, a defrost system fault, a bad temperature sensor or a stuck air flap. A cold room can also cause it. A full manual defrost can help temporarily, but if the problem comes back, a part has probably failed and needs an engineer.
How Does Cold Air Move Inside a Fridge Freezer?
Most modern frost-free fridge freezers have one cooling coil, called the evaporator, usually behind a panel at the back of the freezer. A small fan blows air over the coil, which chills the air. This cold air goes into the freezer first, and then a small flap or damper opens to let some of it into the fridge.
This means the fridge and the freezer depend on the same airflow. If the fan stops, or if ice builds up on the coil, the air cannot circulate properly. The freezer warms up, while the fridge, which needs a higher temperature, may still feel cold for a while. That is why a fridge can seem fine while the freezer is failing.
Why is the Freezer Not Working When the Fridge Is Cold?
1. Ice Build-Up on the Cooling Coil
Frost-free fridge freezers have a defrost system, with a small heater that melts frost on the coil every few hours. If the heater, the defrost thermostat, the timer or the control board fails, ice builds up on the coil and blocks the airflow. The freezer then loses its cooling, while a little air still reaches the fridge.
2. A Faulty Evaporator Fan
The fan moves cold air around the freezer. If the fan motor fails, or if the blades are caught on ice, air cannot flow and your frozen food starts to soften. A loud squeaking, grinding or clicking noise from the back of the freezer can be a warning sign. If your fridge freezer is making unusual sounds, our guide on why your fridge is making a buzzing or humming noise explains what is normal and what is not.
3. A Cold Room
If your fridge freezer is in a cold garage, shed or unheated utility room, it may not work properly. Many fridge freezers are designed for a minimum room temperature, often around 10°C. When the room is colder, the fridge section can reach its temperature quickly, so the compressor switches off before the freezer has cooled enough. The fridge stays cold, but the freezer warms up. Check your manual for the temperature range, and if the room is very cold, move the appliance or look for a model that is designed for garages.
4. A Stuck Air Flap or a Faulty Sensor
A small motorised flap controls how much cold air goes into the fridge. A temperature sensor tells the control board what is happening. If the sensor gives wrong readings, or the flap sticks in the wrong position, the freezer may not get the cooling it needs.
5. Other Causes
Worn door seals, blocked vents, an overloaded freezer or a freezer door that does not close properly can all let warm air in or block the airflow. Check these first, because they are simple to fix.
Warning Signs to Watch For
You will often see signs before the food spoils. Look out for soft ice cream and wet ice cubes, heavy frost on the back wall of the freezer, a loud squeak, click or grinding noise from the fan, ice forming around the vents and an alarm light or a code on the display. Digital fridge freezers may show an error code when a part fails. Codes vary by brand and model, so check your manual to see what yours means.
Simple Safe Steps to Try at Home
Turn off the power. Safety comes first. Switch the appliance off at the wall socket and unplug it before you touch anything.
Warning: Never open electrical panels or touch internal parts. Water and electricity are a dangerous mix. Contact a professional for any electrical work.
Clear the vents and check the seals. Open the freezer drawers, and check the vents on the back wall. Do not pack food against the back wall, and leave a few centimetres of space so air can move. Check the door seals for cracks or gaps, and make sure the doors close fully.
Do a full manual defrost. Thick ice on the coil can stop the fan. Switch off and unplug the appliance, move your food into a cool box with ice packs and leave both doors open until all the ice has melted. This often takes several hours or overnight. Use towels to catch the water, and never use sharp tools to chip ice, because you could puncture the cooling pipes. Our guide on how often you should defrost a freezer explains how to defrost safely. When you plug the appliance back in, give it time to get cold again, which can take several hours, before you put the food back.
Check the room temperature. If the appliance is in a cold room, move it somewhere warmer, or warm the room, and see if the freezer improves.
Check the food. If frozen food has fully thawed, do not refreeze it. Food that has only started to soften and still has ice crystals may be safe, but if you are unsure, throw it away.
When Should You Call an Engineer?
A manual defrost can help in the short term, but if the freezer warms up again within days, a part has probably failed. Call an engineer if:
- The freezer warms up again after a full defrost.
- The ice comes back within a couple of weeks.
- The fan makes a loud grinding noise.
- An error code stays on the display.
- The fridge freezer trips your fuse box.
- You notice a burning smell.
An engineer will test the defrost heater, the thermostat, the fan motor, the sensors and the control board, and replace any faulty parts safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a faulty sensor make the fridge cold and the freezer warm?
Yes. A faulty temperature sensor can send wrong information to the control board, so the freezer is not cooled properly while the fridge stays cold.
How long does a freezer take to get cold again after defrosting?
It can take several hours, and sometimes up to a day, depending on the model. Check your manual, and wait until the freezer reaches its normal temperature, usually around -18°C, before you reload it with food.
Why is my freezer making a noise?
A grinding or clicking noise often means the fan blades are hitting ice or the fan motor is failing. A faulty fan needs an engineer.
Is it worth repairing a freezer that will not freeze?
Often, yes. A fault such as a failed fan motor or defrost heater is usually cheaper to repair than buying a new appliance, but it depends on the age of the appliance and the part. An engineer can give you advice.
Need Help With a Freezer That Will Not Freeze?
If your freezer is failing to freeze, or your fridge freezer is making loud noises or showing error codes, do not wait until your food spoils. Our trained and insured engineers cover all London boroughs and work on Bosch, Samsung, Beko, Hotpoint, Indesit, LG, Siemens and other major brands, with a guarantee on parts and labour. We repair fan motors, defrost heaters, sensors and control boards.
If the simple checks have not solved the problem, book a visit for Fridge Freezer Repair in London and get honest advice and clear pricing. Contact London Appliance Repair now.