If your Danby refrigerator is not cooling or your fridge not getting cold, start with the usual suspects: dirty condenser coils are the top cause—when debris builds up under the unit the compressor works harder and the fridge can stop cooling at all, so clean the coils first. Next check the temperature settings; set the freezer between 0 and 5 F and the refrigerator between 34 and 40 F and give it up to 24 hours to stabilize. If cooling still fails, inspect the condenser fan motor that pulls air over the coils and the evaporator fan motor that circulates cold air into the fresh food section—if the evaporator fan is bad the freezer may stay cold while the fridge warms. Also check the door gasket for gaps and confirm the unit has proper incoming power and no tripped breaker. You can test fan blades by hand and use a multimeter for motor continuity before replacing parts. Enter your model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact replacement condenser fan motor, evaporator fan motor, door gasket, or other parts that fit your refrigerator.
01 - Condenser Coils are Dirty
As debris builds up on the condenser coils, usually located under the refrigerator, the appliance will become less efficient and will have to cycle on more often to maintain a cool temperature. If the condenser coils are significantly clogged with debris, the compressor may overheat and shut off prematurely, preventing the appliance from cooling at all. The condenser coils should be cleaned every 6 to 12 months by using a soft bristle brush (or a dedicated condenser coil cleaning brush) to wipe off the coils in a circular motion. A vacuum cleaner with a nozzle attachment can also be used for hard-to-reach areas.
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02 - Freezer or refrigerator temperature is set too high
Verify the freezer temperature is set between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 to -15 Celsius). Verify the refrigerator temperature is set between 34 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit (1 to 5 Celsius). After resetting the temperature wait 24 hours for the temperature to adjust appropriately.
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03 - Danby Refrigerator Condenser Fan Motor
The condenser fan motor draws air though the condenser coils and over the compressor. If the condenser fan motor is not working properly, the refrigerator won’t cool properly. To determine if the fan motor is defective, first check the fan blade for obstructions. Next, try turning the fan motor blade by hand. If the blade does not spin freely, replace the condenser fan motor. If no obstructions are present and the fan blade spins freely, use a multimeter to test the fan motor for continuity. If the condenser fan motor does not have continuity, replace it.
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The evaporator fan motor draws air over the evaporator (cooling) coils and circulates it throughout the refrigerator and freezer compartments. Some refrigerators have more than one evaporator fan motor. On refrigerators with only one evaporator, the evaporator is located in the freezer compartment. If the evaporator fan is not working, it will not circulate the cold air to the refrigerator compartment. If this occurs, the freezer may still get cold, while the refrigerator will not get cold. To determine if the evaporator fan motor is defective, try turning the fan blade by hand. If the fan blade does not turn freely, repla...ce the fan motor. Additionally, if the motor is unusually noisy, replace it. Finally, if the motor does not run at all, use a multimeter to test the motor windings for continuity. If the windings do not have continuity, replace the evaporator fan motor.
A refrigerator door gasket should form an airtight seal around the appliance's frame to keep the cold air in and the warm air out. If the door gasket is twisted or torn, gaps can form that will allow warm air in, resulting in the refrigerator not cooling properly. Inspect the door gasket for any damage and replace with a new one if necessary.
Ensure plug is tightly pushed into a regular electrical outlet and the outlet is supplying power. Using a ground fault outlet for a refrigerator is not recommended. Confirm that no circuit breakers have tripped or fuses have blown.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Danby refrigerator not cooling?
Freezer cold but fridge warm: why is the freezer working but the refrigerator not cooling?
How do I check and replace a condenser or evaporator fan motor?
My refrigerator runs constantly — could dirty condenser coils be the cause?
How do I enter my model number or part number on RepairClinic.com to get the right replacement part?