If your Ikea refrigerator is not cooling or your fridge not getting cold, start with the things that usually cause the problem: dirty condenser coils are the most common culprit, so pull the fridge out and clean the coils beneath it with a soft brush or vacuum to restore airflow before doing anything else. Next verify temperature settings—set the freezer to 0 to 5°F and the refrigerator to 34 to 40°F and allow 24 hours for the temps to stabilize. If cleaning and settings do not help, check the condenser fan motor that cools the compressor and the evaporator fan motor that circulates cold air; a seized or electrically open fan will make the fridge warm while the freezer stays cold. Also inspect the door gasket for tears or gaps that let warm air in, and confirm the unit has proper power at the outlet and no tripped breakers. If you need replacement parts—condenser fan motor, evaporator fan, door gasket or others—enter your model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact part that fits 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.
Top Solution
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.
Top Solution
03 - Ikea 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.
Enter model number to search for the required part specific to your product
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.
Highly Likely
Frequently Asked Questions
Refrigerator not cooling — what should I check first?
Freezer cold but fridge warm — what causes that?
How do I know if the condenser fan motor is bad?
How often and how should I clean the condenser coils?
How do I enter my model number on RepairClinic.com to find the right replacement part?