KitchenAid Refrigerator Not Cooling? Here’s Why

If your KitchenAid refrigerator is not cooling, then it could be due to a number of different problems. If you check each of the components that we list in this article, you should be able to find the culprit and fix it. Thankfully, most of the components are quite straightforward to fix.

This guide covers most major models of KitchenAid refrigerators, including:

4KFRF19MTW00

4KSRF22DTW00

4KSRF36DTX1

4KSRF36DTX2

4KSRF42DTX2

4KSRS22QAA01

KSRD25FKBL14

KSRD25FKBL15

KSRD25FKBL16

KSRD25FKBT14

KSRD25FKBT15

KSRD25FKBT16

KSRD25FKSS14

KSRD25FKSS15

KSRD25FKSS16

KSRD25FKST15

KSRD25FKST16

KSRD25FKWH03

KSRD25FKWH14

KSRD25FKWH15

KSRD25FKWH16

Condenser Coils

The condenser coils help keep the refrigerator cool by dissipating heat when the refrigerant passes through them. Sometimes they get dirty, and this adversely affects their ability to keep your refrigerator cool.

To check the coils:

1. Find the condenser coils – you should be able to find them under the fridge.
2. Inspect the coils to see if they are dirty.
3. If dirty, give them a good clean (you can use a vacuum cleaner to vacuum up the dust).
4. Once cleaned, plug the refrigerator back in and see if the problem is fixed (you might have to monitor the refrigerator for 6 hours or so).

Condenser Fan Motor

If the condenser coils are fine, the next component to check is the condenser fan. The purpose of this fan is to spread air through the condenser coils onto the compressor. When it stops working, your refrigerator won’t cool.

Here’s how to check the condenser fan motor:

1. Make sure the refrigerator power is turned off.
2. Locate the condenser fan.
3. Check that no obvious objects are obstructing the fan from moving around. If not, try to turn the fan the whole way around by hand.
4. If the fan cannot move the whole way around, this means it is faulty and needs to be replaced.
5. If it can move around, use a multimeter to test the fan. If the fan motor is working correctly, the test will show it has continuity, and if it isn’t working, the test will show it doesn’t have continuity.
6. If it fails the continuity test, you’ll need to replace the condenser fan motor.

Evaporator Fan Motor

Your refrigerator will also have an evaporator fan motor. Like the condenser fan motor, this one can sometimes become faulty, which stops your refrigerator from being able to cool.

To check the evaporator fan motor:

1. Locate the evaporator fan – you can find it in the freezer compartment.
2. When the refrigerator is running, listen to the fan motor to see if it is noisy, and if so, this is a sign that the motor is faulty and needs to be replaced.
3. If the motor isn’t noisy, the next thing you want to do is turn the refrigerator off.
4. Next, attempt to turn the fan blade around by hand. If the fan blade does not turn freely, replace the fan motor.
5. If the motor isn’t working at all, then use a multimeter to test the motor windings for continuity.
6. If the test shows that the windings do not have continuity, you’ll need to replace the evaporator fan motor.

Start Relay

The next component to check is the start relay. It helps your refrigerator cool by working with the start winding to start the compressor.

Here’s how to check if it is faulty:

1. Make sure that the refrigerator is turned off.
2. Locate the start relay. If you can smell a burnt smell, the start relay is likely defective and needs to be replaced. If there is no burnt smell, use a multimeter to test it for continuity (between the run and start terminal sockets).
3. If the continuity test shows no continuity, you’ll need to replace it.

Temperature Control Thermostat

Another possible cause is a faulty temperature control thermostat. This component is very important because it directs voltage to the compressor, evaporator fan motor, and condenser fan motor.

Here’s how to check the temperature control thermostat:

1. Make sure the refrigerator is still turned off.
2. Locate the thermostat.
3. Turn the thermostat from its highest setting to its lowest setting, and listen to see if you can hear a click sound. If you hear the click sound, this means the thermostat is working correctly, and you can move on to checking the next component.
4. If you don’t hear a click sound, you’ll need to use a multimeter to test it for continuity.
5. If it has continuity, it is working fine, and if not, it needs to be replaced.

Start Capacitor

The next component to check is the start capacitor. This component is important because it provides a boost of power to the compressor when it is trying to start up. When it becomes faulty, your refrigerator won’t be able to cool.

Here’s how to test it:

1. Make sure the refrigerator is turned off.
2. Locate the start capacitor and then use a multimeter to test it for continuity.
3. If it has continuity, it is working fine, and if not, it needs to be replaced.

Thermistor

The thermistor is the next component to check. This component monitors the refrigerator temperature, which it then sends to the control board. If it becomes faulty, it might send the wrong temperature reading, and this will adversely affect your refrigerator operation.

To check the thermistor:

1. Make sure that the refrigerator is still turned off.
2. Locate the thermistor and test it with a multimeter.
3. The test should show that the resistance changes when the refrigerator temperature changes. If this doesn’t happen, you will need to replace the thermistor.

Compressor

The compressor helps to circulate refrigerant through the evaporator and condenser coils. Sometimes it can become faulty (but not very often) and will have to be replaced.

Here’s how to test the compressor:

1. Ensure that the refrigerator is still turned off at the power source.
2. Locate the compressor and then use a multimeter to test it for continuity (you need to place the probes between the electrical pins – which you can find on the side of the compressor).
3. If the test shows that there is an open circuit, you will have to replace the compressor unit. You should only attempt this repair if you are qualified to do so.

Temperature Control Board

The temperature control board helps the compressor and fan motors to operate by providing voltage to them. When it fails, it will stop your cooling system from working correctly. The temperature control board very rarely breaks down, so only consider replacing it if you’ve tried all of the other components listed in this article. Once you’ve replaced the board, check to see if the problem has been solved.

Main Control Board

The final repair you can try if you’ve tried everything else to get your refrigerator working correctly is to replace the main control board. It very rarely is the cause of this problem, so it might be best to purchase a new refrigerator.