Fridge Not Cooling? 4 Things to Check Before You Call a Repair Tech

A fridge that’s not cooling properly is one of the most common calls we get in Hobart — and the good news is that a surprising number of these faults are things you can rule out yourself before booking a technician.

1. Check the door seal first

A worn or dirty door seal (gasket) is the single most common reason a fridge struggles to stay cold. Close the door on a piece of paper — if you can pull the paper out easily, the seal isn’t holding properly. Wipe the gasket down with warm soapy water; food residue and grime are often the real culprit, not a faulty seal.

2. Give the coils a clean

The condenser coils, usually at the back or underneath the fridge, radiate heat away from the unit. When they’re covered in a season’s worth of dust and pet hair, the compressor has to work much harder — and sometimes can’t keep up. Unplug the fridge and vacuum the coils every six months or so.

3. Check the temperature setting

It sounds obvious, but a knock to the dial (or a curious toddler) is more common than you’d think. Fridges should sit between 3°C and 5°C, and freezers at -18°C.

4. Don’t overpack it

Cold air needs to circulate. A fridge packed floor to ceiling after a big shop can’t maintain even temperatures, and food near the door can sit several degrees warmer than the back.

When it’s time to call a technician

If you’ve checked all of the above and the fridge still isn’t cooling, or you’re hearing unusual noises, seeing ice buildup, or noticing water pooling underneath, it’s likely a compressor, thermostat or refrigerant issue — and that’s a job for a qualified technician rather than a DIY fix.

Fridges that sit warm for too long risk spoiling everything inside them, so if in doubt, get it looked at sooner rather than later.

Our Hobart technicians diagnose most fridge faults on the first visit, with upfront pricing before any work begins.