Tools Required

• Socket/ratchet set
• Wire stripper/cutter
• Materials Required
• Evaporator fan and/or condenser fan

Problem: Fridge Not Cooling

There are several possible causes when a refrigerator doesn’t keep your milk cold or your ice cream frozen. Before you attempt more complex repairs, try these simple fixes if your refrigerator is not cooling and if your freezer is not working:

• Be sure the fridge is plugged in and getting power. The light should come on when you open the door.
• Check the thermostat to make sure it hasn’t been turned way down by mistake.
• Be sure the vents on the back of the freezer compartment aren’t blocked by boxes of ice cream or frozen vegetables—the vents have to be clear for cold air to circulate.
• Vacuum the coils under or behind the fridge. Clogged coils can cause poor cooling.
• Check to make sure nothing is stuck in the condenser fan and that it spins freely (models with coils on the back won’t have a fan). To do this, unplug the fridge and pull it out. Clean the fan blades and spin the fan by hand to see if it’s stuck. Plugin the fridge and make sure the fan runs when the compressor is running. If the fan doesn’t run, see the directions below, which show how to replace it.

Replace the Refrigerator Evaporator Fan

If you can hear the compressor running but the fridge isn’t cooling, the problem is most likely either frost-clogged evaporator coils or a stuck or broken evaporator fan. Evaporator fans often squeal or chirp when they start to go bad. You’ll know it’s the evaporator fan if the noise gets louder when you open the freezer door. The evaporator coils and fan are located behind a cover in the freezer compartment

If you remove the cover inside the freezer and find the coils completely filled with frost, take everything out of the freezer and fridge, unplug it and let it thaw for 24 to 48 hours. Keep a few towels handy to soak up water that may leak onto the floor. When all the frost is melted away, plug the fridge back in. If it works, the problem may be a defrost timer, defrost heater or defrost thermostat. Replacing these parts isn’t difficult, but figuring out which is faulty requires troubleshooting that we won’t cover here. Call a pro if you suspect a problem with these parts.

Normally the refrigerator condenser fan and compressor, located near the floor on the back of most refrigerators, come on when the thermostat calls for more cooling. If you don’t hear the compressor running after the door has been left open for a while, it could mean the condenser fan is stuck or worn out or that the relay or compressor is bad.

Project step-by-step (6)

Step 1: Remove Cover

Remove the cover to inspect the refrigerator evaporator and to access the evaporator fan. The screws may be covered with plastic plugs that you pry out.

Step 2: Remove Fan Cover

If your refrigerator has a fan cover, remove the screws that hold it in place. Then remove the cover to reach the fan.

Step 3: Remove Evaporator Fan

Replace the evaporator fan if it’s noisy or doesn’t spin. First, unplug the refrigerator. Then remove the screws that hold the fan to the wall of the freezer.

Step 4: Replace the Fan

Replace the old fan with a new one. Remove the mounting bracket from the old fan and attach it to the new fan. Unplug the wires and switch them from the old fan to the new fan. Reinstall the fan and replace the cover.

Step 5: Replace the Refrigerator Condenser Fan

Pull the fridge away from the wall, unplug it and remove the thin panel on the back near the bottom to access the compressor and condenser fan. Next plug the fridge in and wait for the compressor to come on. The fan should also come on. If the compressor runs but the fan doesn’t, or if the fan is noisy, you need a new fan. If neither runs and the compressor is hot, unplug the fridge and point a fan or a hair dryer set to “no heat” at the compressor. Wait for the compressor to cool and try again. If the compressor runs but the fan doesn’t, the fan is bad. Unplug the refrigerator and replace the fan (project directions below). If neither runs, then you may need a new relay or compressor. Call an appliance repair technician to find out.

When to Replace Condenser Fan

Replace the condenser fan if it’s noisy or doesn’t run. Depending on your fridge repair, you may have to remove the fan bracket first, and then unscrew the fan from the bracket.

Step 6: Install the New Fan

Cut the wires close to the old fan. Strip the wires and connect the new fan with wire connectors. Screw the new fan to the bracket and reinstall the fan and bracket in the fridge.

by: ERIN ALEXANDER

Not just for organizing your fridge but making everything in it last that much longer, and stay that much fresher. Here are some of them that have worked. Hope that is useful for you!

Label Everything

Says Staff Writer, Kelly Vaughan, “chefs swear by this trick and after working in a restaurant, I do too. No longer do you have to open a container, give it a sniff, and say to your roommate or partner, ‘when did we have these mashed potatoes?’ The label tells you everything you need to know.”

Separate Certain Fruits And Vegetables

Says Market Editor, Jada Wong, “I learned from my mom at a young age to take fruits and vegetables out of any plastic wrapping or produce bags before putting them in the fridge or on the counter. It helps with proper airflow so fruit won’t get too ripe before you can eat them, or worse, develop mold.”

Plus, she points out, “I put most of my fruits and veggies in the crisper drawer or middle shelf of the fridge. It’s key to actually eating them. And I say most because I leave ‘hard’ fruit out on the counter, like apples, pears, and nectarines. ‘Soft’ fruit like mangoes, plums, and berries go in the fridge.’

Make Use Of Baskets And Bins

Home52 Editorial Lead Arati Menon was fed up with parting ways with “condiments, chutneys, and spreads, teeny containers of takeaway sauces, and mason jars of pickled veggies” from a lack of fridge organization. She’s probably the ultimate when it comes to keeping things clean, but losing track of items within the fridge was plaguing her, so she turned to a storage solution she’d employed time and again in other parts of her home, but hadn’t thought of using in the fridge: bins. “If it’s good for your pantry, it’s probably good for the fridge,” Arati says, “after all, the same principles apply: zone, label, stack, elevate. So, why stop at bins? Why not employ all pantry organizers—trays, baskets, lazy Susans, even tiered shelf organizers?”

Treat Soft Herbs Like A Bouquet Of Flowers

If I could count the number of times I’ve bought fresh cilantro, and watched as its leaves went yellow and then brown! It’s usually at that point that I jump in (I’m working on it!) and try desperately to save the handful that are still half-green. To avoid this, writer Lisa Kolb suggests treating soft, leafy herbs (like basil, cilantro, parsley, or tarragon) as if they were fresh-cut flowers in The Best Way to Store Fresh Herbs. Simply trim a small amount off the stems and place the bunch in a glass or Mason jar filled with water. Cover loosely with a piece of Bee’s Wrap and store in the middle shelf of the fridge—they’ll last for at least a week.

Give Pantry Products A New Home

I’m going to let you in on something that took me by total surprise: There are a number of items that you currently store on the shelves of your pantry that would fare much much better in your refrigerator. I’m talking soy sauce, maple syrup, organic nut butters, soy and nut milks, and whole-grain and nut flours, just to name a few. The one that surprised me most? Yeast. Yes, yeast is actually best stored in a chilly environment, like the condiment shelf in your fridge. The reason for this is that yeast is easily destroyed upon exposure to light and heat. For longer-term storage, you can even keep yeast (in an airtight container) in your freezer, where it’ll last for up to a few months.

Save All Your Deli Containers

Assigning Editor, Rebecca Firkser, packs all her leftovers “in quart, pint, or half-pint deli containers. Every size uses the same lid, they stack on top of each other neatly, and don’t leak if they accidentally get knocked over—they’re the only ‘Tupperware’ I own!” And if you’re wondering how long to keep these handy storage containers, we’ve got you.

Let Eggs And Dairy Chill Out

For the longest time, I believed that dairy—milk, cream, eggs, and cheese should be stored on the inside door of the fridge. Turns out that’s not the best idea. Products like these belong in a spot with a constant cold temperature, like the top shelf of your fridge, so they don’t spoil. Storing them here also makes them easier to grab when you’re rushing to put together breakfast before heading out the door.

Give Your Lemons And Limes A Drink Of Water To Last Longer

Contrary to common practice (even I’m guilty of this), the countertop is no place for your lemons and limes to live, according to food writer Valerio Farris. They’ll last much longer—up to a month!—if you store them in your refrigerator, sealed in a bag or container that’s filled with a little bit of water. The logic: Lemons and limes (and other citrus) are super porous, so they’ll dry out more quickly when left out in the open air.

Meat And Fish Belong At The Bottom

“Not only does storing meat, poultry, and fish at the bottom of the freezer keep them colder,” says Kelly, “but it also prevents cross-contamination. Otherwise, if you store it on a top shelf and the package leaks, the meat drippings may fall onto raw produce, packages of butter, or anything else stored in your fridge, which can easily spread bacteria.”

Store And Arrange Items According To What Other Items They Go With

This might seem like a well-duh tip, but you’d be surprised how many people toss things into their fridge with wild abandon. The next time you’re cleaning out your fridge (or stocking it with a fresh set of groceries), take a look at things that go together. I always keep my peanut butter and jelly, eggs and milk, and deli meats and cheeses all side by side for convenience. Think about your daily eating habits and find the pairings you reach for most often! The less time I spend hunting around my fridge and making things topple (and spill), the happier I am, so this makes complete sense.

Consider A Lazy Susan

Editorial Lead Margaret Eby is a self-proclaimed “condiment maximalist,” which means “that I both have at least three kinds of hot sauce at all times, and that they tend to get lost in the depths of my fridge if I’m not careful. After accidentally rebuying the same kind of mustard that I already had twice, I finally invested in a clear, small, turntable (or a ‘Lazy Susan’ but listen, Susan, I know you were framed) for my fridge. It means that I can keep all those little bottles and cans organized, and that I just need to give it a spin to see my whole collection.”

Bonus Tip: For Untouched Cakes, Frosting Acts As A Seal

Many frosted cakes can be stored at room temperature, but there are a few exceptions: if it’s hot and humid; or if the frosting is made using cream cheese. In both scenarios, you can store the unwrapped, frosted cake in the fridge for a few days, according to food blogger Stacie Billis. The frosting makes a seal that keeps the cake from drying out, so you won’t need to wrap it in plastic wrap and ruin your beautiful icing work.

Line Shelves And Drawers

We can all admit that our refrigerators have a tendency to get a little messy, right? Sometimes it’s just too exhausting after a full night of cooking dinner and doing all the dishes to also wipe down the shelves in the fridge. Drips of opened drinks, drops of jam, crumbs from a poorly-wrapped pastry, they love to linger. The best (and easiest) way to combat this problem is to line the drawers and shelves with a heavy-duty, water-resistant liner that wipes up easily and can be removed for deep cleaning. One like this that has ridges is ideal because it will allow airflow above and below, preventing mold or mildew from any pooling liquids.