- Home
- Appliances
- Refrigerator
Refrigerator problems and error codes
A warm fridge is urgent, but it isn't always the compressor. Fans, defrost faults and dirty coils cause most cooling calls. Pick your symptom or code below for the checks and the parts a technician tests.
A person answers Mon-Fri 9am-5pm local time. Outside those hours, leave a message and a company near you calls back.
Answered by an independent appliance repair company that serves your area. Not a call center.
Refrigerator problems
- Not cooling, or fridge warm while freezer works
- Freezer frosting over
- Ice maker not making ice
- Water dispenser not working or leaking
- Loud compressor or fan noise
- Garage refrigerators and standalone freezers
What's your refrigerator doing?
Pick the symptom or code for the likely cause, what to check first, and when it needs a technician.
Refrigerator Whirlpool not cooling: what it means and how to fix it
A Whirlpool refrigerator that isn't cooling means the sealed cooling system isn't shedding heat well, the cold air isn't…
Read the fix →GE refrigeratorGE refrigerator not cooling: what it means and how to fix it
A GE refrigerator that isn't cooling is usually failing to move heat out of the cabinet or move cold air through it. The…
Read the fix →Samsung refrigeratorSamsung refrigerator freezer not working: what it means and what to check
A Samsung refrigerator freezer not working usually means the freezer section isn't getting cold air, has cooling turned…
Read the fix →Maytag refrigeratorMaytag refrigerator ice maker not working: why it’s not making ice
A Maytag refrigerator ice maker that isn’t working usually has one of three faults: it is turned off, it isn’t getting…
Read the fix →Whirlpool refrigeratorWhirlpool refrigerator light not working: what it means and what to check
A Whirlpool refrigerator light not working usually means the door switch, LED module, light socket, or control circuit…
Read the fix →Samsung refrigeratorSamsung refrigerator noise: what it means and what to check
Samsung refrigerator noise is often normal if it's a light hum, pop, gurgle, hiss, or short rattle, because the…
Read the fix →LG refrigeratorERER code on LG refrigerator: what it means and what to do
An ER code on an LG refrigerator is usually the first half of a trouble code, so the letters after it matter, such as…
Read the fix →Samsung refrigeratorSamsung refrigerator water leak: what it means and what to check
A Samsung refrigerator water leak usually means defrost water, dispenser water, or condensation is going where it…
Read the fix →GE refrigeratorGE refrigerator water not working: what it means and what to check
A GE refrigerator water not working complaint usually means the dispenser path is blocked, shut off, or the dispenser…
Read the fix →Maytag refrigeratorMaytag refrigerator not cooling: what to check first
A Maytag refrigerator not cooling means the cabinet is losing cold air, failing to move cold air from the evaporator, or…
Read the fix →GE refrigeratorGE refrigerator water dispenser not working: what to check first
A GE refrigerator water dispenser not working usually means water is being blocked before it reaches the dispenser, or…
Read the fix →LG refrigeratorLG refrigerator freezer not working: why it happens and what to check
An LG refrigerator freezer not working means the freezer is not reaching its set temperature, often with the fresh-food…
Read the fix →Repair it or replace it?
The rule most technicians use: if the repair would cost more than half of a comparable new unit and the appliance is past two-thirds of its typical life, replace it. A good repair company will say so on the phone.
Placement changes the math. A washer in a hot garage or a fridge in an unheated porch wears out years ahead of the same model in a kitchen, so tell the company where it sits.
Hatched span is the upper end you shouldn't count on for a unit in a garage or other unconditioned space. Ranges are the manufacturer figures technicians work from, not a promise about your unit.
Refrigerator guides by brand
Brand names identify the appliance you own and do not imply any affiliation with the manufacturer.
Common questions about appliance repair
My fridge is warm but the freezer is cold. What's that?
Usually a failed evaporator fan, a defrost fault that has iced over the air path, or a damper stuck closed. These are standard repairs. A sealed-system failure is the expensive one, and a technician can tell you which it is.
How long will the food keep while I wait?
A closed refrigerator holds a safe temperature for about four hours. A full freezer holds about 48 hours. Keep the doors shut.
Can a refrigerator in the garage be repaired?
Yes, but many models aren't rated for a garage in summer or winter. Tell the company where it sits so they can check whether placement is the real problem.
Talk to a repair company near you, not a bot
One call connects you with an independent appliance repair company that covers your ZIP code. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm local time.