repair your appliances - don't replace them!

Your refrigerator is perhaps one of the most important appliances in your home. Not only does it keep your food cold, but it also protects your food from bacteria and other contaminants.

If you're having trouble with your fridge, here are three possible reasons why your unit isn't cooling.

Obstructed Vents

Your fridge needs unobstructed airflow to function properly. So when vents on your refrigerator are blocked or restricted, the appliance has to work harder than normal to circulate air. This can put additional strain on the compressor, leading to reduced cooling capacity and increased energy consumption.

In some cases, an obstructed vent can also cause the fridge to develop ice build-up on the coils, which further reduces its ability to effectively cool your food.

A refrigerator uses coils to remove heat from the air inside the fridge. These coils are usually located on the back of the refrigerator, and if they're covered in ice, it's harder for the fridge to remove heat and keep the air cool.

If you notice that your fridge isn't keeping food as cold as it should be, check the vents and remove any debris that may be blocking them. But this can be a difficult task, so if you're not comfortable doing it yourself, ask a refrigerator repair technician for help.

Damaged Motors

The refrigerator has two main motors—the compressor motor and the evaporator motor. The compressor circulates the refrigerant through the coils while the evaporator fan blows air over those coils to cool it down. These two functions are essential for the refrigerator to work properly.

If either of these motors is damaged, it can cause your refrigerator to stop cooling properly. A damaged compressor motor could make strange noises or fail to start. On the other hand, a damaged evaporator motor may cause the fridge to run continuously without properly cooling the air.

You can also listen in on your fridge—if it seems to be working overtime, that's another sign that something is wrong with the motors.

Damaged Air Inlet Damper

The air inlet damper is a flap that regulates the amount of cold air that flows into the refrigerator. When this part is damaged, it can cause the fridge to stop cooling or even make it too cold.

A damaged air inlet damper can also cause frost build-up on the coils. When the damper is stuck open, too much cold air flows into the refrigerator, causing the coils to frost over.

You can check the air inlet damper by opening the refrigerator door and feeling for cool air coming from the vents. If you don't feel any air coming out, or if the airflow is weak, the damper might be damaged and will need to be replaced.

Contact a professional for more information about refrigerator repair.