Kenmore refrigerator not cooling

What to expect when you experience a Kenmore refrigerator not cooling issue

How is the not cooling problem fixed?

Correcting most not cooling problems usually involves replacing the compressor, electronic control board or evaporator. However, there are many potential causes, so a thorough diagnosis is key to fixing the problem. An accurate diagnosis is essential to understanding how much the repair will be.

Sears Home Services recommendations for a refrigerator that is not cooling

When the refrigerator is not cooling it can be for many reasons. To avoid replacing unneeded parts we recommend having a Sears Home Services professional perform diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of the problem. Our technicians are experienced at diagnosing all types of refrigerator failures.

What to look out for with a refrigerator not cooling diagnosis

Diagnosing modern appliances without proper knowledge and training can be difficult. Without using proper diagnostic techniques, fixing your refrigerator problem will only be achieved through changing parts on a hunch. Appliances, especially in the last 10 years, have become extremely advanced, and many models have electronic parts that are difficult to test. DIY repairs on the latest appliance models are becoming increasingly difficult.

Troubleshooting a Kenmore Refrigerator 795 Not Cooling

When you have a Kenmore refrigerator 795 not cooling, check to see if the compressor is running. If you don’t hear the buzz of the compressor, then a failed compressor start relay could be preventing the compressor from starting. If you’re confident in your DIY skills, you can unplug the fridge and follow these steps to check the compressor start relay:

1. Remove the machine compartment cover to access the compressor start relay.
2. Pull off the clip and disconnect the wire harness from the compressor start relay.
3. Remove the compressor start relay.

Examine the start relay for burn marks or damage. You can also shake the compressor start relay. If it rattles loudly when you shake it, the compressor start relay is likely bad. Replacing that compressor start relay may fix the problem with your Kenmore refrigerator 795 not cooling.

A locked up compressor can also be the problem when your Kenmore refrigerator 795 is not cooling and the compressor isn’t running. A service technician will need to replace the compressor in that situation.

If the compressor isn’t running and the evaporator fan isn’t running either, the electronic control board may have failed. Those components won’t run if the control board isn’t sending them current because the circuit board is defective. Replacing an electronic control board in a Kenmore 795 Series refrigerator is a complicated repair that should normally be performed by a Sears Home Services repair technician.

If none of the lights work and you hear no sounds from the refrigerator, the appliance may not have power. Check the outlet cord to make sure it’s plugged in properly. If you find no problems with the power cord being plugged in, check the house circuit breaker for the fridge. Reset the house circuit breaker if you find it tripped. This should restore power to the fridge.

If your Kenmore refrigerator is not cooling after following these troubleshooting tips, schedule refrigerator repair service and we’ll send a technician to your home to diagnose and fix the cooling problem.

What to do When You have a Kenmore Refrigerator Not Staying Cold

If you have a Kenmore refrigerator not staying cold, first check whether containers are blocking airflow at the vents; the owner's manual usually shows where the vents are. Reposition containers that are blocking supply and/or return air vents inside the fridge.

Your Kenmore refrigerator also might seem warmer than usual for a day if you’ve just added a lot of food—wait 24 hours after adding lots of food to see if the refrigerator cools properly.

The next thing you will want to check for is excessive frost built up on the evaporator, which can inhibit cooling. You may need to have a service technician troubleshoot issues with the automatic defrost system if the evaporator is caked with frost.

Most refrigerator defrost systems have four main parts:

• The defrost heater melts the frost off the evaporator fins. If the heater breaks, the frost stays put.
• The electronic control board starts the defrost cycle and regulates how often they are triggered. If the control fails, your refrigerator can’t defrost automatically.
• The thermistor — also called the defrost temperature sensor — senses evaporator temperature and sends signals to the electronic control board. If the thermistor senses the wrong temperature, the electronic control board won’t turn on the defrost heater.
• The defrost bi-metal thermostat shuts off the refrigerator defrost heater if the heater gets hot enough to damage the evaporator. If the defrost bi-metal thermostat trips to shut off the defrost heater but doesn’t reset, the defrost heater won’t turn on.

A service technician will examine all of these components and replace any defective parts when fixing a defrost system problem.

High temperatures are also a sign of a control system problem, a failure in the air control damper, low refrigerant charge and other malfunctions.

Schedule refrigerator repair when you’re unable to determine the cause of your Kenmore refrigerator not staying cold.

Troubleshooting a Kenmore Refrigerator Freezer Not Cooling

When you see your Kenmore refrigerator freezer not cooling but the refrigerator compartment temperature is okay, problems with the sealed system or a low refrigerant charge often cause this type of issue.

One problem with the sealed system that can inhibit freezer cooling is dirty condenser coils. The condenser coils cool hot refrigerant gas to condense it to a liquid state before the gas goes through the evaporator. When condenser coils are covered with lint and dust, air cannot reach the coils to cool the refrigerant. The refrigerant won’t absorb as much heat as designed as the fluid moves through the evaporator to cool the air inside the freezer.

Clean the condenser coils to help your fix a Kenmore refrigerator freezer not cooling.

Another sealed system problem occurs when the automatic defrost system fails to melt frost off the evaporator fins. When coated with frost, the evaporator fins won’t cool the air properly as the evaporator fan blows air from inside the freezer over the fins. Frost on the evaporator fins can also inhibit airflow through the freezer so it won’t cool properly.

The automatic defrost system in a Kenmore refrigerator often consists of a defrost heater, electronic control board or timer, defrost bi-metal termination thermostat and connecting wiring. A failure in any one of these components will prevent the system from defrosting the evaporator as needed for proper cooling in the freezer.

Have a Sears Home Services technician diagnose and fix the automatic defrost system or other problems when your GE refrigerator freezer is not cooling.

How to Fix a Kenmore Refrigerator Not Cooling but Freezer Works

Airflow problems are often the cause when you see your Kenmore refrigerator not cooling but the freezer works. Check for items blocking the supply or return vents in the refrigerator and freezer compartments. Refer to the owner’s manual to find these vents. Move items out from in front of supply and return vents and the fridge should cool properly.

If the vents aren’t blocked, excessive frost buildup in the freezer can block air vents going to the refrigerator section and cause a Kenmore fridge not cooling even though the freezer works. Check the refrigerator and freezer door gaskets for loose spots, cracks or damage. Push the door gaskets back into the channels or repair any loose spots. Replace any door gasket that is cracked or damaged to prevent warm air from entering the refrigerator cabinet and causing excessive frost that can inhibit refrigerator cooling.

Check to see if the refrigerator light turns off when you shut the refrigerator door. Press in on the refrigerator door switch with the refrigerator door open to see if the light shuts off when you press in the door switch. If the refrigerator compartment light stays on with the refrigerator door switch depressed, you’ll likely need to replace the refrigerator door switch.

Bad temperature sensors or air dampers could be preventing the fridge from cooling even though the freezer works. Schedule repair service when you aren’t able to fix the cooling problem yourself.

Kenmore Refrigerator Bottom Freezer Not Cooling

When you find your Kenmore refrigerator bottom freezer not cooling, you’ll often need to unplug the fridge and clean the condenser coils. The condenser coils cool hot refrigerant gas to condense it to a liquid state before the gas goes through the evaporator. When condenser coils are covered with lint and dust, air cannot reach the coils to cool the refrigerant. The refrigerant won’t absorb as much heat as designed as the fluid moves through the evaporator to cool the air inside the freezer.

Clean the condenser coils using a coil brush and a vacuum cleaner if you find the coils covered with dust.

A broken condenser fan can inhibit bottom freezer cooling in a Kenmore fridge. Check to see if the condenser fan runs when the compressor is running. If not, you may need to have the condenser fan replaced by a refrigerator repair technician.

Low refrigerant charge can also prevent the bottom freezer from cooling in your Kenmore refrigerator. If the compressor runs constantly, have a repair technician check the refrigerator and add refrigerant if needed.

What would cause a Kenmore refrigerator not to get cold?

Sometimes a power surge or glitch through the electrical power supply lines going to your home can prevent your Kenmore refrigerator from cooling because the electronic control board was corrupted by the electrical anomaly.

To reset your Kenmore refrigerator, unplug the power cord to completely disconnect electrical power from the appliance for 2 minutes and then plug the power cord back in to restore power. The electronic control board will reboot and reset. Your Kenmore fridge may begin cooling again.

If the power cord is difficult to get to, you can shut off the house circuit breaker for the refrigerator for 2 minutes and then reset the breaker to restore power instead of unplugging the fridge.

What would cause a Kenmore refrigerator to not be cold?

A major cause of cooling problems in a Kenmore fridge is a failure in the automatic defrost system. View this DIY troubleshooting video to check the defrost system components in your Kenmore refrigerator:

If you’re unable to find and fix the cooling problem in your Kenmore refrigerator, schedule repair service and we’ll send a Sears Home Services technician to your home to fix the fridge.