Dirty coils, a broken thermostat, door seal, or faulty components would cause a Whirlpool refrigerator to stop cooling.
The temperature setting of your refrigerator is a vital part of how the refrigerator functions to keep your food fresh and safe to consume.
If your Whirlpool refrigerator has stopped cooling altogether, you need to find the cause so that you can get it cooling properly again. Some of the most common causes of this issue include dirty coils, a broken thermostat, door seal, or other components.
Why the temperature of your refrigerator is important
The temperature of your refrigerator is an important part of ensuring that everything in the refrigerator stays fresh for as long as possible.
When your refrigerator’s temperature is set correctly, the colder environment inside the fridge will slow down the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms that could be harmful for your health.
When the items in your fridge get too warm, the temperature of your edible items can enter what is referred to as the “danger zone”, where these potentially harmful organisms can multiply exponentially.
This exponential growth could result in spoiled food and bad odours in your refrigerator and can even bring about foodborne illnesses like food poisoning and botulism.
What would cause a Whirlpool refrigerator to stop cooling?
Thus, it is extremely important for any refrigerator to maintain its set, cold temperature, to ensure that the food and other items inside the fridge remain safe to consume.
However, refrigerators, just like any other appliance, may experience operational issues or problems with its components from time to time.
If you have found that your Whirlpool refrigerator has stopped cooling, you may be wondering what could be causing this, so that you will know how to get to the root of the problem to solve it.
Unfortunately, if your Whirlpool refrigerator has stopped cooling and you want to find out what the cause of this could be, you need to have some technical and electrical knowledge.
You may also have to unscrew the panels on the back or underside of your refrigerator.
Some of the most common things that could be causing your Whirlpool refrigerator to not cool as it should include:
- Dirty condenser coils
- Broken thermostat or door seal
- Broken components like the condenser fan motor or the evaporator fan motor
Why dirty condenser coils can cause your Whirlpool refrigerator to stop cooling
It is always a good idea to investigate the coils first if your Whirlpool refrigerator is not cooling, because dirty condenser coils are the most common cause of this problem.
The condenser coils in your refrigerator are responsible for dissipating the heat that the refrigerant absorbs to keep the refrigerator and its contents cold.
When there is dirt, particles, or debris buildup on or blocking these coils, they cannot dissipate the heat as they should, and your refrigerator will not be cold inside.
If your refrigerator also sounds like it is working harder even though it is not cooling properly, then the cause is definitely dirty coils.
Fortunately, you can get rid of most of the build-up around the coils by moving your refrigerator away from the wall slightly and running over the coils on the bottom or the backside of the unit with your vacuum or a dryer brush.
Why a broken thermostat or door seal can cause your Whirlpool refrigerator to stop cooling
The temperature control thermostat and door seal on your Whirlpool refrigerator are responsible for making sure that your refrigerator can maintain its set temperature.
The thermostat communicates with your refrigerator and its cooling system that it has reached its set temperature and that it can turn off, and when the system needs to switch on again if the temperature is getting too high.
When this thermostat is faulty, it will not communicate correctly, and your refrigerator may shut off before the set temperature has been attained. The door seal makes sure that hot air cannot enter your refrigerator and that the cold air does not leak out.
When this seal is damaged then your refrigerator will not be able to maintain its set temperature. These elements need to be replaced if they are broken.
Why broken components could cause your Whirlpool refrigerator to stop cooling
Aside from the thermostat and the door seal, other broken components like the condenser fan motor or evaporator fan motor can also prevent the cooling system in your Whirlpool refrigerator from functioning properly and, as a result, the refrigerator will stop cooling.
It is often best to replace these electrical components entirely to get your refrigerator cooling again as soon as possible.