Fridge not cooling but freezer works – common causes and fixes

[machinist]

If your fridge isn’t cooling but the freezer’s still working fine, here are a few possible causes and things you can check:

1. Air vents might be blocked
   Cold air from the freezer flows into the fridge through vents. If those vents are blocked by food or iced over, the fridge won’t stay cool. Check for frost or anything blocking airflow.
2. Evaporator fan not running
   This fan moves cold air from the freezer to the fridge. If it’s not spinning, the fridge section won’t cool. You can usually hear it running when the freezer door is closed. If it's quiet, the fan might need replacing.
3. Damper control stuck or broken
   The damper controls how much cold air moves into the fridge. If it’s stuck closed, not enough cold air gets in. It’s worth checking to see if it’s opening and closing properly.
4. Frost buildup on the coils
   If there’s a lot of frost on the evaporator coils, it can block airflow. That usually means a defrost issue — could be the heater, timer, or thermostat not working right.
5. Faulty temp sensor or thermostat
   Sometimes the fridge thinks it’s already cold enough when it’s not, due to a bad sensor. That can stop it from cooling properly.

Quick tip: Always unplug the fridge before doing any checks, and if it looks like a bigger issue, it might be safer to call in a pro.

[DarkKnight]

Thanks for the helpful breakdown!
When checking the air vents on a typical Whirlpool top-freezer fridge, where are they usually located in the fridge section? Are they toward the back wall or near the ceiling?

[machinist]

Glad it helped! On a typical Whirlpool top-freezer fridge, the air vents in the fridge section are usually located near the top of the back wall, sometimes close to where the freezer floor meets the fridge ceiling. You might also see smaller vents along the sides depending on the model. Just make sure nothing is pushed up against them so air can flow freely.