A fridge not cooling is one of the most common reasons people call a technician, and the light being on tells you only that power reaches the fridge. It says nothing about the compressor, the fans or the defrost system. The pattern of the fault is the best clue: a cold freezer with a warm fridge points one way, a warm freezer another. Work through the checks below first. If the fridge is still warm, describe what it is doing and independent technicians near you will quote. The request is free, with no obligation.
Read the symptoms first
Before guessing at parts, note exactly what you see:
- Freezer working, fridge not cooling: on most frost-free fridges the cold air is made in the freezer and blown down. A failed evaporator fan or a duct blocked by ice is the usual cause, often from a defrost fault.
- Both sections warm, compressor humming then clicking: often a start relay or a tired compressor.
- Both warm, compressor running non-stop: dirty condenser coils, a failed condenser fan or low gas from a leak.
- Nothing running but the light on: thermostat, control board or wiring.
How to fix a fridge not cooling yourself, safely
Measure first. Put a thermometer in a glass of water on the middle shelf overnight; a fridge should sit at about 3 to 5 °C. Then turn the dial one step colder, clear any food blocking the air vents at the back of the fridge and give the coils a vacuum. If you see a solid sheet of ice on the freezer back wall, empty the fridge, switch it off and leave the doors open for a full day to defrost. If it cools again for a week or two and then warms up, the defrost heater, timer or sensor needs a technician.
When it is the gas
Refrigerant is not used up. If a fridge is low on gas there is a leak, often a pinhole in the evaporator or a cracked joint. Signs include a compressor that runs all the time with only a thin patch of frost near where the pipe enters the freezer. A proper fridge gas refill finds and fixes the leak before recharging. Regassing without a repair rarely lasts.
Cost of getting it cooling again
Typical repairs cost about R750 to R2,900, and a regas with leak repair about R850 to R2,000, based on published South African cost guides. Fans and relays are usually at the lower end. If the technician says the compressor has failed, compare that quote with a new fridge before you agree. More on choosing a technician is on our fridge repair page.
What to include in your request
- Is the freezer still cold?
- Noises: humming, clicking or silence
- Ice build-up on the freezer back wall
- Model number and rough age
- What you have already tried
Fridge Not Cooling for different clients
- Households: a kitchen fridge where the milk goes off but the ice trays still freeze
- Landlords, guest houses and B&Bs: a flat's fridge warming up between tenants, found at the move-in inspection
- Shops, cafes and supermarkets: a spaza owner's household fridge holding stock that has quietly warmed up
- Restaurants, butcheries and caterers: a cafe's under-counter fridge running all day without reaching a safe temperature
- Farms, packhouses and dairies: a farm kitchen fridge struggling in a hot shed or outbuilding
- Factories and cold stores: a depot canteen fridge that runs non-stop and still feels warm
- Schools, clinics and public buildings: a clinic staffroom fridge that has stopped cooling and needs a quick fix
- Technicians and repairers: technicians diagnosing warm fridges by symptom before ordering any parts
Frequently asked questions
Why is my fridge not cooling but the freezer is fine?
My fridge is not cooling but the light is on. What does that mean?
How long should a fridge take to get cold again?
Who will come and look at my fridge?
Fridge Not Cooling by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg