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Why is my refrigerator too warm from the inside?

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When the hot summer season is at its peak, an urge to have a bottle of cold water or any of your favorite beverages and ice cream is hard to suppress. What can be your worst nightmare in this situation? Probably a warm refrigerator. It is quite frustrating when you store your favorite beverage and ice cream in your refrigerator but when you open your refrigerator to consume them, they are not cold enough. The reasons behind your refrigerator being warm from inside can be many, some of which can be serious and complicated, while some others can be pretty simple. In this article, we are going to discuss some of the common reasons behind “why is your refrigerator too warm from the inside”. 

New installation:

If you have installed your refrigerator recently, it might have a little warm temperature for a while. It is a normal occurrence as refrigerators are big and complicated appliances that need a bit of time to reach the peak of their functioning. Run the refrigerator for about 4 to 5 hours without storing anything inside and then allow it 24 hours to cool down completely. 

Refrigerator doors opened too often or left open for long:

Whenever the refrigerator doors are opened warm air escapes inside the refrigerator, making the temperature a bit warm. Usually, it is not noticeable as the change in temperature is very small but, when the doors are opened often, the change starts becoming more obvious. 

Image credit: Stockvault.net

So, make it a point to minimize the number of times the refrigerator door is opened. Also, remember to not keep the doors opened for long as it will trap too much warm air inside the refrigerator. Check the door gasket and placement of the shelves as damaged gasket and shelves sticking between the doors can also cause warm air to escape inside. 

Overloaded refrigerator:

Every refrigerator has a storage capacity, up to which it works efficiently. But, if you add a large amount of food and overburden the refrigerator, it will start affecting its cooling capacity. Additionally, if the food is not properly stored, it can limit the effective flow of cold air inside the refrigerator and increase the temperature. 

In this case, it is best to organize the food stored inside the refrigerator in sealed containers. If you have recently added a large amount of food inside the refrigerator, it will take longer than usual to cool down. So, give your refrigerator some extra hours to reach its normal temperature. 

Some refrigerator organizers suggested for you:

  1. HOOJO Refrigerator Organizer Bins
  2. Utopia Home Set of 6 Pantry Organizers
  3. Refrigerator Organizer Bins Produce Saver

Blocked air vents:

Refrigerators have air vents inside that allow the movement of cold air to all their compartments. The cold air transferred from the freezer to the food section of the refrigerator, making it cold throughout. But, if some food item is stored in front of the air vents or if the air vents are heavily surrounded by the food, the movement of the cold air will be restricted. This will cause a rise in the temperature inside the refrigerator. 

To prevent this issue, make sure to keep the immediate surroundings of the air vents a bit sparse or free. Don’t store anything in front of the vents and keep the area around them clean. 

Temperature not properly set as per the surrounding conditions:

The temperature inside the refrigerator is highly affected by the temperature of its surrounding areas. If the atmosphere near the refrigerator is warm, it will eventually make the temperature inside the refrigerator warm as well.

The best way to resolve this issue is to change the temperature control settings of the temperature. Always remember that the temperature inside the refrigerator should be adjusted as per the temperature around it. Set the temperature a little colder than usual and then check the temperature after 24 hours. If the refrigerator is cold enough now, then it is working. But, in case the refrigerator is still not cold enough, there can be some other reasons like faulty evaporator fan, faulty compressor, etc. 

If you need a new refrigerator thermometer, you can have a look at these:

  1. JSDOIN Freezer Refrigerator Refrigerator Thermometers Large Dial Thermometer
  2. Rubbermaid Refrigerator Freezer Cooler Fridge Thermometer

Completion of a self defrost cycle:

When the freezer of the refrigerator defrosts, the temperature inside the refrigerator also changes for some time. As there is no movement of cold air from the freezer during the defrosting, the refrigerator becomes a bit warm. It is completely normal and the temperature will come back to its normal level once the defrosting is complete and the cold air starts flowing through the freezer again. You can also notice some water droplets formed inside the refrigerator, especially on the outer surfaces of the freezer. It happens due to the defrosting and is completely normal. 

Dirty condenser coils:

One of the major reasons behind refrigerator issues is the dirty condenser coils of the refrigerator. When the condenser coils are covered with dust and grime, it restricts the release of excess heat from the refrigerator. This leads to the heat getting trapped inside the refrigerator, making it warmer than normal. If this condition sustains for a long time, it may cause some serious damage to the appliance. 

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

The best practice to prevent this problem is to clean the condenser coils at least after every three months. You can clean the refrigerator condenser coils either with a soft brush and a cleaner or with a vacuum cleaner. Make sure to unplug the refrigerator before starting the cleaning process and always maintain a little distance between the coils and the walls around the refrigerator. 

You can check some of the bestselling condenser coils cleaners here:

  1. Frost King ACF19 Foam Coil Cleaner
  2. 26″ Long Flexible Dryer Vent Cleaner & Refrigerator Condenser Coil Brush

Conclusion

All the reasons behind your warm refrigerator above can be easily fixed just by following some simple tricks. But, in case your problem isn’t solved even after following these steps, you need to contact an expert to look into the matter. It is always better to be cautious to prevent any severe damage to your appliance. You can also find some measures about taking care of your refrigerator on our blog “How to take care of your refrigerator” and extend the life of your refrigerator.

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