What "Not Cooling" Usually Means
Cooling loss is rarely the whole appliance dying at once. More often a single link in the chain has broken: air is not moving because an evaporator fan stalled, heat is not leaving because the condenser is choked with dust, frost has buried the evaporator because a defrost part failed, or the sealed system has lost charge. The job is to find which one, and the symptom pattern points the way.
Common Causes and What We Check
| Symptom | Likely Cause | What a Technician Checks |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge warm, freezer cold | Fresh-food fan, defrost, or that sealed system | Airflow, defrost circuit, isolate the system |
| Both compartments warm | Condenser, compressor or charge loss | Clean condenser, test compressor and charge |
| Runs constantly, still warm | Dirty condenser or door seal | Condenser, fan, gasket seal |
| Frost then warming | Defrost heater or thermostat | Defrost components and drain |
Notes by Brand
Sub-Zero: Many built-ins use two independent sealed systems, so a warm fresh-food side with a cold freezer is common and points to that side rather than the whole unit. Sub-Zero does not publish numeric fault codes, so diagnosis is symptom-based.
Thermador and Monogram: These GE- and BSH-built columns can post service codes; a cooling loss often shows alongside a sensor or fan fault we confirm on the board.
Viking and True Residential: Pro-style and column units are usually condenser- and fan-driven; a dirty condenser in a busy kitchen is a frequent culprit and neither line leans on numeric codes.
Miele and Liebherr: Integrated units may sound a temperature alarm or show an E-code when a zone drifts warm, which narrows the fault to a sensor, fan or defrost part.
Protect Your Food First
Keep the door closed to hold temperature, move perishables to a cooler if the interior is above 40 degrees for more than two hours, and confirm the unit still has power before you book.
When to Book a Repair
If the condenser is clean, the unit has power, and it is still warming, it needs a technician. Book a refrigerator repair and we will isolate the fault and quote it in writing.
Fridge Still Warming?
Book a diagnostic visit. Diagnostic and travel fees, if applicable, are confirmed before the appointment and before repair approval.