How To Fix an Electrolux Refrigerator Not Cooling

Have you reached into your Electrolux refrigerator and noticed your chilled foods are not as cold as they should be? Perhaps you’re noticing things are spoiling faster than expected? 

A refrigerator that isn’t cooling is a refrigerator that just isn’t doing its job. But there are ways to solve the issue without calling in a technician. Read on to find out what to do!

This guide applies to all popular models of Electrolux refrigerators, including:

E23CS75DSS0

E23CS75DSS1

E23CS75DSS5

E23CS75DSS7

E23CS75DSS9

E23CS75DSSA

E23CS75DSSC

E23CS78EPS0

E23CS78EPS2

E23CS78ESS0

E23CS78ESS2

E23CS78HPS1

EI23BC36IS3

EI26SS55GS0

EI28BS56IS5

EI32AR65JS1

EW23BC71IS8

EW23BC85KS7

EW23CS70IS4

EW26SS65GS0

EW28BS71ISA

Check the thermostat 

This might seem obvious, but in a lot of cases, an incorrect thermostat setting is to blame for a warm refrigerator. Thermostats can also be faulty, which can prevent your refrigerator from cooling properly. Here’s how to check the thermostat:

• First, make sure the thermostat is set to the right temperature. It should be set to 37 degrees Fahrenheit. If it is warmer than that, adjust the temperature and see if that fixes the issue. 
• If the thermostat settings appear correct, the problem might be with the thermostat itself. Try adjusting the thermostat and see if you hear a click—if you do, that means the thermostat is incorrectly detecting that the refrigerator is at the right temperature. In this case, you’ll need to order a replacement thermostat online to replace the faulty one. 

Clean the refrigerator coils

Did you know that you should be cleaning your refrigerator coils at least once a year in order to ensure it runs optimally? A lot of people neglect this chore, but it can really make a difference. If your coils are coated in dirt and dust, your fridge will have to work a lot harder to maintain its temperature, and in some cases won’t be able to keep cool enough. Here’s how to clean the coils:

• First, turn off the refrigerator and locate the coils. On older models they may be located at the back of the fridge, but on new models they’re usually at the bottom front behind a kickplate. 
• Grab a vacuum cleaner, a coil cleaning brush or old paintbrush, and a soft cloth. 
• First, use the vacuum cleaner to remove all the visible dirt and grime. If your coils are not too dirty, this might be all that’s necessary, but for dirtier coils you’ll need to clean between the coils too.
• Use the coil cleaning brush or paintbrush to loosen the grime between the coils, then vacuum up the dust that falls off. Use the soft cloth to wipe up any dust that the vacuum cleaner can’t get. 
• Once the coils are clean, put everything back together and turn your fridge back on. You should find a big improvement in your refrigerator’s cooling abilities.

Make sure the vents aren’t blocked

Fridges have vents that allow cool air to circulate inside them. If the vents are blocked, either inside or outside the fridge, it won’t be able to cool properly. To fix this issue:

• First, make sure the fridge isn’t too close to the wall or any other appliances. Ideally, a fridge should have a clearance of half an inch to one inch on the sides, and one to two inches at the back. 
• Check the inside of the fridge. If it’s too full of food, air won’t be able to circulate properly and it won’t be able to maintain a cool temperature. Move things around and make sure there isn’t anything unnecessary inside. A fridge should ideally be kept around two-thirds full.
• Once these issues are addressed, you should see a big improvement in cooling. If you’re still having issues, move on to the next step in our guide.

Check the door seals

The door seals are what keep the cold air inside your fridge and the warm air outside. A problem with the seals means your fridge won’t be able to keep its interior cool, but luckily they’re quite easy to replace if necessary. To check your seals:

• Visually inspect them for loose parts, tears, frays, or cracks.
• If the seals are dirty, give them a good clean with a clean cloth and detergent. Dirty seals are less efficient than clean ones. 
• If they appear fine, you can double check that they’re functioning properly by shutting a piece of paper in the door. It should stay in place, and require a little force to pull it out. Do this all around the door seals to check for weak spots. 
• If you detect any damage to the seals, they’ll need replacing. You can order new ones online from Electrolux. 
• Once your new seals arrive, remove the old ones and fit the new ones in place. Some simply snap into place, others have clips or screws—refer to your users manual if you’re not sure about your exact model.
• Once the new seals are in place, your fridge should now begin cooling properly.

Check the evaporator fan

The evaporator fan blows cold air from the freezer into the refrigerator. If it gets iced over, it can stop spinning, which means that your refrigerator won’t cool properly. To check the evaporator fan:

• Open your freezer and remove any food items so you can access the back of the freezer compartment. If your evaporator fan is working correctly, it should be spinning almost noiselessly. If it’s making a loud noise or not spinning at all, there’s a problem.
• Turn off your refrigerator and use a hair dryer to de-ice the fan. Then turn your fridge back on and see if the fan is now spinning smoothly. If it is, you’ve fixed the problem. If not, there may be an issue with the fan itself and it will need replacing.
• To replace the fan, turn the refrigerator off and remove the back panel of the freezer to access the fan. Replace the faulty fan with a new part you purchased online, and your evaporator fan will be working properly to keep your fridge nice and cool.