Step 1: Check for obvious causes

Before delving deeper into why your refrigerator isn't cooling, you should rule out three simple causes.

First, has your circuit breaker tripped? An appliance fault or power cut could have caused your circuit breaker to cut off your local or mains power supply. Reset the affected trip switches and investigate what caused the outage. If the circuit breaker trips again, you will need to get a qualified electrician out.

Second, has someone accidentally knocked out the settings on your thermostat dial or set them incorrectly? A common cause of an overly warm fridge is misunderstanding the number settings on the dial. For example, if a member of staff has knocked the dial while stocking the fridge, they might assume that a '1' on the dial is the coldest temperature and adjust it accordingly. In fact, the opposite is true. Higher numbers trigger the compression cycle at lower temperatures.

Third, check that depressing the door switch turns the interior light off. If it doesn't, there is a high likelihood that the switch is broken which will stop the fridge from operating. If the light does go off, there is still a small possibility that the switch is faulty, but it is more likely that something else is causing your refrigerator to stop cooling properly.

Step 2: Check your compressor and fans

Turn off your fridge and set the dial to its maximum setting. Then, turn it back on and listen to the back. You should hear the compressor and compressor fan turn on as they immediately try to cool the interior of the refrigerator. If you don't hear these sounds, unplug the fridge and try a small appliance in the socket to rule out a socket fault. Your issue is likely to be a faulty compressor or compressor fan or a loose connection.

If your compressor and fan are working, listen to the inside of the fridge. The evaporator fan should also be operating. If you don't hear this, turn off the power and remove the panel at the back of the inside of the fridge. If the evaporator coils are iced up, your issue is likely to be a faulty evaporator fan.

Step 3: Check the state of your fridge door gasket

Your refrigerator door seal, or gasket, provides a critical cooling function by stopping warm air from entering the interior.

We have written several articles on how to check and clean your gaskets, so please refer to these for details. If you think you may need a replacement, see the details and link at the bottom of this article.

Step 4: Check air circulation inside and outside your fridge

Overstocked fridges, blocked vents and poor placement decisions are common reasons for inadequate airflow.

Make sure your appliance has adequate clearance on all sides and at the top. The values will be specified in your user manual, but if you leave at least two inches at the back and an inch on the sides and top, you should be fine.

Fridge freezers will include vents between the freezer and fridge compartments. These must be kept clear of obstructions and ice to ensure enough cold air enters the refrigerator. Note that iced up vents are both a cause and a symptom of a warm fridge, so once you've defrosted your appliance, continue to check for other issues.

It is also a good rule of thumb to only fill your refrigerator by two thirds. Cramming in too much stock will be a false economy as your fridge will be working extra hard due to poor airflow.

Step 5: Consult a technician

If everything checks out so far then your warm fridge is likely to be due to a component failure (thermostat, thermistor, door switch, etc.) Unless you have a qualified appliance technician on site, we recommend you contact one rather than attempt a fix yourself, especially if you are still under warranty.

When should you replace your fridge gasket?

Whether or not your fridge gasket is the main cause of your overly warm fridge, it could be a contributing factor. If you identified any cracks or splits while checking your gasket, replacing it will help ensure your fridge runs as efficiently as possible.

If your gasket was misshapen, you may be able to manipulate it back into position using a hairdryer on a low setting. However, if the seal is too hard or brittle to reshape, it has probably reached the end of its useful life. Please see our information page for more details.