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Maytag refrigerator not cooling
Common reasons your Maytag refrigerator is not cooling
The most common reasons your Maytag refrigerator is not cooling are a locked compressor, defective electronic control board or a damaged evaporator.
66% of the time it's the Compressor
15% of the time it's the Electronic Control Board
12% of the time it's the Evaporator
7% of the time it's the Something else
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Most common repairs needed to fix a Maytag refrigerator
Compressor Replacement
A locked refrigerator compressor can exhibit several symptoms indicative of a malfunction. The most noticeable sign is a lack of cooling in the refrigerator compartment, leading to elevated temperatures and the potential for food spoilage. The freezer may also fail to maintain the desired freezing temperatures, resulting in no ice production from the ice maker or dispenser. Additionally, you'll observe that the compressor is unusually silent or fails to produce its typical humming sound during operation. In some cases, the compressor may attempt to start but fail, resulting in repeated clicking noises. The inability of the compressor to circulate refrigerant properly can affect the defrosting process, leading to ice buildup in the freezer. Furthermore, a faulty compressor could send a sudden influx of melting frost to the drain line, causing it to back up, preventing adequate draining, and potentially causing water leaks.
Electronic Control Board Replacement
A defective electronic control board can lead to various failures in a refrigerator, including a lack of power or cooling and water leaking. This is because the board serves as the brain of the refrigerator, controlling crucial operations such as regulating internal temperatures, running fans, managing defrost cycles, overseeing the ice maker, and controlling dispenser functions. If the electronic control board malfunctions, it can disrupt communication between many different components, including automatic doors if equipped. A failing board may cause a chattering or clicking noise from the refrigerator and may emit a burning odor. Due to the potential impact on multiple components, it is advisable to have a Sears Home Services professional conduct diagnostic tests on the board to confirm if replacement is necessary.
Evaporator Replacement
A damaged refrigerator evaporator causes a decrease in overall cooling performance, leading to elevated temperatures in both the refrigerator and freezer compartments. These higher temperatures can result in food spoilage and less effective preservation of frozen items. Frost or ice buildup on the evaporator coils may hinder their ability to absorb heat efficiently. Excessive condensation inside the refrigerator can lead to leaks. Additionally, a damaged evaporator may cause unusual noises, such as hissing or gurgling sounds, during the refrigeration cycle.
Why is my Maytag refrigerator not getting cold?
When the refrigerator section isn’t cooling, an airflow problem is likely causing the failure.
Look for Blocked Refrigerator Section Supply and Return Vents
Check for items blocking the air supply or returns vents in the refrigerator compartment.
The owner’s manual typically show you where those supply and return vents are in your fridge.
Moving around items in the fridge may fix the cooling problem.
Air Damper Failure
The air damper controls airflow from the freezer to the refrigerator to help control the proper refrigerator temperature at around 37 degrees.
When the air damper gets stuck in the closed position, the refrigerator section won’t get any cooling air from the freezer.
If that damper vent is stuck in the shut position, you may be able to fix the refrigerator cooling problem by unplugging the refrigerator_ and replacing that part.
Have a service technician replace the air damper if you’re not confident that you can complete that repair on your own.
Bad Evaporator Fan
When you don’t detect the evaporator fan running, follow the steps in this DIY troubleshooting video to fix or replace the evaporator fan:
Automatic Defrost System Failure
Ice and frost caked on the evaporator fins due to a failure in the automatic defrost system of the fridge will cause cooling problems in the refrigerator section.
Follow the troubleshooting tips in this video to find and fix the cause of a defrost system failure in your refrigerator:
What to expect when you experience a Maytag refrigerator not cooling issue
How is the not cooling problem fixed?
Correcting most not cooling problems usually involves replacing the compressor, electronic control board or evaporator. However, there are many potential causes, so a thorough diagnosis is key to fixing the problem. An accurate diagnosis is essential to understanding how much the repair will be.
Sears Home Services recommendations for a refrigerator that is not cooling
When the refrigerator is not cooling it can be for many reasons. To avoid replacing unneeded parts, we recommend scheduling Maytag refrigerator repair with a local Sears Home Services professional who can perform diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of the problem. Our technicians are experienced at diagnosing all types of refrigerator failures.
What to look out for with a refrigerator not cooling diagnosis
Diagnosing modern appliances without proper knowledge and training can be difficult. Without using proper diagnostic techniques, fixing your refrigerator problem will only be achieved through changing parts on a hunch. Appliances, especially in the last 10 years, have become extremely advanced, and many models have electronic parts that are difficult to test. DIY repairs on the latest appliance models are becoming increasingly difficult.
Maytag Refrigerator Not Cooling but Freezer is Working
When your Maytag refrigerator is not cooling but the freezer is working, blocked air vents are a leading cause of this problem. Refer to the owner’s manual for your Maytag refrigerator to identify the location of air supply and return vents inside the refrigerator compartment. Move items that you find blocking the air vents inside the refrigerator. If you have a French door or bottom-freezer Maytag fridge, check for labels or other items blocking the return air vents at the bottom rear corners of the refrigerator compartment. This is a common cause of cooling problems in the refrigerator compartment of those models.
Other problems that can cause problems with your Maytag refrigerator not cooling but the freezer is working include:
- Air damper failure.
- Thermistor (temperature sensor) problems.
- Automatic defrost system failure.
- Electronic control board failure.
- Wiring failure.
Schedule refrigerator repair service to have a Sears Home Services technician diagnose and repair these types of failures when your Maytag refrigerator is not cooling but the freezer is working.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Glossary Terms
A dual ice maker is a feature in some refrigerators that includes two separate ice makers: one in the fridge compartment and another in the freezer section. This setup doubles the appliance's ice-making capacity.
A French-door refrigerator features two doors that open side-by-side on the top section for the refrigerator compartment, with a bottom freezer drawer, combining style, efficiency, and easy access to both refrigerated and frozen goods.
Refrigerant is a chemical compound used in HVAC systems and refrigerators to absorb heat from the environment by cycling through states of evaporation and condensation, enabling the cooling process through its cycle of evaporation and condensation.
R-12 refrigerant, also known as Freon-12, is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) compound that was once widely used in air conditioning systems, refrigerators, and aerosol propellants before its phase-out due to environmental concerns.