Amana Refrigerator Not Cooling

Amana refrigerators are known for being strong and dependable, but sometimes they can have problems with their power supply. One problem that Amana fridge owners may experience is that their fridge is not cooling enough due to a tripped circuit breaker or power supply fault.

This can be concerning because the food inside can spoil if it’s not stored at the right temperature. There are many reasons why this might happen, but most of them are simple to fix. Here are some things you can try before asking for help from a professional.

Amana Refrigerator Not Cooling 

When your Amana refrigerator stops cooling, there could be several reasons for it to happen. Some possible culprits include dirty coils, a broken fan, issues with the compressor relay or control settings, gasket seals or clogged drains. To fix these problems, you might need a screwdriver or professional help.

However, before trying anything too complicated, start by checking the basics and go through potential remedies one step at a time. It is important to note that one of the common causes of cooling issues in Amana refrigerators is dirty condenser coils located either on the back of the refrigerator or at the bottom of the unit. Cleaning the coils with a brush or vacuum cleaner may help solve the issue.

Verify Amana Refrigerator Power Outlet

If your Amana refrigerator is not cooling, don’t overlook the possibility of a faulty outlet. To check this, first unplug your fridge and plug in another device. If it works improperly or doesn’t work at all, that could be the problem.

If the other device works well, try resetting your fridge by leaving it unplugged for 2 minutes before plugging it back in; this often resolves issues.

To ensure proper refrigeration, make sure there is enough space (at least one inch) between the back of your fridge and the wall for adequate ventilation.

Confirm Proper Closure of Refrigerator and Freezer Doors

When checking your Amana refrigerator for problems, take a moment to look at the rubber seals around the doors. These seals keep cool air inside and warm air out, ensuring proper temperature. If they’re damaged, your fridge won’t stay cold.

Check that the doors close properly and tightly seal. If you notice a loose gasket, gently fix it. If it’s damaged, replace it. Also, make sure there are no obstructions preventing the doors from closing completely.

Reset Temperature Controls

Your refrigerator has settings that control how cold it gets. These settings are really important for making sure it works well all year round. If these settings get changed, it can affect how well your refrigerator works.

The Ideal Temperature:

Experts suggest setting your refrigerator between 33°F and 40°F. If it’s colder or hotter than this, it might not cool your food properly. This advice goes for both the freezer and the ice maker.

How to Fix It:

If you notice it’s not as cool as it should be, you can adjust the settings. Remember, the freezer and the regular part of the fridge have separate controls, so check both.

As your refrigerator gets older, its temperature settings might not be as accurate. It might not be as cold as it says. You can check this by putting a special thermometer inside your fridge for a week. Then, if it shows the temperature is too high or too low, you can change the settings.

Additionally, it is important to check the thermistor and capacitor in your fridge to ensure they are functioning properly. The thermistor monitors the temperature and informs the control board, allowing it to regulate the other components and maintain the correct temperature.

The capacitor, on the other hand, helps the compressor to start up. If it fails to work, your fridge will not be able to cool properly. By following these steps, you can check the thermistor and capacitor, ensure they are working correctly, and troubleshoot any issues with the voltage supply.

Clean the Condenser Coils

Cleaning the condenser coils is important because it helps your fridge work better, keeping your food cold. Plus, it’s not too hard to do!

• Clean the Condenser Coils: The condenser coils are like the cooling system in the back of your refrigerator. They help keep your fridge cold. Sometimes, when your fridge isn’t cooling properly, it’s because these coils are dirty.
• Preparation: First, unplug your fridge from the wall and move it a bit away from the wall so you can get to the back.
• What Are Condenser Coils: These coils are like a network of pipes in the back of your Amana refrigerator. They help make the inside of your fridge cold by getting rid of hot air. They might run towards the front of the fridge, depending on your model.
• Why Cleaning Matters: If these coils get covered in dirt and dust, they can’t do their job properly. That’s a problem because they’re usually at the bottom or back of the fridge, so they easily collect dust, dirt, and pet hair.
• Cleaning Process: To clean them, go to the back of the fridge, and remove the cover (it’s usually held by screws). While you’re at it, clean any vents you see; they can get dirty too, and that’s not good for the fridge.
• Cleaning the Coils: Once the cover is off, you’ll see the coils. Check them for dirt. If they’re dirty, it’s time to clean them.
• Tools You Need: You’ll need a special vacuum attachment that’s narrow to fit in tight spaces. Use this to vacuum the coils. For the hard-to-reach places, use a brush made for cleaning coils.
• Thorough Cleaning: Make sure you get rid of all the dirt. Vacuum any leftover bits and pieces to ensure nothing is left behind. If you need to, do the cleaning again.
• Finishing Up: After you’re sure everything is clean, put the cover back on, plug the fridge back in, and you’re all set.

Ensuring the Condenser Fan Functions Properly

• Checking the Condenser Fan: The condenser fan in your fridge is a really important part. It might seem obvious, but sometimes people forget about it.
• What It Does: This fan is like a little helper. It makes sure the compressor and coils stay cool by blowing air over them.
• Why It’s Important: If this fan isn’t working or something is blocking it, your whole fridge might stop working right. This means your food won’t stay cold.
• How It Works: Normally, when you turn on your fridge, this fan should start spinning. It keeps going as long as the fridge is on. If it doesn’t start spinning when you turn on the fridge, there might be a problem.
• Checking for Problems: Take a close look at the fan’s blades. See if there’s anything in the way. If not, try giving the blades a gentle spin with your hand.
• What if it Doesn’t Work: If spinning the blades doesn’t help, there might be a problem with the fan’s motor. It might need to be replaced. Also, if the blades are really rusty, it’s a good idea to get new ones.

Making sure this fan works properly is really important for keeping your fridge cold. If you think something’s wrong, it’s a good idea to get it checked out.

Examine the Start Relay

• Checking the Start Relay: After making sure the condenser fan is working, the next thing to do is look at something called the start relay.
• What is the Start Relay: It’s a small part usually connected to the compressor. Its job is to give power to the compressor, which is like the heart of the fridge.
• Why It’s Important: If the start relay isn’t working, the compressor won’t turn on, and that means your fridge won’t get cold enough.
• How to Check It: Turn on your fridge and touch the compressor (the big metal thing). You should feel it doing something or hear a buzzing sound. If there’s no movement or buzzing, the start relay might be the problem.
• Another Way to Check: Unplug your fridge and carefully take off the start relay. Give it a gentle shake. If you hear rattling or see bits falling out, you’ll need a new one.
• Listening for a Click: When you turn on your fridge, listen for a click coming from the compressor. If it clicks off quickly, the start relay might be the issue.

If you think the start relay might be broken, it’s a good idea to replace it. This way, your fridge can get back to working properly.

Verifying the Evaporator Fan Operation

• Checking the Evaporator Fan: Now, let’s talk about something called the evaporator fan. It’s an important part that helps keep your Amana fridge cold. Unlike the other parts we talked about, this fan is at the front of the fridge.
• What It Does: The job of the evaporator fan is to take cold air from the coils and spread it around the fridge. First, it cools down the freezer, then it sends that cold air into the rest of the fridge. If this fan isn’t working right, your fridge won’t stay cold.
• How to Tell if It’s Not Working: If your freezer is cold, but the rest of the fridge isn’t, it might mean the evaporator fan needs to be replaced.
• Single or Double Fans: Some fridges have one evaporator fan, others have two (one in the freezer and one in the fridge). It depends on how new your Amana fridge is. The older ones usually have just one in the freezer.
• Checking the Fan: To see if the fan is working, just listen. You should be able to hear it.

If you think this fan isn’t working right, it’s a good idea to get it checked out. It’s an important part for keeping your fridge cold.

For Refrigerators with a Single Evaporator

• Finding the Fan: In regular Amana fridges, you can get to the cooling fan by taking off the light cover and looking up.
• Getting to the Fan: Sometimes, you might have to take out the whole fan setup. But don’t worry, it’s not too complicated.
• Checking the Fan: Once you can see the fan, take a good look at it. Make sure it’s working and not stuck.
• Testing with the Door: There’s a switch that makes the fan start when you close the fridge door. You can check if the fan is working by pretending to close the door with this switch.

For Refrigerators with Dual Evaporators

• Checking the Fans: In fridges with two fans, we’re interested in the one for the fridge part. Gently separate the panels to see it.
• Watching the Fan: Close the fridge doors and then open them quickly after a bit. You should see the fan spinning and then slowing down.
• If It Doesn’t Work: If you try this a few times and the fan doesn’t move, it might be broken.

So, in simple terms, if you have a problem with your fridge’s fan, you can take a look and do a little test to see if it’s working or not. If it’s not, you might need to get it fixed or replaced.

Inspecting the Evaporator(s)

If the fans are working, let’s look at the evaporator.

What’s the Evaporator?

It’s like the engine that makes your fridge cold. It’s made of pipes and it’s usually behind the freezer.

How It Works:

The evaporator makes cold air, and a fan spreads it around your fridge. In newer fridges, there might be two systems for the freezer and fridge, but in most older ones, there’s one for both.

Thoroughly inspect the entire evaporator area. Do you observe ice buildup on the evaporator coils or on the back of the panel? If so, consider it an indication that there may be an issue with the defrost thermostat located at the top of the evaporator coils.

For Refrigerators with a Single Evaporator

• Getting to the Evaporator: Unplug your fridge and open the freezer. Take out the shelves and remove the panel on the back of the freezer. This panel covers the evaporator.
• Checking for Ice: Look at the coils and the back of the panel. If there’s ice, it might be a problem with a part called the defrost thermostat.
• Inspecting the Thermostat: Take a good look at the defrost thermostat. If it looks swollen or damaged, you might need a new one.
• Testing the Thermostat: To be sure, you can test it with a tool called a multimeter. But this is a bit complicated, so you might want to get help from a pro.
• Checking the Defrost Heater: There’s another part called the defrost heater. It melts the ice on the evaporator coils. You can take it out and check it. To test it, you’ll need a multimeter too. A working heater should show a reading between 20 to 40 Ohms.

For Refrigerators with Dual Evaporators

• What’s Different: Newer fridges might have two cooling systems, one for the freezer and one for the fridge. We’re interested in the fridge’s evaporator here.
• Accessing It: Unplug the fridge and open the fridge doors. Take out all the food, shelves, and drawers. Remove the panel that covers the evaporator coils.
• Checking for Ice: Look for ice on the coils or panel. If you see ice, give it some time to melt, especially if the fridge door was left open.
• Reconnect and Test: Plug the fridge back in, let it run, and see if it’s cooling correctly.
• If It’s Still Not Working: If it’s not working, you might need to think about replacing the defrost heater or the evaporator fan.

Remember, if this seems too complicated, it’s a good idea to call in a professional to help you with these tests and replacements.

Inspect the Defrost Drain

This simple fix can help get your fridge back to working the way it should!

• Why It’s Important: Imagine your fridge as a well-tuned machine. If one part isn’t working, it can affect others and even stop the whole fridge from working.
• How it Works: There are special coils in your fridge that make sure it stays cold. Another part, the defrost heater, stops ice from building up on these coils.
• Water from Ice: When the ice melts, it turns into water. Usually, this water goes down a special drain in your fridge.
• Possible Problem: Sometimes, this drain can get blocked. This means the defrost heater can’t melt all the ice, causing extra ice to form in the next freezing cycle.
• Fixing It: First, unplug your fridge and let it sit for a bit to thaw. Then, use a stream of air to clear any blockage in the drain.

For Refrigerators with a Single Evaporator

In traditional Amana refrigerators with single evaporators, you’ll find the defrost drain located in the freezer, positioned beneath the evaporator coils.

For Refrigerators with Dual Evaporators

In dual evaporator refrigerators, the defrost drain is situated in the refrigerator section, directly beneath the evaporator coils.

When You Need to Order Replacement Parts for Your Amana Refrigerator

Why You Need Replacement Parts: If you’ve found a broken part in your fridge that’s causing it to not cool properly, you’ll need to replace it.

How to Get the Right Parts: Look for the model number of your Amana fridge. You can find it on a sticker inside the fridge, usually on the side wall.

Once you have the model number, go to a website like Sears Parts Direct.

Finding and Ordering the Part:

• Use the model number to find the exact part you need on the website.
• Once you’ve found it, you can order it to get it delivered to your home.

This way, you can make sure you get the right part to fix your fridge.

Amana Refrigerator User Manual

If you can’t find your fridge’s manual, Amana.com has a useful online database. Visit the website and type in your fridge’s model number. This will give you access to helpful information and troubleshooting advice. If available, you may also download an electronic copy of your fridge’s manual from Amana.com.

Amana Customer Support

If your Amana fridge is still not cooling properly, kindly contact the professionals at 1-866-616-2664 on weekdays between 8 AM and 6 PM EST. You may also schedule service online for a technician to come home and inspect your fridge if needed.

If you have an active warranty, the service cost may be covered. JustAnswer is a reliable platform where you can find experienced appliance repair technicians like Mark, who has 20 years of experience in the field. Additionally, they offer repair services for a wide range of appliances, including dishwashers and dryers.

FAQs

Conclusion

Amana refrigerators can stop cooling suddenly, but there is usually a specific reason. Dirty coils, broken evaporators or fan, or a faulty start relay are common culprits. Luckily, these issues can be fixed quickly and easily with the steps outlined in this guide. If you need professional help, we also provide guidance on where to find it. Use this guide to figure out what’s wrong with your fridge and fix it fast.

Jeegna

Greetings, tech enthusiasts! I'm Jeegna, your go-to guru for all things gadget-related. With a passion for technology that runs deep, I've made it my mission to unravel the mysteries of the digital world and simplify it for you.