Mini-fridges are convenient little appliances. They are energy-efficient, affordable, and small enough to fit when you have limited space, and they provide all the cooling capabilities of a full-sized appliance. However, when your mini-fridge is not cooling correctly, it can be very frustrating. Follow the steps laid out in our guide to figure out why your mini-fridge isn’t cooling and how to fix it.
Because a mini-fridge is often used in a dorm situation, it can end up storing food for a number of people. This can mean the mini-fridge is being opened very frequently.
Because a mini-fridge is smaller than a regular fridge, it can lose its coolness quickly. This means that if your mini-fridge is being opened multiple times a day, it might be losing cool air and doesn’t have time to get back to the right temperature before it’s opened again.
If you’re sharing your mini-fridge with a few other people or if you notice the door being opened too often, it might be worthwhile to either switch to a regular-sized fridge or invest in a second mini-fridge to avoid cooling issues. If your mini-fridge isn’t being opened too frequently but you still notice it’s not cooling, read on to discover more fixes to try.
The temperature-control thermostat keeps track of the temperature in your mini-fridge and sends power to the compressor, evaporator fan motor, and condenser fan motor as needed. If it fails, your entire refrigerator will stop cooling.
The thermostat can be tested by performing the following steps:
If the condenser coils at the back of your fridge are dirty, this could be why your mini-fridge isn’t cooling. When the coils get dusty, they have to work extra hard to keep your mini-fridge cool, and your fridge may not be able to cool down to a low enough temperature.
To clean the condenser coils:
For your mini-fridge to stay cool, the door gaskets must be in good working order. Because a mini-fridge is so small, a small amount of warm air can cause it to struggle.
The gaskets on your mini-fridge should be tight, and you shouldn’t be able to slide a piece of paper between them with the door closed. You should replace the gaskets if you are able to do so.
You can order replacement gaskets from the manufacturer of your mini-fridge. To replace your door gaskets, simply unscrew the old ones and slide on the new ones.
The next thing to investigate is whether you have a faulty condenser fan. To keep the condenser coils from frosting over, the condenser fan blows warm air over them. If the fan fails, the coils won’t stay cool, and your refrigerator may not be able to cool down to a low enough temperature.
Follow these steps to inspect the condenser fan:
Your mini-fridge may have an evaporator fan, depending on the make and model. This fan aids in the transfer of cold air from the fridge’s small freezer compartment into the main fridge area. If it fails, your mini-fridge may struggle to cool.
Follow these steps to inspect the evaporator fan:
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