When a refrigerator stops functioning correctly, it’s common to see a long list of issues including temperature control.
Most people will complain about things such as the refrigerator freezing food on the lowest setting.
If a refrigerator is freezing food on the lowest setting, it’s possible the coils are dirty or the thermostat is faulty. This can cause the fridge to overdo the cooling and freeze everything inside within minutes. To fix this issue, change the temperature, set up a thermometer, and clean the coils. It’s also recommended to reset the fridge by unplugging it for a few hours.
Don’t assume this issue will go away on its own. This is a misconception.
It will have to be corrected through one of the highlighted tips listed above. If you don’t take action, the food is going to get ruined in days.
To learn more about dealing with a refrigerator freezing food on the lowest setting, it’s best to go through this helpful guide on what works.
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How To Stop Refrigerator From Freezing Food On Lowest Setting
1. Increase the Temperature
If your fridge is suddenly freezing everything, the most common issue has to do with the temperature.
It is likely the thermostat inside the fridge is damaged or the setting was changed. If you take the time to increase the setting, this will get rid of the issue.
While fridges do have colder settings, this does not mean you should set them to this number. Instead, you should find a middle ground for your specific needs.
This is a common issue when the external environment around the fridge is already cold (i.e. garage, basement).
2. Check the Coils
If everything is frozen in your fridge, your coils might be dirty.
This is possible with an aging refrigerator that has to be cleaned. You might have to take a look at the coils to see whether or not they are dirty.
If you clean the coils, this might be enough to regulate the temperature inside your fridge. Sometimes, it is an easy fix like this that will do the trick!
3. Assess the Airflow
You will have to check the airflow in the fridge.
What this means is assessing how the air is traveling inside the fridge when it’s on. You can do this by finding the vent and then putting your hand near it.
Are you getting the cooling to come all the way through the appliance or is it restricted to one particular shelf?
This can be one of the main reasons why food near that part of the fridge is frozen while everything else isn’t.
It’s a small detail people don’t pick up on and it does matter. You will have to ensure the airflow is spreading throughout the fridge for the cooling to be safe. Until you do this, you are not going to see appropriate results at all.
4. Change the Placement of Your Food
You will have to change the placement of the food.
This is something people don’t take note of and that is what holds them back. You will want to take a peek at where the food is when it froze.
For example, is the food near the vent where the cooling is coming from? This might be the main reason why that food is freezing.
It is also important to make sure you are not overloading the fridge. This can cause temperature control issues too.
Move the food around and ensure it is well spread out in the fridge.
Final Thoughts
These are the tips to think about with a refrigerator freezing food on the lowest setting.
If a refrigerator is freezing food on the lowest setting, this is a sign to increase the temperature, set up a thermometer, and check if the coils are dirty. To fix the issue, clean the coils and relocate the food to ensure the cooling is well spread out inside the appliance.
This is a simple fix and is not going to take a long time to manage. If there is a bigger issue at play, you should unplug the fridge and let it reset for 2-3 hours.
This should help rectify the issue in the short term before you have to change an internal part such as the condenser.
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