Hi,
I have a small refrigerator that was turned off for a few weeks between when one tenant left and another moved in an apartment that I rent. The new tenant called me tonight and says that the refrigerator section is not getting cold but the freezer is working ok. I asked him to adjust the temperature control but he says it does not seem to make a difference. The refrigerator is a very small basic model, only 24 inches wide. It is not a frost-free type. I recall it has an evaporator plate behind both the freezer and refrigerator parts, but I do not recall a fan or moving air present when it was new, so is it possible that it doesn't not have an evaporator fan? I'm planning to test the thermostat tomorrow. What other components should I check?
Thanks,
Paul

It is most likely that your tenat needs a little more patience. A fridge, when just plugged in, takes up to 72 hours to cool. Think of the room temperature food put into the fridge as little radiators struggling to heat up the fridge. It takes a while for the fridge to overcome all those heaters warming it up.

If it still doesn't cool (it will) then looked for plugged vents, an overfilled fridge or freezer or food blocking the vents. Usually cold air vents from the freezer to the fridge.

Hi,
Thanks for your response. I called my tenant and he said that he has had the refrigerator plugged in and on for a week, and that there is not much food in it. He also said that the interior of the refrigerator has condensation on it, so it is getting cool, but not cold.
Thanks,
Paul

Try the dollar bill test on the door seal to make sure the seal is tight all the way around the door. Close the door on the bill and tug it out. If it resists, that is a good seal, if it slides right out, air may be getting into the fridge. This results in condensation too.

If that isn't it, follow the "visit acmehowto" link at the top right of the page and find our refrigerator diagnostic guide to help you narrow the down the problem.

Dear DIY Guy,

Thanks for the info. I examined the refrigerator this afternoon and I could find nothing obviously wrong with it. I used an infrared thermometer to check the temperature of the evaporator panel at the rear of the inside of the refrigerator, it was 29F, and the overall temperature inside the refrigerator ranges between 35F and 44F. The thermostat was turned to max cool, so I suppose it may need replacement because I think it should be colder at the max setting. What temperature should the refrigerator be? The freezer was -7F. I looked at the wiring diagram and there is no evaporator fan, the evaporator panel is just shared between the freezer and refrigerator, so airflow is not an issue. The seals on the doors are good as well.

Thanks,
Paul

The temperatures sound just right. A refrigerator should be about 40 degrees fahrenheit and the freezer should be about +15 degrees.