Why is My Refrigerator Freezing Food? [SOLVED] – Let’s Fix It

Are you facing the issue of Refrigerator freezing food, then here are some of the most common issues and their corresponding solutions. Why is your fridge freezing everything? This is one of the frequent problems that almost every fridge owner faces. And such a problem needs immediate solutions.

Almost every fridge owner has experienced this issue. There are various ways to handle this, such as checking the power cord and fridge vents. However, these solutions might not work for everyone. Now that we’ve got you thinking about the issue, A fridge is meant to keep food cold, not frozen. If you notice your fridge is freezing your food, it could be because of these issues.

Why is My Refrigerator Freezing Food – Troubleshoot And Diagnosis

Let’s See Some of the common causes and how to fix them.

1. Check the Temperature Setting

To maintain the optimum temperature range for fresh food, keep your refrigerator’s temperature setting between 38 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If it is freezing, then we recommend that you turn your fridge’s temperature up. This is a common mistake and one that can lead to the refrigerator freezing your food.

You might be accidentally altering the freezer’s temperature. The freezer’s thermostat is typically a dial with “Cold”, “Colder”, and “Coldest” settings. If you’re having this problem, try turning the dial to the “Cold” setting and see if it resolves your frozen food problem.

2. Blocked Air Vents

Your refrigerator needs to stay cool! Even with modern technology, it can be difficult to maintain the proper temperature in these devices. Air vents keep the air flowing and help keep the refrigerator uniformly cold. But how? Well, not only do they ensure that the fridge stays cool, they also let you know when the thermostat is too high or low.

The problem could be that there is too much food blocking the air vents inside your fridge. If this is the case, some food may have become exposed to more cold air and frozen. You can fix this by removing some of the food in your fridge. For example, if you have a lot of food on the bottom shelf, you may need to take some of it out.

Another reason could be that you need to put more food in the fridge. Also, make sure your refrigerator is fully stocked, because it helps it absorb the cold air better.

3. Leaky Door Seals

Check your fridge and freezer seals. Fridges and freezers should be sealed well to keep cold air in. They keep cold air in! If you can see a leak, your fridge will work harder to stay at one temperature. This can result in a fridge that is too cold or frozen food.

Having a faulty seal on your fridge is not good. It’ll make your fridge work harder, and it’ll make the food near the vents really cold (and sometimes freeze!). This is because your fridge is running more often in order to maintain the set temperature, but it’s also leaking cold air.

A temporary solution for your food is to move it away from the area. However, you will need to replace the door seal since it has deteriorated. You would also be wise to pay more attention to this area of the fridge since not only are your energy bills going up, but your refrigerator will wear out prematurely because it needs to run constantly.

4. Dirty Condenser Coils

Did you know that a dirty condenser coil can also cause refrigerator freezing food problems? The coils on the back or bottom of your fridge are charged with getting rid of heat. But dust and pet hair insulates them and makes it take longer for the coil to dissipate heat.

Dirty condenser coils mess with your electric bills and make your fridge too cold. They can also cause food to freeze and thaw out quickly. Usually, you’ll find frozen food inside if you catch the dirty coils soon after the fridge has been running a cycle. If left unattended for a while, the frozen food will thaw out completely.

The condenser coils are really easy to clean; it should only take a few minutes. Sometimes you might have to remove a protective cover in order to access them, but you can easily brush off the dust, pet hair, and other debris. Be very gentle when you sweep them in order to avoid damaging the coils and causing more serious problems.

5. Faulty Thermostat

There are many things that can prevent your refrigerator from running properly. For example, if you have tried adjusting the temperature dial and it doesn’t help, your issue might actually be with the thermostat. This part is designed to trigger the refrigeration cycle when the refrigerator gets too hot.

When your thermostat malfunctions, it can both fail to trigger cooling – thus creating an uncomfortable environment – or trigger too much – resulting in overcooling and frozen food.

How do you find the thermostat? It will be different depending on the kind of unit you own. A side by side unit has it on the back while an over-under unit will have it on the bottom. Your owner’s manual will help you find out where it is exactly.

The thermostat will be mounted to the evaporator tube by a wire harness. The protective panel will cover the thermostat. You can unplug it, if wanted, and test it with a multimeter.

If your refrigerator is too cold, there may be a very simple solution. The first thing you want to do is make sure you didn’t accidentally turn down the thermostat too low. There may also be a quick fix you can give it by setting it back to the manufacturer’s recommended temperature and giving it 24 hours for it to stabilize. If this doesn’t solve your problem, then you’ll need to replace the thermostat.

6. Damper Control

Your refrigerator might be freezing your food because the damper is stuck open. To control the temperature of a refrigerator, a damper opens and closes to let air in from the freezer. If this mechanism falls into an open position, it will let too much cold air into the fresh food section. So, when your food freezes, it’s because too much cold air is entering the fresh food section.

The damper can be found in the top section of a side-by-side fridge, or in the midsection of a top mount fridge. This damper controls how much air comes into the fresh food section. Sometimes, it will be a flapper door, like you would see on an old fireplace. Otherwise, it will be a slide gate that regulates the flow of air.

If your refrigerator is freezing in the fresh food compartment, it could be due to a defective assembly. If the damper is open, then it is defective or the sensor that controls the damper is defective.

To diagnose and repair this issue, begin by making sure there are no mechanical issues with your damper. If you’ve determined there doesn’t appear to be any mechanical issues, the next thing we may suspect is the temperature sensor.

Most auto dampers will use an electronic temperature sensor to control the motor that moves the shutter or gate on the damper. The sensor will often have a connector, so it can be plugged in.

Replacing a temp sensor is easy. Manufacturers with hardwired sensors simply have to cut the leads and solder in new ones.

To test a temperature sensor, the first step is to look at the specifications for that sensor. With temperature sensors, resistance is usually indicated at a certain temperature. The manufacturer will usually give you the room temperature resistance in ohms.

Alright, so firstly, connect your multimeter’s leads or connector to the temp sensor. Secondly, consult the chart to see if the reading is what it is supposed to be. If the reading is not accurate, you will need to replace the sensor.

7. Main Control Board

Control boards are too often blamed for problems that come from other, more common sources. Before you order a new control board, first test the more commonly defective parts. If all of these parts are not defective, consider replacing the original board.

8. Temperature Control Board

The temperature control board is like the brain of the refrigerator. If it’s not working properly, it will send continuous voltage to the compressor or fan motors. This will make the refrigerator too cold. Don’t replace the control board before checking out all other components that might be faulty–such as the thermostat and condenser.

Why Is Food Freezing In The Back Of My Refrigerator

Many refrigerators cool the refrigerator compartment with air from the freezer compartment. This can lead to a build-up of hot air which remains near the front of shelves, while items at the back remain frosty.

Overcrowded shelves can cause poor air circulation and may lead to food going bad — a terrible thing for all parties involved. In order to avoid this situation, you should avoid overpacking the shelves.

How Do You Fix A Refrigerator That Freezes Everything

The gasket is a vital part of your refrigerator door, and if it has been damaged or broken, your fridge will not be able to keep food frozen as effectively. Once the seal is broken, any cold air that’s been saved in the compartment can escape into the warmer surroundings — resulting in a cold storage box that tends to freeze its contents.

If you can’t seal your refrigerator door properly, then a relatively simple fix can be used. Just place a new gasket over your existing one and make sure it fits snugly into the grooves of the door. Now open and close the fridge door a few times to let the new gasket get used to the space.