Refrigerator Not Cooling? Here’s What’s Actually Wrong (and When To Call For Help in Dhaka)
When your refrigerator stops cooling properly, food spoils fast — and in Dhaka’s heat, that can happen within hours. But before you assume the worst, know that many “fridge not cooling” problems have straightforward explanations. Some are easy to check yourself. Others need a trained technician. At Rifat Refrigerator & Engineering, we’ve handled thousands of refrigerator repairs across Dhaka, and these are the actual problems we find most often.
Start Here: Simple Checks Before Calling Anyone
You would be surprised how many service calls we go on where the problem turns out to be a simple setting or a temporary issue. Before anything else, check these:
Is the power connected properly?
Check that the fridge is plugged in firmly, the socket is live (test with another appliance), and the circuit breaker for that outlet has not tripped. In Dhaka, socket issues and breaker trips happen more often than most people realise.
Is the temperature control set correctly?
If someone in the household adjusted the thermostat dial (or a child accidentally bumped it), the fridge may simply be set to a warmer temperature. The recommended temperature is 3–5°C for the fridge section and -18°C for the freezer.
Is the fridge too full or too empty?
Overpacking blocks cold air circulation. A completely empty fridge also struggles because food items help retain cold. A third to two-thirds full is the ideal load for efficient cooling.
Is the fridge getting adequate ventilation?
The fridge needs at least 5–10 cm of clearance on the sides and back for the condenser to release heat. Pushed tight against a wall or inside a closed cabinet, it will overheat and cool poorly.
If none of those are the issue, you are likely dealing with one of the following technical problems.
Dirty Condenser Coils
The condenser coils — usually found at the back or underneath your fridge — release the heat that is pulled from inside. When these get coated with dust and pet hair (extremely common in Dhaka homes), they cannot release heat efficiently. The fridge has to work much harder and the interior temperature creeps up.
This is one of the most overlooked maintenance tasks. Cleaning the coils once a year with a soft brush or vacuum can noticeably improve cooling and reduce your electricity bill.
Unplug the fridge. Pull it away from the wall. Use a soft brush or vacuum cleaner attachment to gently clean the coils at the back. Plug back in and wait 2–3 hours to check if cooling improves. Do this once a year.
Damaged Door Seal (Gasket)
The rubber seal around the fridge door is what keeps warm air out and cold air in. Over time, this seal hardens, cracks, or warps — especially in households where the fridge door is opened frequently or where the seal gets stained and is cleaned with harsh chemicals.
A damaged seal is surprisingly effective at reducing cooling efficiency. Cold air leaks out constantly, the compressor runs non-stop trying to compensate, and food near the edges warms up first.
Close the fridge door on a piece of paper. If you can pull the paper out easily with the door closed, the seal in that spot is not creating a proper contact. Repeat around the entire door perimeter.
Evaporator Fan Motor Failure
Inside most refrigerators there is a small fan that circulates cold air from the freezer section across the evaporator coils and into both the fridge and freezer compartments. When this fan motor stops working, the freezer may still stay cold (since it is directly next to the evaporator) but the fresh food compartment warms up.
Signs of a failed evaporator fan: the freezer works but the fridge section is warm, you cannot hear the usual fan noise when the compressor is running, or you notice unusual sounds from inside the freezer wall.
Thermostat or Temperature Control Fault
The thermostat monitors the internal temperature and tells the compressor when to switch on and off. A faulty thermostat may stop signaling the compressor to run — meaning the fridge never cools down — or may keep the compressor running constantly, causing overcooling and freezing everything in the fridge section.
Refrigerant Gas Leak
Like an AC, a refrigerator uses refrigerant in a sealed loop to transfer heat. If there is a leak, the system loses refrigerant and the fridge gradually loses its ability to cool. Unlike an AC gas leak, fridge gas leaks are harder to detect because the amounts involved are smaller and the system is more enclosed.
Signs: the fridge runs constantly but the interior is not cold, there may be an unusual chemical smell, or you notice frost only on parts of the evaporator coil instead of evenly distributed.
Refrigerator gas work requires specialized equipment and the right refrigerant type for your specific model. Using the wrong refrigerant or incorrect pressure will damage the compressor. Always use a qualified technician in Dhaka.
Compressor Problems
The compressor is the most expensive component in a refrigerator. It can fail due to: overheating from poor ventilation, running on low refrigerant, voltage damage from power surges, or simply reaching the end of its operational life.
A failed compressor means the fridge cannot cool at all. You may hear the compressor clicking on but then immediately shutting off, or hear no sound at all from the back of the unit. Compressor replacement is a major repair — sometimes it makes more financial sense to replace the fridge entirely, depending on its age and the cost of the repair.
Defrost System Failure
Modern frost-free refrigerators run a defrost cycle every 8–12 hours to melt ice buildup on the evaporator coils. If the defrost heater, defrost timer, or defrost thermostat fails, ice builds up on the coils until airflow is blocked completely. The result looks exactly like a compressor failure — the fridge stops cooling — but the actual fix is much simpler and cheaper.
This is one of the reasons why an accurate diagnosis matters so much before starting repairs. We always diagnose first at Rifat before touching any component.
Quick Symptom Diagnosis Guide
| What You Notice | Most Likely Cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge warm, freezer cold | Evaporator fan failure | Call technician |
| Both sections warm, compressor not running | Thermostat fault or start relay | Call technician |
| Both warm, compressor runs non-stop | Gas leak or defrost failure | Call technician |
| Everything freezing, including fresh food | Thermostat stuck or PCB fault | Call technician |
| Warm near door edges only | Failed door gasket | Replace gasket (DIY or technician) |
| Fridge noisy but warm | Fan or compressor issue | Call technician |
| Water pooling inside fridge | Blocked drain tube or defrost issue | Clear drain tube; if persists, technician |
Fridge Still Not Working? We Can Help Today.
Doorstep refrigerator repair across all of Dhaka City. We diagnose first, quote the price, then fix it — with a 30-day service guarantee. Available every day 8AM to 12AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my fridge warm but the freezer still cold?
This almost always points to the evaporator fan motor. The fan circulates cold air from the freezer into the fridge section. When it stops, the freezer stays cold because it is adjacent to the evaporator, but the fridge section warms up. This is a straightforward repair for a trained technician.
How long should a refrigerator last in Bangladesh?
With proper maintenance, a quality refrigerator should last 10–15 years in Bangladesh. However, voltage fluctuations from frequent load-shedding accelerate wear. Using a voltage stabilizer and cleaning the condenser coils annually significantly extends the lifespan.
Should I repair or replace my old refrigerator?
If the repair cost is less than 50% of the price of a new equivalent fridge and the unit is under 10 years old, repair is generally the better choice. Compressor replacement on an older fridge may not be worth it. Our technicians always give you an honest diagnosis so you can make the right decision.
How much does refrigerator repair cost in Dhaka?
It depends on the issue. Minor repairs like door gasket replacement or defrost component replacement typically cost BDT 800–2,500. Gas refill ranges from BDT 2,000–4,000. Major repairs like compressor replacement can range from BDT 5,000–15,000 depending on the brand and compressor type. We provide a quote before starting any work.
Is it normal for my fridge to run constantly in Dhaka’s summer heat?
During peak summer (April–June), your fridge compressor may run more frequently than usual because the ambient temperature is higher and the door is opened more often. But if it runs without ever cycling off, something is likely wrong — usually a gas leak, dirty coils, or a damaged door gasket forcing it to work too hard.