The coldest spot in the fridge is in the back on the bottom shelves. This may be where you store butter, cheese, yogurt, meat, or eggs. While keeping these items cold and protecting them from the rush of warm air every time you open your refrigerator door is key, you don’t necessarily want them frozen. If you did, you’d store them in the freezer. Eggs, produce, mayonnaise, and potatoes that freeze during fridge storage lose their texture. If your fridge is freezing everything and ruining your food, it could be as simple as adjusting a setting or it could mean there’s a mechanical problem. Check out these common causes and how to fix them.
Temperature Settings
The first thing to check is the temperature setting for your refrigerator. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a refrigerator should be set to 40ºF or below. Some appliance manufacturers recommend a range within 33ºF to 40ºF. Freezers should be set to 0ºF.
If your fridge temperature is set near freezing and dips below 33ºF, food will freeze. Raise the temperature to see if that helps. Hang an appliance thermometer at the center of the middle shelf so you can monitor the temperature. Leave the door closed for 24 hours so you’ll get an accurate reading.
Leaky Seal
Worn, warped, or torn gaskets around the fridge door can create a loose seal and allow cold air to escape. It seems like this would cause food to spoil, but it actually tricks your refrigerator into running nonstop and overcooling. You may notice freezing in parts of your fridge.
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You may be able to fix the rubber gasket yourself. First clean it with warm, soapy water, getting into the folds and around the frame. Dry the seal with a clean towel. Reshape the rubber with a hair dryer. For a stiff or warped seal, set the hair dryer on medium and blow warm air to soften and reshape sections as needed. Close the door to let the rubber cool and reshape against the frame. If the seal is torn or cracked, it needs to be replaced. You’ll need your refrigerator’s model number to order a replacement part.
Blocked Air Vent
Take a look inside your fridge. If it’s packed, food containers could be pushed up against the walls, blocking the air vents. The vents circulate cold air around the refrigerator. If they’re blocked, cold air can’t flow. Instead, it gets trapped and can expose nearby items to constant cold air and cause them to freeze. Food in your crisper drawer can also freeze if it’s too packed and there’s nowhere for the cold air to go.
To make room and clear space around the vents, this is a good time to get rid of any expired items. Rearrange groceries so there’s about 2 inches of space between them and the interior wall so cold air can move freely throughout.
Amount Of Food
While too much food in your fridge can block air vents, too little food can also be the reason your food is freezing because there simply aren’t enough items to absorb the cold air. The cold ends up settling in a lower area of the fridge, causing whatever is stored there to freeze.
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To fix this, rearrange items so delicate foods aren’t placed near the back walls or vents where cold air accumulates. Adding a few jugs of water to the fridge can also help absorb the excess of cold air.
Disconnected Ice Maker
The problem could stem from your ice maker. If it’s disconnected from a water source but still on, it will keep trying to make ice. During this process, the ice maker releases cold air into the refrigerator compartment and causes freezing. Turn the ice maker off or connect it to a water source to resolve the issue.
Failing Defrost System
Problems with a refrigerator’s defrost system, including the timer, heater, or thermostat, can cause freezing as ice builds up on the evaporator coils. Ice can block the airflow, and freezing air can cause cold spots. You may be able to manually defrost the refrigerator yourself and replace broken parts, or call an appliance repair person for a diagnosis.
Faulty Thermostat
A temperature sensor that’s not working properly can cause food to freeze. The sensor can’t accurately measure the temperature inside the fridge, and misreadings can cause the cooling system to run continuously. To determine whether the thermostat is working, adjust the temperature setting so it’s warmer. If that doesn’t cause the compressor to stop running, the sensor is likely the issue. If your repair skills include working with wiring, you may be able to replace the sensor yourself. Otherwise, it’s best to contact a pro.
Problems With The Air Damper
The damper controls the flow of cold air, and if it gets stuck open, an excess of freezing air from the freezer winds up in the refrigerator. You may notice clicking or humming near the vent as the motor tries to close the damper. A faulty damper is generally easy to replace. You can do it yourself or call an expert to fix it for you.
Read the original article on Southern Living