A refrigerator that stops cooling can have many causes: dirty condenser coils, a failed fan, a frozen evaporator or a bad start relay. On modern refrigerators the main control board or the compressor inverter board is also a very common failure. Here is how to narrow it down.
Start with the simple checks
- Listen. Do you hear the compressor running? Is the condenser fan near the compressor turning?
- Clean the condenser coils at the bottom or back. Clogged coils cause weak cooling.
- Check the freezer. If the freezer is cold but the fresh-food section is warm, look for frost on the back panel of the freezer. A heavy frost layer points to a defrost problem.
Signs the control board is the cause
- The compressor and fans never start even though the refrigerator has power.
- Defrost never runs, while the defrost heater and thermostat test fine.
- The display is dead or flashes error codes.
- The ice and water dispenser stopped working along with cooling.
- Relays on the board are burnt or the board smells burnt.
Inverter boards
Many newer LG, Samsung, Whirlpool and Frigidaire refrigerators use a variable-speed compressor driven by an inverter board, usually mounted near the compressor at the back. A failed inverter board is a very common cause of a refrigerator that runs its fans but never starts the compressor.
Safety first: always unplug the appliance and shut off the water (and gas, if any) before you open any panel. If you are not comfortable working with electrical parts, call a qualified technician.
Find your board
The main board is usually behind the rear access panel or on top of the refrigerator. The part number is on a sticker on the board. Search for that number to find an exact match.
Need a replacement? Search our catalog by the part number on your old board, or browse refrigerator control boards. Every board is a genuine OEM part, ships free in the contiguous US and has a 60-day warranty.