Refrigerator Not Cold Enough

Most fridges run warm because the condenser coils are caked with dust — they can't shed heat, the compressor never catches up.

Difficulty: Easy Time: 30 min Cost: $0–$20

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1

Unplug the fridge

Pull it out from the wall — usually only 2–3 feet of clearance needed. Unplug.
2

Find the coils

On older fridges they're a black grid on the back. On newer ones, there's a kick plate at the bottom front — pop it off.
3

Brush + vacuum

Push the coil brush through the coils, then vacuum the loose dust. Get the floor and the back grille too.
4

Check door seals

Close a dollar bill in the door — if you can pull it out easily, the gasket is leaking cold air. Clean the gasket; replace if cracked.
5

Plug in and wait

Give it 24 hours to fully cool back down before judging. Set fridge to 37°F and freezer to 0°F.