A refrigerator is an invaluable appliance to have in your home because of its cooling functions. But if it has cooling problems, it becomes frustrating. This article discusses Maytag refrigerator cooling problems and possible solutions.
Table of Contents
Maytag Refrigerator Cold Settings – Quick Guide
Every Maytag refrigerator comes with a user manual to guide the owner on how to operate the appliance. Follow the guide to set the temperature for the refrigerator and freezer if applicable. Typically, there is a control panel with buttons that allow you to perform this task. Each section has dedicated temperature buttons, so use them to set or adjust the temperature settings.
Set the refrigerator to 37 degrees Fahrenheit; the range is usually between 32 degrees and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Note that some sections in the refrigerator tend to be colder than others, so carefully store different food items in these sections. For the freezer, keep it at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or -18 degrees Celsius.
The higher the numbers on the panel’s display, the warmer the refrigerator or freezer. And the lower the numbers, the colder the unit. If your refrigerator does not have a digital display, use the thermostat knob to adjust the setting. If you want it cold, move the dial to a higher number on the thermostat. The higher the number, the colder the refrigerator.
Keep your Maytag refrigerator cold at all times to ensure it is optimally working. If the outside temperature is hot, the cooling function may not work as it should. Therefore, consider lowering the set temperature until there is better weather.
In winter, you may want to adjust the unit’s temperature a little higher, but protect it from the external cold. If the refrigerator is exposed to cold weather, the thermostat reads it and assumes the unit is cold enough. So, it turns off the cooling system even when the internal temperature is not cold enough.
Maytag Refrigerator Cooling Off – Quick Fix
If the Cooling Off mode is on in your Maytag refrigerator, use the Measured Fill and Lock buttons to turn the mode off, as this article explains. If the cooling function is off, the refrigerator cannot cool, even if it is in good working condition. Ensure you set the correct temperature, low enough to speed up cooling, and give the refrigerator some time to achieve a food-safe temperature.
Maytag Refrigerator Too Cold – How to Fix
Take a look at the temperature setting for the refrigerator if it is too cold. It should be at 37 degrees Fahrenheit for the best results. If it must be higher or lower, the temperature setting must stay between 32 degrees and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Any setting lower than that may cause the refrigerator to freeze food. Adjust the setting accordingly for food safety, give it 24 hours, and recheck the refrigerator.
If it is still too cold, check the ice maker. When the ice maker is not connected to the water supply but is on, it adds to the coldness inside the refrigerator. It is best to turn the ice maker off if it is not hooked to water to make ice. Apart from adding to the cold air, it can damage the machine if it continues cycling without water.
But if the above does not fix the cooling issue, you may want to check other parts. Inspect the damper; it is the little flap that opens to allow the right amount of cold air to enter the refrigerator from the freezer. If it is stuck open, too much cold air will enter the fresh food section and make it too cold. This article shows how to check and replace the damper control if it is faulty.
Also, check the temperature control thermostat. Turn the dial on the thermostat from low to high to increase the refrigerator’s internal temperature. As you do this, you should hear it click as the cooling system turns off. If you hear the click, the thermostat is in good working condition. But if not, run a continuity test on the thermostat using a multimeter. Replace the part if there is no continuity.
Furthermore, test the thermistor. It is a small sensor that attaches to the control board. Use a multimeter to check its resistance or continuity. The resistance typically changes when the refrigerator’s internal temperature changes, so you can test it inside the unit since it is still cooling. If the resistance remains unchanged or the component shows no continuity, it is time to replace it.
In addition, you may want to test the temperature control and main control boards. Note that control boards are pretty easy to misdiagnose, so you must be absolutely sure either or both boards are malfunctioning before replacing them. If you are unsure, contact the Maytag Service Center for assistance or use the services of a professional appliance technician to check and replace them if necessary.
Maytag Refrigerator Not Cooling – Solved
If you find that your Maytag refrigerator is not cooling or is not cold enough, check the following:
- Temperature control thermostat
- Start relay
- Condenser coils
- Condenser fan
- Evaporator fan
- Start capacitor
- Thermistor
- Compressor
Check out this article: Maytag Refrigerator Not Cooling: for details on how to troubleshoot and fix each component to get the refrigerator cooling again.
Maytag Refrigerator Not Cold But Freezer Is – Solutions
A few components may be faulty or malfunctioning if the freezer section of a Maytag refrigerator is cold but the refrigerator is warm. Check the following:
- Condenser coils
- Thermistor
- Defrost system
- Damper control
- Evaporator fan
Read this article: Maytag Refrigerator Not Working to learn how to diagnose each component and repair the faulty ones. In addition to these, check the content of the refrigerator. If you overload it, the refrigerator will have a hard time cooling. Also, if the door gasket does not seal tightly anymore, the refrigerator can never get cold. Fixing either or both of these problems may solve the cooling issue without replacing any component.
Check out these other articles…
Refrigerator Does Not Turn Off [How to Fix]
Maytag Refrigerator Not Working [How to Fix]
Maytag Refrigerator Blinking/Flashing [Quick Fix]
Maytag Refrigerator Control [Issues Solved]
Maytag Refrigerator Door [How to, Problems & Solutions]
Maytag Refrigerator Not Cooling After a Power Outage – Quick Fix
Unplug the refrigerator, wait a minute or more, and plug it back into the wall outlet. Doing this should reset the control panel and refrigerator, and may trigger it back into cooling. Some models may have a dedicated reset button or a combination of buttons for resetting the panel. Consult the owner’s manual for instructions on what to do.
If the reset does not work, check the circuit breaker, refrigerator power cord, and the wall outlet to which it connects. Also, check the temperature setting and thermostat, as explained in this article, to ensure they are in good working condition.
Maytag Refrigerator Freezer Not Cold Enough – Fixed
Several components become defective and cause a freezer to lose its cooling capacity. But you may want to start with simple things such as checking content arrangement, shelves, racks placement, and door seals. If the freezer has too many items in it, poorly arranged, it may not cool enough. The same is true if the door gasket does not tightly seal.
When putting items in the freezer, ensure you arrange them in such a manner that the cold air properly circulates. Also, do not overstuff the freezer because it affects the cooling capacity. If this applies, reduce the freezer content and check the gasket. Clean it with warm soap and water if dirty, and fix it if loose. Otherwise, consider replacing the gasket for better cooling.
However, if the cooling problem continues, check the following parts and replace faulty ones:
1. Condenser Coils
Dirt on the condenser coils at the bottom back or under the refrigerator prevents heat transfer out of the refrigerator. As the heat builds, the freezer’s capacity to cool drops. It may continue cooling but only minimally. Use a vacuum with a brush attachment to clean the condenser coils, and ensure to clean the area around them. Follow the instructions in the user manual for a more professional cleaning job.
2. Evaporator Coils
The coils are usually behind the freezer’s inside back panel for refrigerator-freezers. To check them means emptying the freezer and removing all the shelves and racks. Unthread the screws holding the panel in place, carefully lower it, and disconnect the wire harness connected to the evaporator fan.
Inspect the coils; there may be a thin ice coat over them, which is normal. When you should worry is if there is a thick coat of ice on them. Several things can cause this problem, such as a malfunctioning defrost system, weak door gasket, dirty condenser coils, or a defective condenser fan. However, you need to thaw the coils.
You can use a blow dryer to do a faster job of melting the ice on the evaporator coils. But consider a manual defrost, which may take longer but is generally safer. Disconnect the refrigerator from electric power, open the freezer door, and let the ice naturally melt.
Clean the excess water and fix everything back into place. Then, find out why the coils froze in the first place. It may be a one-time occurrence, but monitor the coils over time to see if it happens again. If the evaporator coils are frozen, they cannot release cold air into the freezer, even if the evaporator fan is in good working condition.
3. Start Relay
The relay is the small device fixed to the compressor’s side. Remove and shake it; if you hear a rattle, the relay may be damaged. The same applies if it smells as if it is burnt. If none of these applies, get a multimeter and test the relay for continuity. Replace it if it shows no continuity.
The start relay supplies the electric power needed by the compressor to run when necessary. Without the relay, the compressor usually has a hard time running. It may start but shuts down quickly because it typically needs a lot of power to run until it stabilizes.
4. Condenser Fan
While checking and cleaning the condenser coils, it may be a good time to check the condenser fan. Ensure the blade sits on the motor shaft and is not bent. Also, check to see if debris is stuck on the blade or motor, and clean them if necessary.
Next, turn the blade to check its functionality. If it is stiff and does not turn well, the motor bearings may be worn. If so, replace the fan motor. But if the blade turns well, the problem may stem from a faulty motor. Use a multimeter and check its continuity. That tells you whether or not the motor is getting power. If there is no continuity, replace the motor.
The condenser fan blows air over the condenser coils and compressor to prevent overheating. And if the coils or compressor overheat, the freezer stops cooling well. So, if the fan stops working, which can happen for a number of reasons, it is best to repair or replace the defective part or the entire fan assembly.
5. Evaporator Fan
Open the freezer door and activate the door switch. Wait for the fan motor to resume normal operations; it stops once you open the door but the door switch activates it again. If the fan does not start running, there may be an electrical problem. Remove the fan and test the motor windings with a multimeter to check for continuity. If the motor shows no continuity, replace it.
The evaporator fan circulates cold air within the freezer. Through the damper in the fresh food section, the cold air enters the refrigerator in a refrigerator with a single cooling system. But if the fan develops a fault, the freezer cannot cool well enough, even if the evaporator coils are not frozen. The cold air remains trapped in the unit.
6. Thermostat
First, check the temperature setting and ensure the freezer temperature is low enough. If necessary, adjust the setting. Then, check the thermostat if the cooling problem continues. Turn it from the lowest point to the highest point and wait for a click. If it does not click, the thermostat may need a replacement.
7. Compressor
If all else fails, check the compressor. A problem with the compressor may also mean a problem with the entire refrigerator, but it helps to be sure the compressor is in good working condition. You may need professional help to determine whether or not you need a new compressor or refrigerator. Also, a technician can tell if the current compressor can still last for some time before you have to change it.
Maytag Refrigerator Ice Maker Filter Location
A Maytag refrigerator may have the water filter in the base grille, which is usually at the bottom front of the unit. It may also be inside the refrigerator, on the upper right-hand side. Replacing the filter for the ice maker and dispenser is straightforward.
Maytag Refrigerator Ice Maker On/Off Switch
Most ice makers in Maytag refrigerators use the wire shut-off arm to turn the machine off. Typically, the ice maker automatically shuts off once it is done making ice and turns back on when it needs to run another cycle. You do not need to turn it off and on manually. But if necessary, lift the metal shut-off arm and the ice maker shuts off. Bring the arm down and it begins operating.
Recap
The primary reason for purchasing a refrigerator is to preserve food and other important items. If it has cooling problems, the goal is frustrated. This article is on Maytag refrigerator cooling problems and how to solve them. It also contains different guides for various refrigerator sections.
Follow the instructions in this article to fix your refrigerator if it has cooling problems. Remember to run regular service checks to keep the unit in good working condition. Always set the correct temperature. But if any part is too difficult to troubleshoot, repair, or replace, contact Maytag for service or hire an independent technician for further assistance.
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