Panasonic Refrigerator Not Cooling [How To Fix]

If you are having trouble fixing a Panasonic refrigerator that is not cooling, this article will guide you on what to do…

Panasonic Refrigerator Not Cooling – Quick Fix

If your Panasonic refrigerator is not cooling, check the following things:

Fan Motors

To be sure the evaporator fan motor is not defective, listen for any strange sound from it. If there is, use a multimeter to check if there is continuity. If you find no continuity, change it.

Another way to know if the fan motor is defective is by spinning the blades of the fan. If they are stiff, the motor is bad and needs to be changed.

The evaporator fan is responsible for blowing cool air throughout the fridge and freezer. If it does not come on when the compressor starts, there will be no cool air.

To check the functionality of the condenser fan motor, spin the blade of the fan. If it is stiff, the motor is defective and needs changing. And if there is anything obstructing the free spinning of the blade, remove it and clean the fan thoroughly.

The condenser fan is responsible for cooling the condenser coil and compressor as they work. Without it, the refrigerator will become hot and not cool properly.

Temperature Control

Check the temperature control dial to be sure it is set to cold. Sometimes, you could inadvertently move the dial, increasing the temperature. If it is set to cold, move it even lower to further reduce the temperature.

Location

The position of the refrigerator in the house is likely the cause of the cooling problem. Be sure it is not located in a place where sunlight hits it directly. And be sure there is no other heat source hitting it from any corner. This can reduce the refrigerator’s cooling ability.

Condenser Coil

Check the condenser coil, beside the compressor, to be sure nothing is clogging it. If there is or if it is dirty, clean it thoroughly.

A dirty condenser coil will not be able to dissipate the heat coming from the refrigerant as it passes through it. The refrigerant will carry the heat and cause the unit to heat up and not cool.

Defrost Timer

Turn the dial on the timer with a screwdriver. The compressor should go off and the heater should come on after a little while if the defrost timer is working well. If this doesn’t happen within 30 minutes, the timer is bad and need replacement.

The defrost timer informs the defrost heater to come on and defrost the evaporator coils. If the heater doesn’t work, the coils will become frozen. And if the coils are frozen, there will not be enough cool air to circulate throughout the refrigerator. So, it will not get cold.

Doors

Check the doors to be sure they close well and that the gaskets are functioning. Additionally, check the frequency at which the doors are opened daily. Frequent opening of the refrigerator doors will cause the coolness to seep out and warm air to seep in. This will reduce its coolness.

Thermostat

Move the dial of the thermostat from the highest to the lowest setting and listen to hear a click. The click means the thermostat is fine but no click means the thermostat is bad and needs replacing.

A bad thermostat means the refrigerator will not get cold and could be stuck on one mode for too long.

Vents

If the air vents, through which cool air is released into the refrigerator, are blocked or closed, the refrigerator will not cool. Open them if they are closed or reduce the number of items in the unit so that the air can circulate freely.

Furthermore, don’t put food that is too hot in the refrigerator. It will take a while to cool and that will affect the coolness within the unit.

There is a small chance the problem is the compressor. Compressors don’t become defective so easily so it is important to check the other parts first before checking the compressor.

However, if you find that the compressor is the problem, buy a new refrigerator. This is because compressors don’t come cheap; buying a new unit would be more cost-effective.

In addition to that, there could be a leakage of gas or freon, if your unit has freon. This will affect the efficacy of the refrigerator, starting with the cooling ability. In this case, you cannot do anything about it yourself. Contact Panasonic service center or buy a new refrigerator.

Learn how to troubleshoot a refrigerator with cooling problems in this video…

Check out these other articles on refrigerators not cooling for other brands…

Panasonic Fridge Not Cooling But Freezer Works

If your Panasonic fridge is not cooling but the freezer works fine, check if the temperature displays. If it doesn’t display, then the unit is in Holiday mode. Remove it from this mode by pressing the Fridge Set button and holding it for about 3 seconds.

Check to see if you set it to Eco mode. This mode is strictly for winter months so that it doesn’t freeze too much. So if it is on and it is not winter, the fridge will not cool properly.

Additionally, be sure that the Hygiene Active mode is on. This will enable cool air to circulate properly around the fridge’s cavity.

Check Evaporator Coils

But if none of the above is the case, check the evaporator coils. If they have frost covering them, they will not be able to push cool air into the refrigerator. So turn the fridge off for some hours so they can defrost. Turn the fridge back on after the ice has defrosted.

However, this also means something is wrong with the defrost system of the refrigerator. The evaporator coils are not supposed to have frost buildup; the heater should come on in the automatic defrost cycle and remove frost. Check it and change any bad component.

Check Condenser Coils

Also, check the condenser coils. If they have dirt in them, clean them. Dirt will reduce their ability to cool the refrigerant, thereby causing the fridge to become hot, even though the freezer remains cool.

Check Fan Motors

Additionally, check the fan motors. A bad condenser fan motor means the compressor will overheat, possibly warming the fridge while the freezer could remain cold. And a bad evaporator fan motor means cool air will not properly circulate in the fridge.

Door

Ensure the door of the fridge closes well. If it doesn’t, the fridge will not be able to retain the cool air in it.

Be sure the gasket on the door is working well. If the gasket is bad, the door will not seal properly and cold air will dissipate quickly and easily. Opening the door too frequently will also affect the fridge’s ability to retain cold air to keep it cool.

This video further explains why your fridge is not cooling but your freezer is…

Important Note

These steps for fixing a Panasonic refrigerator not cooling apply to the different models of Panasonic refrigerators, including the ECONAVI and inverter models. If there is any step that seems difficult, contact Panasonic service center or call a qualified technician to help you.

Panasonic Standup Freezer Not Cooling – Solved

The first thing to check is the start relay because it provides power for the compressor to start and run. Also, check the condenser coils and evaporator fan. Other parts to check are the evaporator coils, temperature control, condenser fan, and compressor.

1. Start Relay

The relay is a small device connected to the side of the compressor. Pull it out and shake it; the relay is defective if it rattles, and you should consider replacing it. But if it does not rattle, use a multimeter to run a continuity test through the terminals. Replace the relay if you find no continuity.

2. Condenser Coils

The coils condense the refrigerant and dissipate heat from the gas into the air. Doing this prevents the system from overheating, which can compromise the cooling capacity. Check and clean the coils if they are significantly dirty and clean them every six to twelve months.

3. Evaporator Fan

The fan circulates the cold air inside the freezer and can prevent it from cooling or freezing, even if the cooling system works well. Check the relay if you suspect the freezer has cooling issues and the condenser coils are not dirty. And if the relay works well, the fan may be faulty.

Test the motor to check for continuity and replace it if there is no continuity. You can also replace the entire fan assembly if the blade does not work well or you cannot determine why the fan is not working even though it is getting power.

4. Condenser Fan

The fan blows air over the compressor and condenser coils to prevent overheating. It is vital to how well the cooling system functions, so it can restrict airflow if damaged because the compressor and condenser will overheat without the air.

Turn the fan blade and see how well it works. If it is stiff, it may indicate a problem with the motor bearings. But if it turns well, test the motor with a multimeter to check its continuity. Then, replace the fan motor if it has no continuity.

5. Evaporator Coils

The coils hold the refrigerant as it absorbs the heat from the air to make it cold. In other words, the coils release the cold air that circulates in the freezer. If the coils are frozen, the frost traps the cold air, preventing the freezer from cooling.

Clear the coils using a manual defrost process or put hot water bowls in the freezer until the ice melts. Ensure you keep an eye on the coils and test the defrost system if the freezer has an automatic function.

6. Temperature Control Thermostat

The thermostat may be too low or defective, and since it controls the temperature setting in the freezer, itmay be bvest to check it. Turn the thermostat from low to high and wait for a click. The click tells you the thermostat is in good condition. But if there is no click, run a continuity test and replace it if there is none.

7. Compressor

Nobody wants to have compressor issues because they are difficult to fix. Besides, new compressors are expensive to replace. So, have a technician check the motor; contact the Panasonic Service Center or use an independent technician.

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