Refrigerators keep your food cold but shouldn't be freezing it solid. Despite its name, If you have frozen food in the refrigerator compartments, you have a problem. The causes vary, but most are fixable. Keep reading to learn more about why your sub-zero refrigerator's temperatures may be too cold.
Why Is Refrigerator Temperature Important?
The correct refrigerator temperature keeps bacteria from growing on your food. It also slows down mold and fungi growth. These are substances that can make you ill. It can also make your food age slower and last longer in most cases.
Most refrigerators maintain a temperature not too much above freezing. If you go much higher than that, you lose some of the refrigeration's benefits. If you go too low, then your food may freeze. While freezing won't harm many food products, some fruits and vegetables become mush after they thaw out.
What Are Signs of a Too-Low Temperature?
The most common sign, of course, is your food is frozen or has ice crystals. In the freezer, your frozen desserts may become rock solid. Also, you may see ice forming along the inside unit's walls. If you have a newer unit, the temperature display may show an unusual temperature. You may see an error code in certain models.
Why Would a Refrigerator Get Too Cold?
In most cases of an overly cold refrigerator, the cause is usually maintenance-related. A dirty condenser has a great effect on how long your unit runs. It may run too much and over-cool your unit's interior.
Another common problem that could cause extra cold temperatures is a clogged drain plug. The drain plug assists in the removal of excess moisture. When your refrigerator cannot remove moisture ice forms and builds up. This buildup makes your refrigerator even colder.
Other maintenance issues include a bad door seal that lets in outside air and a faulty temperature setting. Both can cause erratic cooling and icing up.
How Does One Fix a Too-Cold Refrigerator?
Temperature issues, such as freezing and being too cold, are easily remedied. In most cases, keeping up with maintenance is enough to prevent this problem. Also, make sure your condenser coils are away from the wall and have good air circulation. Some people may need replacement parts like a new sensor or door seal to solve the problem.
Your refrigerator should keep your food cold and preserved but not solid frozen. Even the freezer shouldn't be making things like ice cream rock-hard. If your refrigerator seems to make everything frozen, then it needs repairs. Contact a qualified sub-zero repair technician who can track down and fix your issue.
For more information on sub-zero refrigerator repair, contact a company near you.
