A common fridge problem explained — and what to do about it in Toronto & the GTA.
By We Fix It Appliances | June 24, 2026 | Refrigerator Repair
You open the fridge and notice your food is warm. But you check the freezer — and it's still freezing cold. What's going on?
This is actually one of the most common refrigerator problems we see across Toronto and the GTA. The good news: when the freezer works but the fridge doesn't, it usually points to one of a few specific causes — and most of them are fixable without replacing the unit.
Your fridge and freezer share the same cooling system. Cold air is generated in the freezer compartment and then circulated into the fridge section through a vent. When the freezer stays cold but the fridge doesn't, something is blocking or preventing that cold air from moving into the fridge.
Here are the most common causes:
The evaporator fan is responsible for blowing cold air from the freezer into the fridge compartment. If this fan motor stops working, the freezer stays cold (because the compressor is still running) but no cold air reaches the fridge. You might hear the freezer running but notice it's quieter than usual — that's a sign the fan isn't spinning.
Fix: The evaporator fan motor needs to be replaced. This is a common repair and usually costs between $150–$250 all-in on most brands.
Between the freezer and fridge sections, there's a small damper — a flap that opens and closes to control how much cold air flows into the fridge. If this damper gets stuck in the closed position (which can happen due to ice buildup or a faulty motor), cold air can't get through.
Fix: The damper needs to be inspected and either freed up or replaced. Sometimes a full defrost of the unit will resolve it if ice is the culprit.
Inside your freezer, behind a panel, are the evaporator coils — these are what actually get cold. If the defrost system fails, ice builds up on these coils until they're completely blocked. When that happens, no air can flow through them at all, so the fridge section stops cooling even though the freezer may seem okay at first.
You might notice the fridge warming up gradually over several days, and ice or frost buildup at the back of the freezer.
Fix: A technician will manually defrost the coils and then diagnose why the automatic defrost system failed — usually a faulty defrost heater, thermostat, or control board.
The thermistor monitors the temperature inside your fridge and signals the control board to call for more cooling when needed. If the thermistor gives a wrong reading, the fridge might think it's cold enough when it isn't — so it never calls for more cold air.
Fix: The thermistor is a relatively inexpensive part to replace, usually $100–$180 all-in.
Less commonly, the main control board can fail in a way that only affects the fridge section's temperature regulation. This is more common in newer Samsung, LG, and Whirlpool models with electronic controls.
Fix: Control board replacements are more involved and parts can be expensive. A technician will diagnose this only after ruling out the simpler causes first.
Before calling a technician, try these quick checks:
If your fridge is under 10 years old, repair is almost always the right call. The most common repairs for this problem — evaporator fan, damper, thermistor, or defrost system — typically cost between $150–$300 all-in. Compare that to $800–$2,000+ for a new fridge, and repair wins easily.
If your fridge is over 12-15 years old, it's worth getting a diagnosis first. We'll tell you honestly whether repair makes financial sense — we won't push a repair that doesn't.
At We Fix It Appliances, we charge a flat $95 diagnostic fee to come to your home and identify the exact problem. If you proceed with the repair, that $95 is credited toward the total cost — you don't pay it separately.
Most fridge repairs in Toronto and the GTA range from $150–$350 all-in, including parts and labour. We give you a clear quote before any work begins.
We Fix It Appliances has been repairing refrigerators across Toronto, Etobicoke, North York, Mississauga, Markham, Vaughan, and the rest of the GTA since 2014. We repair all major brands — Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, GE, Maytag, Bosch, KitchenAid, Frigidaire, Electrolux, and more.
If your fridge isn't cooling, don't wait — food spoilage adds up fast. Call or text us and we'll get a technician to your door, usually the same day.
Fridge not cooling? We can usually be there same day. Call or text us now.