Published by Refitec Kenya | Nairobi’s Trusted Appliance Repair Experts
Why Is Your Fridge Freezing Food?
Food freezing inside your fridge is almost always caused by one of these five issues:
- The temperature is set too low (below 2°C/35°F)
- The thermistor (temperature sensor) is faulty
- The damper control is stuck open, letting in too much cold air
- The door gasket is damaged, causing the fridge to overwork
- Food is placed too close to the back wall or air vents
Most cases can be fixed without replacing your refrigerator. If you are in Nairobi or anywhere in Kenya, Refitec Kenya’s certified technicians can diagnose and fix the problem fast — often on the same day.
📞 Call or WhatsApp Refitec Kenya: [Insert Contact Number] 🌐 www.refiteckenya.co.ke
Is It Normal for a Fridge to Freeze Food?
No. Your refrigerator is designed to keep food cool — ideally between 2°C and 5°C (35°F–41°F). Anything below 2°C will cause food items like vegetables, fruits, drinks, and leftovers to freeze solid. When this happens, it is a sign that something is wrong either with your settings or with a component inside the fridge.
5 Most Common Reasons Food Freezes in a Refrigerator
1. Temperature Set Too Low
This is the most common and simplest reason. Many fridges have a dial or digital control that ranges from 1 to 7 (or Min to Max), and it is easy to accidentally turn it up too high.
2. Faulty Thermistor (Temperature Sensor)
The thermistor monitors the internal temperature of your fridge and tells the control board when to run the compressor. If it is defective, it may send incorrect readings, causing the compressor to run constantly and over-cool the fridge.
3. Stuck or Broken Damper Control
The damper is a small door or flap that controls how much cold air flows from the freezer into the refrigerator section. If it gets stuck in the open position, too much cold air floods the fridge compartment — freezing your food.
4. Damaged Door Gasket (Door Seal)
A worn or torn door seal allows warm air to enter the fridge continuously. The fridge works overtime to compensate, dropping temperatures below safe levels and causing food to freeze.
5. Poor Food Placement
Placing food directly in front of air vents or too close to the back wall exposes it to the coldest air in the fridge. Even if the temperature is correct, food in these spots may still freeze.
How to Fix a Refrigerator That Is Freezing Food — Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Check and Adjust the Temperature Setting
Start here before touching any components. The ideal fridge temperature is between 2°C and 5°C.
How to do it: Open your fridge and locate the temperature dial or digital display. If it is a dial, turn it to the middle setting (usually 3 or 4 out of 7). If it is digital, set it to 3°C or 37°F. Allow 24 hours for the fridge to stabilize, then check if food is still freezing.
What to expect: If the issue was simply a wrong setting, food should stop freezing within a day.
Step 2: Move Food Away From Vents and the Back Wall
Cold air enters the fridge through vents, usually located at the back or sides of the interior. Food placed directly in front of these vents or pressed against the back wall is exposed to the coldest air and will freeze.
How to do it: Identify the air vents inside your fridge (they look like small grilles or slots). Move all food items at least 5–10 cm away from these vents. Do not pack the fridge too tightly, as this restricts airflow and creates cold spots.
What to expect: Items like vegetables, fruits, and dairy that were freezing may return to normal temperature within a day.
Step 3: Inspect the Door Gasket (Door Seal)
A damaged door seal allows warm, humid air to leak in. The fridge responds by cooling harder, which drops the temperature further than needed.
How to check it: Close the fridge door on a piece of paper or a Kenyan shilling note and try to pull it out. If it slides out easily, the gasket is not sealing properly. Also look for visible cracks, tears, or hardened sections in the rubber seal around the door.
How to fix it: If the gasket is simply dirty, clean it with warm soapy water — dirt buildup can prevent a proper seal. If it is cracked or torn, the gasket needs to be replaced. Refitec Kenya stocks door gaskets for most major fridge brands available in Kenya, including Samsung, LG, Von, Ramtons, and others.
Step 4: Test the Thermistor
The thermistor is a small sensor attached inside the fridge that monitors temperature. A faulty thermistor sends wrong signals to the control board, causing the compressor to over-run.
Signs of a bad thermistor: The fridge runs constantly without cycling off. The temperature is inconsistent even when the setting is not changed. Some parts of the fridge are extremely cold while others are warmer.
How to test it: This step requires a multimeter. Unplug the fridge, locate the thermistor (usually clipped to the evaporator or inside the fresh food compartment), and disconnect it. Set your multimeter to measure resistance (Ohms). At room temperature, most thermistors should read between 5,000 and 20,000 Ohms. Refer to your fridge’s service manual for the exact specification.
If the reading is outside the normal range, the thermistor is faulty and must be replaced. This is a repair best handled by a qualified technician. Refitec Kenya can test and replace thermistors for all major fridge brands.
Step 5: Check the Damper Control
The damper is located between the freezer and fresh food compartments. It opens and closes automatically to regulate airflow. If it sticks open, the fridge gets too cold.
Signs of a stuck damper: The freezer is working normally, but the fridge section is extremely cold. There is a continuous flow of cold air into the fridge compartment even when the compressor is not running.
How to check it: Locate the damper assembly — it is usually found at the top or back of the fresh food compartment, behind a plastic cover. Remove the cover and inspect whether the damper flap moves freely. In some fridges, it is electronically controlled; in others, it is mechanically operated by a thermostat.
If the damper is visibly stuck open or the motor controlling it is not working, it needs to be replaced. This is a technical repair that should be done by a professional to avoid damaging adjacent components.
Step 6: Call a Professional Technician
If you have tried the steps above and your fridge is still freezing food, the problem is likely with an internal component such as the main control board, compressor relay, or evaporator fan motor. These require professional tools and expertise to diagnose and fix safely.
Refitec Kenya provides certified refrigerator repair services across Nairobi and major towns in Kenya. Our technicians carry genuine spare parts and can diagnose most fridge problems in a single visit.
Which Fridge Brands Does Refitec Kenya Repair?
Refitec Kenya repairs all major refrigerator brands sold in Kenya, including Samsung, LG, Von Hotpoint, Ramtons, Hisense, Beko, Bosch, Whirlpool, Mika, and many others.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ideal fridge temperature in Kenya? Set your fridge between 2°C and 5°C. Given Kenya’s warm climate, keeping it closer to 3°C–4°C is advisable to maintain food freshness without freezing.
Can a full fridge cause food to freeze? Not directly, but an overpacked fridge can block air circulation, creating very cold pockets near the vents. Always leave some space between items.
Why is only the bottom of my fridge freezing food? Cold air sinks. If the temperature is even slightly below the ideal range, food on the lower shelves or in the crisper drawers will be the first to freeze. Check the temperature setting and ensure the bottom shelves are not positioned over a cold air vent.
Is a fridge that freezes food more expensive to run? Yes. A fridge that runs continuously because of a faulty sensor, stuck damper, or bad door seal uses significantly more electricity. Fixing the problem saves you money on your Kenya Power bill.
How much does fridge repair cost in Kenya? The cost depends on the fault and the parts needed. Refitec Kenya provides free diagnostics and transparent pricing before any repair begins.
Contact Refitec Kenya for Fridge Repair
If your refrigerator is freezing food and you are in Nairobi or elsewhere in Kenya, do not wait for the problem to damage your appliance further.
📞 Phone/WhatsApp: [Insert Number] 📧 Email: [Insert Email] 📍 Location: Nairobi, Kenya 🌐 Website: www.refiteckenya.co.ke
Refitec Kenya — Reliable Appliance Repair, Done Right.
Disclaimer: Always unplug your refrigerator before inspecting internal components. If you are not confident performing these steps yourself, contact a qualified technician.