It would be nice if appliances could last forever and never break down. However, at every point in a Hotpoint fridge freezer owner’s life, there will come a day when your appliance isn’t working.
When it does happen, it can be frustrating. It’s not easy to know the issue causing the breakdown, and often it ends in an expensive call to a technician. The key is diagnosing the problem and seeing if there is a way to resolve the issue yourself.
It may come down to needing a professional to fix your fridge freezer. However, it would be best if you didn’t do that until you’ve gone through trial and error and troubleshooting.
This guide will give you the resources to suss out the issue so that you may resolve it yourself. By the end, you will either have fixed the problem or realize that a call for assistance is required. Or check out our top picks for new fridge freezers.
Common Reasons Why Your Hotpoint Fridge Freezer Is Not Getting Cold
Luckily, you are not the first to have a problem with your Hotpoint fridge freezer. This means you can learn from the experience of others who have had the same issues. This section covers some of the most common reasons and what you can do to fix them.
Internal temperature is set too high
The most common reason a Hotpoint fridge freezer is not cooling down is that the temperature needs to be set correctly. The freezer temperature should be set between -18° to -15° Celsius, while the refrigerator temperature should be set between 1° to 5° Celsius.
In many new models, setting the temperature is done digitally so you can zero in on the exact temperature. Older models or some of the more basic ones rely on a less precise dial. Check out the manual to determine what temperature the dial will correspond to. Put a thermometer in the fridge and freezer and adjust the dial to get the right temperature.
No power
Have you tried checking the power supply to the refrigerator? It may seem too obvious to mention, yet, many appliance owners panic first and then realize it wasn’t plugged in or the circuit was tripped.
Start by verifying that the plug is securely pushed into the electrical outlet. If it is plugged in, check the circuit breaker box next. It’s important to note that having your refrigerator on a separate, dedicated circuit is best to avoid power surges that can damage the appliance or cause it to trip the circuit breaker.
Dirty condenser coils
There are a few different types of coils on your Hotpoint fridge freezer, but you should first look into the condenser coils. The condenser coils dissipate the heat generated from the refrigerant as it passes through the coils.
What happens very quickly in a kitchen where there is lots of grease and dust in the air is they become dirty. The condenser coils collect the dust and grease and get coated in this grime. When this happens, they are unable to work correctly.
When you’ve determined that the refrigerator is set to the correct temperature and nothing isn’t anything blocking the vents, you should check the coils. Depending on the model, they are located at the back of the appliance or underneath.
If they look dirty, use a coil brush or vacuum to remove accumulated dirt, dust, or other debris. After cleaning them, the fridge will start cooling to the right temperature within a few hours.
Faulty condenser fan motor
The condenser fan motor draws air through the condenser coils and over the compressor to regulate the temperature inside the refrigerator. The fan motor can have loose wiring, burn out, or have an obstruction blocking it. When this occurs, it leads to your fridge not cooling correctly, leading to spoilage and other issues.
Start by checking that no obstructions in the fan blocking the blades. It is clear if you can move the fan blades around by hand and they turn freely. Ensure the appliance is unplugged before you put your hand near the fan for safety’s sake.
If there is no obstruction and it spins freely, check it with a multimeter to see continuity. If not, the motor is faulty or damaged and needs to be replaced.
The evaporator fan motor is not working
Separate and unique from the condenser fan is the evaporator fan. The evaporator fan motor draws air over the evaporator coils, which cools the air and circulates it throughout the freezer and refrigerator compartments. There may be more than one evaporator fan motor in some refrigerators, but in models with only one, the evaporator is typically located in the freezer compartment.
Those complaining that the freezer works, but the fridge is not cooling often have two sets of evaporator fan coils, one of which is not working. If the evaporator fan motor isn’t working, the cold air won’t circulate correctly, leading to a lack of cooling in the refrigerator compartment. While the freezer may still be cold, the fridge will not.
Listen for rattling noises as this indicates the evaporator fan motor is damaged or some ice is built up inside. Look at the fan for ice buildup. Defrost the freezer to get the evaporator fan working again. Otherwise, it needs to be replaced.
The start relay is not working
The start relay in your Hotpoint refrigerator works with the start winding to begin the compressor’s operation. If the start relay is defective, the compressor may fail to run or run consistently.
Although you can only replace the start relay if you are a qualified technician, you can find out if this is the problem causing your refrigerator to not cool or the freezer not to freeze. You can use a multimeter to test it for continuity between the run and start terminal sockets. If there is no continuity between these two terminal sockets, it’s a sign that the start relay needs replacing.
The temperature control thermostat is faulty
The temperature control thermostat in a Hotpoint fridge freezer brings power to the evaporator fan motor, compressor, and condenser fan motor. When it isn’t working correctly, it affects one or all of those components, and your fridge and freezer won’t work.
A simple way to understand whether it is working is to rotate it from the lowest to the highest and listen for a clicking sound. If you hear a click, it’s working since that is the switch that turns the power on things like the condenser fan motor and others.
When you don’t hear a clicking sound or notice any changes in the fridge’s temperature, it’s possible that the temperature control thermostat needs replacing.
The defrost heater assembly isn’t working
Do you have a lot of condensation building up at the back of your fridge and freezing into a large chunk of ice? This is a sign the defrost heater assembly is not working.
If the defrost heater assembly is defective, the defrost system will not work, causing frost to accumulate on the evaporator coils. The result is a refrigerator that doesn’t cool properly.
The first step to determine if the defrost heater is working is to unplug the appliance, remove everything from the fridge and freezer and let the ice melt. Plug it back in and see if it happens again. This is a sign it isn’t working and needs to be replaced.
The defrost thermostat isn’t working
Tied into the defrost heater is the defrost thermostat that monitors the temperature of the evaporator coils. When the coils drop below a set temperature, the thermostat contacts close, allowing power to flow to the defrost heater during the defrost cycle.
When the contacts don’t close due to a faulty thermostat, the heater doesn’t click on, and that is often why you have ice buildup or veggies that freeze in the crisper.
When you’ve done the test mentioned above for the defrost heater, call in a technician to see if the thermostat needs replacing, or the defrost heater assembly.
The start capacitor is faulty
The start capacitor in your Hotpoint refrigerator provides a temporary power boost to the compressor during startup. If the start capacitor isn’t working correctly, there isn’t enough power for the compressor to start up and run refrigerant through the condenser coils. This will result in a fridge with trouble cooling to the correct temperature.
Start by checking the capacitor for any visible signs of damage, such as cracks or leaks. You’ll find the location in the manual. With signs of physical damage, it will be easier to determine if this is the problem if you use a multimeter. A repair technician will need to replace it, however.
The temperature control board isn’t working
The temperature control board supplies voltage to the compressor fan motors, regulating the cooling system. Although it’s not common, a faulty temperature control board can stop sending voltage to the cooling system.
This is listed last because you should go through all the other troubleshooting tips before concluding that there is a problem with the temperature control board. If you’ve checked and ruled out all the other components and still have issues with the refrigerator, it’s time to consider replacing the temperature control board.
Final Thoughts
With the help of this guide, you can take back control of your Hotpoint fridge freezer and ensure food that stays at the right temperature and doesn’t spoil. If you still need help after reading the entire guide and trying out the various tips, you still have problems, call in a professional. Hopefully, you’ve resolved the issue yourself without spending any money.
