Refrigerators can fail sometimes, creating a crisis in your kitchen. Dealing with refrigerator repair can seem like a daunting task, but there some issues you can fix without any professional help. If you're dealing with a refrigerator that is too cold, read on to learn about how you can troubleshoot the problem and hopefully fix it for good. 

Inspect the air inlet damper

Most refrigerators have a mechanically controlled air damper that is designed to balance air flow from the evaporator fan housing. If faulty, this damper will not open and close as it should and it may result in too much cold air entering the fresh food compartment.

To inspect this component, open the fresh food compartment and locate where air gets in. The damper is usually located at the inlet and is housed in a plastic casing with a control knob and a rubber seal to prevent air leakage. Be careful not to damage the seal while you open the damper casing and then turn the knob to ensure that the damper moves freely. Next, remove any debris that could be causing the damper to close partially.  If it is stuck in the open position, the damper is the likely culprit for lower than normal temperatures in your refrigerator, and it should be replaced with a new one.

Faulty thermistor/temperature sensor

Some modern refrigerator models have a thermistor that opens and closes the air inlet damper depending on temperatures in the fresh food compartment. This electronic temperature control is usually housed in a plastic capsule just next to the air inlet.

 A faulty electronic control could cause the air inlet damper to remain open for longer than normal, resulting in extreme temperatures. If your refrigerator has a thermistor instead of a mechanically controlled damper, inspect the two wires usually attached to the air inlet to ensure they aren't loose or rusty. Some refrigerators can also indicate a fault code if this temperature sensor is faulty, in which case you should have it replaced. 

Adjust the cold temperature control

This is a thermostat that monitors temperatures in the refrigerator, turning on the compressor when temperatures rise. If set incorrectly, the control will cause the compressor to run for longer than usual, causing a drop in temperatures in both compartments.

Locate this control behind the appliance and try adjusting the control knob on it starting with the middle setting, then monitor temperatures in the fridge for a day or so. Keep adjusting the knob until the fresh food compartment stops reaching cold temperatures extremes. Contact a contractor, like Prompt Appliance Services, Inc., for more help.