Refrigerator & freezer not coolilng

Kenmore brand refrigerators offer energy efficiency and space saving benefits with a range of innovative designs. The company's refrigerator-freezer units are manufactured in traditional top-mount freezers, bottom-mounts, and side-by-side styles. Occasionally, as with any brand of appliance, the components can malfunction and cause the freezer to stop working properly. A few troubleshooting steps can help locate the problem so that it can be repaired.

1. Power Supply
   • Occasionally the power cord to your fridge slips out, or the outlet it's connected to is defective. Before troubleshooting other potential problems, check that your fridge is plugged in, and if it is, try plugging something else into the outlet to confirm that it is working. If there is no power, check the fuse or circuit breaker and replace or reset if necessary.
     
   Thermostat and Compressor
   • Freezers rely on the thermostat to know when to turn on the compressor and when to turn it off. Thus, the thermostat controls the temperature in your fridge. Typically, for a Kenmore refrigerator, the recommended setting for both the refrigerator and the freezer is 3. Check that both are set properly and if they are, try setting the freezer's thermostat to a slightly colder setting. The refrigerator's compressor should turn on. If you don't hear a fan turning inside, your thermostat or compressor may need to be replaced.
     
   Defrost Timer
   • The defrost timer regulates when the freezer and fridge will run its defrost cycle. If your fridge is not defrosting, or it is defrosting too often, this can affect its ability to freeze food. When in defrost mode, the freezer stops blowing cold air. Test the defrost timer by manually advancing the timer using a screwdriver inserted into the advancement pinion. Turn it clockwise for a 1/4 turn. This should force the timer to advance out of defrost in less than an hour. If it does not, you may have to replace the timer.
     
   Evaporator Coils
   • When the evaporator coils become frozen, your freezer will likely malfunction. If they are dirty or dusty, the same problem can occur. To defrost the coils inside, you can turn your freezer off for 24 to 48 hours then turn it back on. If it works properly, then the evaporator coils were frozen. Clean the coils located on the back of your fridge as well to ensure that dust and debris aren't affecting their efficiency.
     
   Wiring
   • The wiring outside and inside your fridge can be damaged by rodents or pets. Check the wiring outside your fridge for breaks. If there are none, you'll have to check all of the wiring. This is a long process requiring you to use a meter to test each connection. You may want to call an electrician to test the wiring to ensure that it is done properly.
     
   Environmental Factors
   • Once you've checked each component that runs your freezer and confirmed they are working correctly, consider that factors outside the freezer can affect its ability to freeze properly. The problem may be that the door is opened too often or for too long, allowing the cold air to escape and raising the temperature inside. Check the seal around your freezer door to ensure that it is getting a tight seal when closed and no gaps are allowing warm air inside. If you've added a significant amount of food all at once, this will increase the temperature inside and freezing can take several hours. If the vents are blocked by food items the movement of cold air is limited and will affect the freezer's temperature as well.