Why Is My Wine Fridge Not Cooling? (How To Fix Temperature Problems)

If your wine cooler isn't cooling we're here to help! Usually there's a few common causes that can be fixed so you can get your wine fridge back to perfect health again!

Fear not, your wine collection is OK for days or even weeks outside of a perfectly controlled temperature environment (unless it's VERY hot or cold).

But we want to help you to fix the problem fast so you can get back to enjoying your wine collection again. 

Ps...Take a look at the final tip as this could be the quickest / easiest fix!

Troubleshooting: Why Is My Wine Cooler Not Cooling?

 

Your wine cooler is not cooling due to one of the following issues with:

• The power supply
• Thermostat
• External heat sources (oven)
• Ventilation blockage
• Lack of airflow
• Fan problems
• The door / door seal

If after all our advice you still haven't identified / fixed the problem it's best to contact the wine cooler brands technical support team.

Here's the 7 reasons your wine fridge is not cooling and how to fix it:

 

1. There's a problem with the Power Supply (And The Fix)

Here is what to do if you think you might have a problem with this:

• First things first, you need to check the wine fridge is receiving power from the mains supply.

• Switch the unit OFF and ON. If the fridge doesn't light up there's probably a major issue with the mains power or the PSU circuit board in the product (that'll likely need replacing if it's faulty).

• If that's the case you'll need to seek the help of the wine cooler brand directly or a qualified refrigeration technician.

• Is the main display showing any error codes and lighting up?

• If it's operating as normal it's likely there isn't an issue with the power supply of the wine cooler - usually a power supply issue is a clear one to identify and rule in or out.

 

2. The Condenser Fan has stopped running (And The Fix)

 

 

• The condenser fan is designed to cool the condenser and condenser coil within the wine cooler

• The condenser fan works in tandem with the other components and if it doesn't function the condenser and coil can overheat - causing the internal area of the wine fridge to heat up too.

• Ultimately heat will transfer from these parts to the internal areas of the wine fridge and can cause a cooling issue.

• Take a look at the rear of the unit and make sure the condenser fan is spinning freely and not blocked (by dust / dirt) or making excessive noise due debris or a blockage.

• If the fan is not moving then it'll need to be replaced with an approved part from the wine cooler manufacturer

 

3. There's an issue with the Thermostat (And The Fix)

• If the the wine fridge thermostat is working correctly it's responsible for making the condenser, evaporator, fan and compressor work - so it's super important!

• The thermostat also allows you to control and adjust the temperature of the wine cooler so if the reading on thermostat is inaccurate (or flat out wrong) the wine cooler temperature will likely be inaccurate too.

• This type of issue is most common is fridges running using a compressor which has thermostat issues sometimes

• If the thermostat is defective it's likely to cause a warm cabinet or in rarer cases cause the wine cooler to freeze! Which is also less than ideal for your wine collection

 

 

• A quick check you can make is to ensure the wine cooler is not near a sunny spot or heat source which can wreak havoc with the internal temperature regulation linked directly back to the thermostat.

• One way to check this is look at the display temperature and place a thermometer inside the unit.

• If the display temperature is significantly different to the thermometer temperature it's likely there's a problem with the thermostat.

• If the thermostat is the root cause of the wine cooler not cooling it's best to get the part replaced so contact or a local repair engineer.

 

4. There's a External Heat Source problem (And The Fix)

 

Here is what to do if you think you might have a problem with this:

• This is an easy one to rectify - kitchen wine fridges don't do well when placed near a heat source like being positioned on top of a kitchen oven for example. For example if you have an in column tall wine cooler which is situated next to an overn - this could be a problem.

• Don't place your wine fridge above an oven or near a heat source like a radiator. 

• If the room the wine fridge is positioned in has an ambient temperature above 86°F then you should think about moving it to a cooler room below 77°F ideally. 

• A hot environment will cause the wine fridge internal thermostat to go haywire so you need to ensure the appliance is placed in a cool room or at least a room with suitable air conditioning.

 

5. The Vents are Blocked or there's an Air Flow problem (And The Fix)

 

Here is what to do if you think you might have a problem with this:

• If all of the above points have been checked and are check there is sufficient air flow and ventilation around the unit.

• If it's a built in wine cooler the front air vent grille should not be blocked under any circumstances - check air is flowing into the vent using your hand - you should feel a draft.

• If there is a blockage or the vent is obstructed, freeing the vent should fix the cooling issue.

• For a freestanding wine fridge make sure there is 3-6 inches of free space around the back and sides of the unit and ideally 20+ inches of free space over head. 

• Do not install a freestanding wine cooler in cabinetry under any circumstances as this will cause the unit to overheat and fail.

• Free up any airways or blockages and allow sufficient airflow and the cooling problems should resolve quite quickly.

 

6. Door Closed Properly / Open too frequently problem (And The Fix)

• Ensure the wine fridge door is closed and secure.

• Check there are no gaps in the seal when the door is shut as this can impact the temperature regulation inside the unit - run your hand around the unit door seal to check for any minor draft escaping. 

• The door seal maybe broken or poorly positioned.

• You may be able to easily repair or reposition the seal or get a new seal fitted - which can usually be supplier or purchased via the manufacturer.

• Keep the door shut as much as possible - especially when loading the fridge with a large amount of bottles or when first switching on the product.

• This is when the wine cooler will work hard to regulate the temperature inside the unit and therefore opening the door repeatedly will inevitably unsettle the cooling cycle.

• Also, opening the door too frequently can effect the temperature regulation inside the unit.

• If you're having cooling issues, keep the door shut for 24-48 hours before seeking help. 

7. Seek the help of a Repair Engineer 

• Finally, if none of the above points resolve the cooling issue then contact a local refrigeration engineer or the manufacturer helpline.

• The problem and fix can then be identified during a repair visit.

• This maybe included as part of your products warranty but you'll need to check this with the manufacturer. 

 

Related:

• Wine Storage
• How Long Does Wine Last
• How Noisy Is A Wine Cooler
• What Is A Wine Cooler
• Why Is My Wine Fridge Leaking?
• Champagne Fridges & Refrigerators

Final Thoughts On Why Your Beverage Cooler or Wine Fridge is Not Cooling

To recap the 7 most common reasons your wine cooler is not cooling:

• Power supply problem

• Condenser fan issue

• Thermostat is broken

• External heat source or hot room problem

• Air vents are blocked or there is insufficient air flow around the unit

• Door isn't closing properly or is open too frequently

• Contact a repair engineer

We hope you enjoyed our article on reasons your wine cooler isn't cooling and possible solutions to fix the issue.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments, or email us at info@expertwinestorage.co.uk

You can browse more posts on Wine Storage here.