The short answer
Check the ventilation path first: plinth intake clear, top outlet clear, specified gaps intact. Then clean the condenser behind the plinth and test the seal. A built-in refrigerator that cannot shed heat will never hold temperature, whatever is replaced inside it.
What you observe
- Fresh food warming while the freezer stays cold — An airflow fault inside the appliance.
- Both compartments warm — Heat rejection, or the sealed system.
- Worse when the oven or dishwasher has been running — Neighbouring heat in the same run.
- The machine running almost continuously — Working and losing.
- Never right since the kitchen was refitted — The installation changed.
- Not this fault: a warm door bin — The warmest place in any refrigerator.
Ranked for integrated installations
- Ventilation path blocked by furniture changes — First on built-in appliances.
- Condenser dusty behind the plinth — Second.
- Heat from neighbouring appliances in the same run — Third.
- Door seal leaking behind a decor panel — Fourth.
- Evaporator frosted or the internal fan failed — Fifth.
- Sealed-system or compressor fault — Last, and never an owner repair.
Work through it in this order
- Put thermometers in both compartments — Readings beat impressions.
- Find and clear the plinth intake and the top outlet — The cooling path is the whole question.
- Remove the plinth and vacuum the condenser — Years of dust is normal on a first inspection.
- Test the seal with a sheet of paper — A panelled door often leaks at the top.
Owner checks
- Read a thermometer in each compartment after several hours — It converts a complaint into a measurement.
Tools: thermometerAbout 25 min
- Clear the plinth intake and the vent above the appliance — Kitchen refits commonly block both.
Tools: torchAbout 25 min
- Take the plinth off and vacuum the condenser — The best maintenance available on a built-in machine.
Tools: vacuum, soft brushAbout 35 min
- Close the door on a sheet of paper and pull — A decor panel changes how a door sits.
Tools: paperAbout 15 min
- Move food clear of the interior vents — Packed shelves block the internal air path.
About 15 min
- Stop before removing interior panels or touching the sealed system — Both are technician work.
Built-in access and food safety
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel - on a built-in machine find the isolating switch first, because the plug behind the housing is usually unreachable. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Keep the refrigerator at or below forty degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer at or below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Never chip ice off an evaporator and never cut or heat sealed-system tubing.
When to call
Call promptly when the vents are clear, the condenser is clean, the seal is sound and the machine still cannot hold temperature - food sets the deadline. Say the appliance is integrated when booking, because drawing a built-in column out of its housing takes time and may need the decor panel removed first.
Other faults on this refrigerator
Scope of this page
Generalized across refrigerator families under this badge, written for integrated and built-in installations; where a family-specific or model-specific page exists it is the narrower answer. Not here: ventilation gap dimensions, refrigerant data, compressor specifications and defrost timings.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
