Freezer gets 10 below 0 and fridge is 60 degrees

Hello Jennifer;

My name is Peter. I am a retired field service refrigeration technician.

No. Your problem is not defrost.

The normal temperature setting for a freezer is -2 to +2 degrees F. or -18.8 to -16.7 degrees C. The fresh food section should be set at 35-40 Degrees F. or 1.6 to 4.4 degrees C.

Reset your temperature controls to the recommended settings.
Up plug your unit for 10 minute to power down. Plug your refrigerator in.

Barbara, does it stay at 50 degrees even if you set it lower? I have a similar problem but temps. look ok.

Many residential refrigerator / freezers are designed to work at temperature considerably above above freezing. Most modern refrigerator / freezer have a single electric thermostat - located in the fresh food compartment. This lone thermostat will control the compressor to keep the fridge (fresh food) section at the desired temperature (usually between 34 - 38 degrees F). The freezer will get colder regardless of how cold it is already whenever the fridge thermostat turns the compressor on.

Now that you see how the thermostat works, let's look at what happens when the fridge is placed in an unheated space - like a garage. In winter time, the temperature can drop considerably below 38 degrees. If the outdoor temperature remains cold enough, for long enough - it will affect the thermostat in the fridge. The temperature inside the fridge could drop below 38 degrees, preventing the thermostat from telling the compressor to turn on. Meanwhile, the temperature in the freezer compartment slowly rises from the normal -10 to 0 F degrees. It will continue to rise until it is the same temperature as the fresh food compartment or until the thermostat in the fresh food compartment tells the compressor to turn on again. This means the freezer contents will thaw.

If the temperature in the garage is even in the 40 to 50 degree range, the loss of cold in the fridge may not happen often enough to keep the compressor coming on often enough to keep some freezer items frozen solid - such as ice cream. Remember, water freezes at 32 degrees F, other products may require lower temperatures to remain frozen, and could thaw at 28 or other temperature.

Good luck!

The settings are "relative". Someone with this fridge in Montana may need to run the same fridge with different settings than someone in Texas to get the same temperatures.

Many manufacturers recommend that the fresh food compartment should be 34 degrees F, and the freezer -10 to 0 degrees F. To set this properly, place a thermometer in the freezer (that can display temperatures as low as the desired temperature). Adjust the thermometer for the correct freezer temperature before going on to the fridge. A fully stocked freezer could take 12 hours or more for temperatures to stabilize after making changes to the thermostat. Once the -10 to 0 degree temperature has been achieved, set the fresh food compartment temperature.

Place a thermometer (that can display below freezing) in a 6 (or so) oz flexible plastic cup of water and place on a shelf in the fridge. A glass of water could break if the temperature gets below 32 degrees if the water turns to ice. The water acts as a buffer to rapidly changing temperatures when the door is opened to read the thermometer. If the fridge is "full", allow 24 hours for the temperature to stabilize before making changes.

If the fridge and freezer are empty, changes may be seen in just a few hours or less. Otherwise, wait the 12 / 24 hours for the freezer / fridge compartments.

I hope this helps and good luck!

A refrigerator should maintain temperatures at or below 40 degrees F. The freezer temperature should be 0 degrees F or lower

Keep 3 to 5 degree temp setting. And check defrost cycling is properly done. Due to frosting formed behind the freezer could restrict the function freezer fan which throw freeze air to refrigerant compartment. Unplug fridge till defrosting all frosting, and then plug it again. Thanks.

Hi,

Check out these tips...they can help you figure out what is going wrong with your refrigerator and why it is not cooling

Refrigerator not Cooling or Fridge not Cooling

How to Defrost Refrigerator Defrost Timer Problem

Water Running in refrigerator from Freezer

Refrigerator or Freezer not Cooling or Getting Cold

heatman101

for fridge it is 12 degree celcious and for freezer it is 0 degree

Ensure the condenser is not clogged with dust or other debris.
Ensure the condenser fan (usually found in back) is turning when the fridge is running.

fridge side should only be around 36 to 40 degrees freezer side around 0 to10 below