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Product Help | Whirlpool

Preventing Food from Freezing in the Refrigerator

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How to Prevent Food from Freezing in your Whirlpool Refrigerator?

If items in your refrigerator are freezing, try these items:

  • Check the controls.
  • Check to make sure the vents are not blocked.
  • See if the ice maker is turned on and connected to a water supply.

Are the Controls Set Correctly?

The best temperature for food storage is 38° F to 40° F in the refrigerator section and 0° F to 2° F in the freezer section. If food in the refrigerator section is freezing, adjusting the refrigerator and the freezer controls may be necessary. Begin adjustment with the freezer control, one temperature level at a time. Allow 8 hours for temperature adjustment before setting the control to the next level. Refer to Owner's Manual for further instructions on temperature adjustment.

Are the Air Vents Blocked? 

To ensure proper temperature, you must allow room for airflow between the freezer and refrigerator compartments. Cool air enters and exits the refrigerator compartment from the freezer compartment through vents. Depending on your model, these vents are in different locations. In the refrigerator compartment, items placed directly in the path of the freezer air flow may freeze.

  • Locate the vents in both the freezer and refrigerator compartments and ensure that nothing is blocking the airflow.
  • If vents are blocked, airflow will decrease. Temperature and moisture issues may arise due to blocked vents.
  • Items placed directly in the airflow from the freezer compartment to the refrigerator compartment may freeze. Do not place temperature-sensitive items, such as eggs and liquids, in these areas.

Locate the vents in both the freezer and refrigerator compartments and ensure that there is nothing blocking the air flow.Temperature and moisture issues may arise due to blocked vents.Items placed directly in the air flow from the freezer compartment to the refrigerator compartment may freeze. Do not place temperature sensitive items, such as eggs and liquids, in these areas.

Is the Ice Maker Turned On? 

A common reason an ice maker does not make ice is that it was accidentally turned off. Sometimes, resetting the ice maker can resolve minor issues. Locate the reset button on your ice maker (consult your manual if unsure) and press and hold it for a few seconds. If your refrigerator doesn't have a reset button, perform a power cycle by unplugging it for one minute and plugging it back in.  Refer to How to Turn the Ice Maker On for more information on using the ice maker. 

If the Ice Maker is not connected to a water supply line but remains turned on, it could cause the following: a buzzing noise, the refrigerator may be too cold, food in the crisper drawers may freeze, and the freezer section may get too cold. 

If you would like to download or view product literature for your appliance, please visit our Manuals and Literature page.