Last updated: September 2026
When a fridge stops cooling properly in Dubai, start with the simple causes: the temperature setting, blocked airflow inside, dusty condenser coils, worn door seals, or a fridge squeezed into a hot corner with no room to breathe. Many cases are fixed in minutes. If the fridge is silent, the compressor clicks on and off, or the freezer works but the fridge section doesn’t, a technician is likely needed.
Heat plays a bigger part here than in most places. A fridge in a hot kitchen, a laundry area or a balcony store room has to work much harder in summer.
First: protect your food
- Keep the doors closed as much as possible.
- Put a thermometer inside if you have one. A fridge should be at about 5°C or below and a freezer around -18°C.
- If it has been above 5°C for several hours, perishable food such as meat, fish, dairy and cooked leftovers may not be safe. When in doubt, throw it out.
- Move essentials to a cool box with ice if the repair will take a while.
Checks you can do yourself
1. Settings and power
Check the thermostat hasn’t been knocked to a warmer setting, and that the fridge isn’t in a holiday, eco or demo mode. Make sure it’s plugged in firmly and the socket works; a scorched or loose socket needs an electrician (see our electrical safety checklist).
2. Airflow inside
Most modern fridges blow cold air from the freezer section through vents into the fridge. Overpacking or pushing items against the vents blocks it. Clear space around vents at the back and between shelves.
3. Space around the fridge
Fridges release heat from coils at the back or underneath. If there’s no gap behind and above it, or it’s boxed into tight cabinetry, that heat has nowhere to go. Check the manual for required clearances, commonly several centimetres at the back and sides. Keep it away from ovens and out of direct sun.
4. Dusty condenser coils
Dubai dust coats the condenser coils quickly. Unplug the fridge, find the coils (behind a panel at the bottom or on the back) and vacuum them gently with a brush attachment. Doing this every few months helps a lot in summer.
5. Door seals
Close the door on a sheet of paper at several points. If it slides out easily, the seal isn’t gripping. Clean the seal with warm soapy water. Split or flattened seals should be replaced.
6. Ice buildup
Heavy frost on the back wall of the freezer, or ice blocking the vents, can stop cold air reaching the fridge section. In frost-free models this points to a defrost system fault. Defrosting fully (unplugged, doors open, towels down) for several hours may restore cooling temporarily, but if the ice comes back within days, call a technician.
7. Where the fridge is
A second fridge in a garage, maid’s room or balcony store may be sitting in 40°C-plus air in summer. Fridges are rated for a range of room temperatures by their climate class, printed on the rating plate inside:
| Climate class | Designed for room temperatures of about |
|---|---|
| SN | 10–32°C |
| N | 16–32°C |
| ST | 16–38°C |
| T (tropical) | 16–43°C |
A fridge with an N or SN rating in a hot, unconditioned room will struggle in a Dubai summer, however well it’s maintained. For hot spaces, look for a T-rated model or move the fridge into an air-conditioned area.
Signs you need a technician
- The fridge is silent: no compressor hum or fan noise at all
- The compressor clicks on and off every few minutes
- The freezer is cold but the fridge section is warm (often a fan, damper or defrost fault)
- The back or sides are unusually hot, or there’s a burning smell
- Water is pooling under or inside the fridge repeatedly
- Ice keeps building up on the freezer’s back wall
- Error codes on the display
Common repairs include start relays, evaporator fans, defrost heaters and thermostats, control boards, and refrigerant leaks. Sealed-system work, meaning a compressor or refrigerant, is the most expensive, and on an older fridge replacement may make more sense.
Repair or replace?
- Relays, fans, thermostats, seals and defrost parts: usually worth repairing.
- Compressor failure or refrigerant leak on a fridge more than about 8–10 years old: get a replacement price before deciding.
- If the fridge is under warranty, contact the brand’s authorised service centre first. Opening it elsewhere can void the warranty.
If you rent a furnished property, report the fault to your landlord in writing; appliance repairs in furnished homes are often the landlord’s responsibility, depending on the contract.
Keeping a fridge healthy in Dubai
- Vacuum the condenser coils every three to six months.
- Leave the recommended clearance around the fridge.
- Don’t put hot food straight in. Let it cool briefly first.
- Keep door seals clean.
- Avoid running a fridge in an unconditioned room in summer unless it’s T-rated.
- If you travel for weeks, either leave the fridge running with a few items inside, or empty it, clean it, switch it off and prop the doors open to prevent mould.
Common mistakes
- Turning the thermostat to maximum, which can freeze the fridge section and stress the compressor
- Chipping ice off with a knife and puncturing the evaporator
- Pushing the fridge flush against the wall
- Ignoring a clicking compressor until it stops completely
- Leaving a switched-off fridge closed during travel
FAQs
Why is my freezer working but my fridge isn’t cold?
Usually cold air isn’t getting from the freezer to the fridge section, because of blocked vents, a failed fan, a stuck damper or ice from a defrost fault.
Why does my fridge struggle only in summer?
Higher room temperatures, dusty coils or poor ventilation around the fridge. Check its climate class and where it’s placed.
How long should a fridge last?
Many last 10 years or more with basic care. Heat and poor ventilation shorten that.
Can I fix a fridge refrigerant leak myself?
No. Sealed-system work needs a qualified technician and proper equipment.