Why Do Refrigerators Have Cold Spots?

Cold in the Bottom

• If you notice that food in the bottom of your refrigerator tends to stay colder, possibly even icing over in some instances, there is a good reason. Many refrigerators have cold spots in the bottom of the compartment simply because cold air falls and warm air rises naturally. If your refrigerator is often bare, meaning you don’t keep a lot of food or containers in it, the cold air won't be absorbed by many items and will settle in the lower part of the refrigerator. To help prevent the freezing of foods such as fresh produce, special drawers with selector switches can help keep some of the colder air out. Setting the drawer switches on “C” or “5” in many models will help maintain the appropriate temperature.

Cold Top Shelf

• Since warm air rises and cold air falls, you might assume the top shelf of the refrigerator would be an unlikely place for a cold spot. However, it is among the most common cold spots in the unit if your refrigerator has a freezer on top. This is especially true near the back of the top shelf. This is because the cold air originates from the freezer and circulates down through vents in the ceiling of the compartment. This chilled air hits the top shelf first and causes a very cold area near the top of the refrigerator.

Cold Side-By-Side Doors

• If you have a side-by-side refrigerator, you may find cold spots in the door bins. The upper bins are often positioned near the vent opening from the freezer above, like the top shelf. If sensitive foods are icing up in these bins, you can typically adjust their position and move them farther from the source of the cold air.

Adjustments

• If your cold spots are too cold and causing problems with your fresh food storage, you can opt to raise the unit's overall temperature slightly to minimize the effect of the cold spots. Simply adjust the temperature control dial to a higher setting so the entire compartment warms slightly. Remember that, for safety reasons, your food should not be stored at temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit.