If your fridge keeps freezing no matter what setting it’s on, you’ll need to figure out what the problem is before you can fix it. Fortunately, there are only a couple of things that can cause this problem with fridge freezers, so it shouldn’t take long to narrow down what needs replacing. This is the case no matter what brand you have, be it a Whirpool fridge-freezer or a Smeg fridge-freezer.
The first thing you should check is the thermometer in your refrigerator. If this doesn’t work correctly, you can cause food to freeze on the lowest setting. You will have to take out the thermometer to test it. It may be located in different parts of your refrigerator depending on the make and model, so check your manual if you still have it. One of the most common places to find it is under the floor at the bottom, but it can also be in the freezer section at the back. Shelves or floor panel may need to be removed to reach thermometer. If you find this to be the problem, it should be easy to find a replacement.
If your thermometer works fine, you may have a bad door damper that is causing the fridge to freeze. This is not on all refrigerator models and is more common on side by side brands. The door damper is a sliding or swing door that opens and closes when temperature settings are adjusted or the door is opened. This door damper problem can be caused by a broken motor or thermostat.
Finally, your food freezing problems may be due to a failed cold control. It is easy to check if this is the problem. First you will need to put the temperature setting in the middle. If you have two different control switches, they should both be set this way. Then fill three plastic cups with water. Place one on the top shelf, one in the middle, and one on the bottom. Leave them alone for a day. When I check on them twenty-four hours later, they should still have water. If they have been frozen, the refrigerator problem may be a broken cold control.
Once you’ve determined what’s causing your refrigerator to freeze even on the lowest setting, you can decide how to fix it. If it is a problem with the thermometer, you may want to replace it yourself. For the most difficult problems, you may need to go to a professional repairman, unless you have experience with home repairs.