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How Long Does It Take Fridge To Get Cold? What You Need to Know
A new refrigerator typically takes about 2 to 24 hours to reach its set temperature. The refrigerator initial cool down period varies based on size, type, and surrounding conditions. This is the time required when powering on a new refrigerator first time. Several factors affecting fridge cooling speed can influence this timeframe. The time for fridge to get cold after power outage or after loading with warm food also varies, but is generally faster than the initial cool down. For a freezer, it usually takes a bit longer, typically 4 to 24 hours to reach freezing temperatures.
Getting a new refrigerator is exciting. You want to load it up right away. But how long do you really need to wait? This guide covers everything about fridge cooling time. We will look at new fridges. We will also look at fridges after a power cut. We will even help with slow cooling problems.
Setting Up Your New Fridge
Setting up a new fridge takes some steps. These steps are part of the New refrigerator setup time. Doing them right helps the fridge work well. It also helps it cool down faster.
Preparing the Spot
First, pick the right spot for your fridge. Make sure it has space around it. Fridges need air to move behind them and on the sides. This helps the cooling system work. Check the manufacturer’s book. It tells you how much space is needed. Usually, a few inches on the sides and back is enough.
Moving the Fridge
When you move the fridge, be careful. Try to keep it upright. If you lay it down, the oil in the compressor can move to the cooling lines. This can cause problems when you turn it on.
Letting it Settle
Most experts agree on this step. After you move a fridge, let it stand upright for a few hours. This lets the oil settle back into the compressor. How long? Most makers say at least 2 to 4 hours. Some say longer, like 8 hours. Check your fridge’s manual. This waiting time is part of the New refrigerator setup time. Skipping this step can hurt the compressor. This part is very important before powering on a new refrigerator first time.
Powering On and Initial Cool Down
Once the fridge has settled, it is time to plug it in. This starts the refrigerator initial cool down period.
Plugging it In
Plug the fridge into its own wall socket. Do not use an extension cord. Extension cords can cause power issues. Make sure the socket works right. Turn the power on.
First Sounds and Feelings
When you plug it in, you will hear sounds. The compressor will start. This is normal. You might feel some warmth on the outside walls of the fridge. This is also normal. The fridge is moving heat from the inside to the outside.
How Long Until it Gets Cold?
Now, the main question. How long until new fridge reaches temperature? For a new fridge, it usually takes time to get cold.
- Fridge Section: The main part of the fridge needs to reach about 35-40°F (1.7-4.4°C). This usually takes 2 to 12 hours.
- Freezer Section: The freezer needs to get much colder, about 0°F (-18°C). This takes longer. It often takes 4 to 24 hours or more.
The exact time can be different. It depends on many things. We will talk about these things next. This period is the refrigerator initial cool down period. Do not put food inside during this time. Let it cool down fully first. Adding food too soon makes it take longer.
Factors Affecting Cooling Speed
Many things change how fast a fridge gets cold. Knowing these helps you set up your fridge best. These are the main factors affecting fridge cooling speed.
Room Temperature
Where is the fridge placed? Is the room hot or cold? A fridge in a hot garage will take much longer to cool down than one in a cool kitchen. High room temperature makes the fridge work harder to remove heat.
Size of the Fridge
Bigger fridges have more space to cool. They also have more parts that need to get cold. A large side-by-side fridge might take longer than a small top-freezer model.
Fridge Type
Different types of fridges cool differently.
* Top-freezer and bottom-freezer models usually cool faster in the fridge section.
* Side-by-side fridges might take a bit longer to get the freezer section cold.
* Mini-fridges or dorm fridges might cool down very fast.
Door Seals
The rubber seals around the doors are very important. They keep the cold air inside. They keep warm air out. If the seals are not tight, warm air leaks in. This makes the fridge work harder and take longer to cool. On a new fridge, seals should be good. But always check them.
Ventilation
We talked about space around the fridge. This is about ventilation. The fridge removes heat from inside. It pushes this heat out through coils. These coils are usually on the back or bottom. If there is no space, the hot air stays around the fridge. This makes it harder for the fridge to cool down. Make sure air can move freely around it.
How Full the Fridge Is
This is a big factor. A fridge needs to cool the air inside. It also needs to cool the food inside. When you first turn on a new fridge, it is empty. This is okay for the initial cool down. Refrigerator empty vs full cooling time is different.
- Empty Fridge: Cools the air and parts faster initially. But an empty fridge can lose cold air quickly when opened.
- Full Fridge (but not packed): Once the food is cold, it helps keep the fridge cold. It acts like cold storage. A full fridge holds cold better.
However, do not pack it too full. Blocking vents inside stops air from moving. Cold air needs to flow around food items.
Temperature Setting
What temperature did you set? The ideal refrigerator temperature setting is usually between 35°F and 40°F (1.7°C to 4.4°C). The freezer should be 0°F (-18°C). Setting it much colder might make it take longer to reach that low temperature. But setting it too warm is not safe for food. Set it to the ideal range from the start.
First Use and Loading Food
After the initial cool down period, the fridge is ready. The internal thermometer should show the right temperature.
Checking the Temperature
Use a fridge thermometer to check. Do not trust the dial or digital reading right away. Put a thermometer in the fridge for a few hours. Check the reading. Is it in the safe range (35-40°F)? Is the freezer at 0°F? If yes, you can start loading food.
Loading Food Slowly
Do not put all your food in at once. Especially if the food is warm. Adding a lot of warm food will raise the temperature inside the fridge. Load food a little at a time over a few hours. This helps the fridge keep its cool temperature.
How Food Affects Cooling Time (after initial cool down)
Let’s think about Refrigerator empty vs full cooling time again, but for normal use.
* If your fridge is mostly empty and you add a lot of groceries, the temperature will go up. It will take time to cool everything down.
* If your fridge is already quite full of cold items, adding a few new things won’t raise the temperature as much. The cold items help absorb the heat from the new items.
Think of cold food as helping the fridge. It holds the cold.
Typical Cooling Times in Different Situations
It is not just about a new fridge. Your fridge might need to cool down after other events.
After Loading Groceries
You just got back from the store. You put a lot of new items in the fridge. How long until everything is back to the perfect temperature?
* If you added just a few items, it might take 1-3 hours.
* If you added a lot of items, especially if they were warm from the car, it could take 4-8 hours or longer for the whole fridge to settle back to its set temperature.
Try to put food away quickly. The longer food sits out, the warmer it gets.
After a Power Outage
Power cuts happen. When the power comes back on, the fridge needs to cool down again. The time for fridge to get cold after power outage depends on:
* How long the power was off.
* How full the fridge was.
* How well the door seals are.
* If you opened the doors during the outage.
If the power was off for a short time (like 1-2 hours) and you kept the doors closed, the fridge might only take 2-4 hours to get fully cold again. If the power was off for many hours and the temperature inside rose a lot, it could take 8-12 hours or even longer, like initial cool down. Throw away any food that got too warm to be safe.
How Long Does it Take a Freezer to Get Cold?
The freezer works harder than the fridge. It needs to reach a much colder temperature. How long does it take a freezer to get cold?
- Initial Cool Down: For a new freezer, it usually takes 4 to 24 hours to reach the target of 0°F (-18°C).
- After Power Outage: Similar to the fridge, this depends on the length of the outage. It can take 4-12 hours or more to get back to freezing.
- After Adding Warm Food: Adding a lot of unfrozen food will raise the freezer temperature. It can take 6-24 hours or longer for those items to freeze and the whole freezer to get back to 0°F.
It is important that the freezer reaches 0°F for long-term food storage. Using a freezer thermometer is key.
Setting the Right Temperature
We talked about the Ideal refrigerator temperature setting. Let’s look closer.
Why the Right Temperature Matters
Setting the temperature right is vital for two reasons:
1. Food Safety: Keeping food cold stops bad bacteria from growing fast. The “danger zone” for bacteria growth is between 40°F and 140°F (4.4°C to 60°C). You want your fridge below 40°F. The FDA recommends 40°F or lower.
2. Food Quality: Right temperatures keep food fresh longer. Fruits and veggies stay crisp. Milk stays good. Freezing food at 0°F keeps it safe for a long time.
Recommended Settings
- Refrigerator: 35°F to 40°F (1.7°C to 4.4°C). A setting around 37°F (3°C) is often a good balance.
- Freezer: 0°F (-18°C).
Checking Your Setting
Use a thermometer. Place it in the middle of the fridge or freezer. Let it sit for a few hours. Then check the reading. Adjust the fridge’s settings if needed. Check again later. It might take a day or two to get the settings just right.
Troubleshooting Slow Fridge Cooling
What if your fridge is taking too long? Or what if it used to be cold but now it isn’t? This section covers Troubleshooting slow fridge cooling.
Common Reasons for Slow Cooling
Many things can make a fridge cool slowly:
- Door is Open: Leaving the door open lets cold air out. Make sure doors close tightly. Check the seals.
- Bad Door Seals: If seals are broken or loose, warm air gets in all the time. Test seals by closing the door on a piece of paper. If you can pull the paper out easily, the seal is bad there.
- Too Much Food: Packing the fridge too full blocks air vents. Cold air can’t move around.
- Not Enough Space Around Fridge: Poor ventilation makes the fridge work harder.
- Dirty Coils: Refrigerators have coils that release heat. If these are covered in dust or dirt, they cannot release heat well. This makes the fridge less efficient. Coils are often at the back or under the fridge. Check your manual to find them. Clean them carefully.
- Temperature Setting is Wrong: Is the dial set to a warm number? Or is the digital setting too high?
- Frost Build-up (in older models or freezers): Thick frost can block airflow. Older fridges might need manual defrosting. Newer ones have auto-defrost, but it can fail.
- Problem with Fan or Compressor: The fan moves cold air. The compressor cools the refrigerant. If either of these parts fails, the fridge won’t cool right. You might hear strange noises or no noise at all.
- Recent Power Outage or Adding Warm Food: As we discussed, these events make the fridge work harder to cool down again. This is normal, but it takes time.
Steps to Troubleshoot
Here is what you can do if your fridge is cooling slowly:
h5 Inspect Door Seals
Check all door seals for rips or gaps. Clean them if they are dirty. Try the paper test. If seals are bad, they need replacing.
h5 Check Ventilation
Make sure there is enough space around the fridge. Pull it out from the wall. Clear items from the top.
h5 Clean the Coils
Unplug the fridge first! Find the condenser coils. They might be on the back or underneath. Use a brush or vacuum cleaner to gently remove dust and dirt. This can make a big difference.
h5 Check Temperature Settings
Make sure the temperature dial or control is set to the right temperature (35-40°F for fridge, 0°F for freezer).
h5 Check Air Vents Inside
Make sure nothing is blocking the vents inside the fridge or freezer. These vents push out cold air.
h5 Check for Frost Build-up
If you see a lot of frost, especially in the freezer, it might need defrosting. If it’s an auto-defrost model and still frosts heavily, something might be wrong with the defrost system.
h5 Listen to the Fridge
Do you hear the compressor running? Does it sound normal? Do you hear the fan running? If you hear strange noises or no noise when you expect it, parts might be broken.
h5 Use a Thermometer
Always use a separate thermometer to check the actual temperature inside. Do not just rely on the fridge’s display.
When to Call a Professional
If you have checked everything simple and the fridge is still not cooling, it is likely a problem with the sealed system (compressor, refrigerant, coils) or the fan/defrost system. These need a trained repair person. Do not try to fix these yourself.
Tips to Help Your Fridge Stay Cold
Here are some simple things you can do:
- Limit Door Opening: Try not to open the fridge door too often. When you do, close it quickly.
- Check Door Seal Tightness Regularly: Make sure they are clean and sealing well.
- Organize Your Fridge: Know where things are. This helps you find what you need faster and close the door sooner.
- Let Hot Food Cool First: Do not put hot leftovers directly into the fridge. Let them cool down at room temperature for a bit (no more than 2 hours). Then cover them and put them in the fridge.
- Cover Liquids: Liquids can release moisture into the air inside the fridge. This makes the compressor work harder and can lead to frost. Cover drinks and leftovers.
- Clean Coils: Clean the condenser coils every 6-12 months.
- Keep Fridge Stocked (But Not Jammed): A reasonably full fridge works more efficiently than an empty one in normal use. Cold items help keep other items cold.
- Don’t Block Vents: Always make sure the air vents inside the fridge are not blocked by food items.
How Cold Should Your Fridge Be Exactly?
Let’s look at the numbers again. The ideal refrigerator temperature setting is crucial.
| Fridge Section | Recommended Temperature Range | Best Single Point |
|---|---|---|
| Food Safety | 35°F to 40°F | 37°F |
| Food Quality | 35°F to 40°F | 37°F |
| In Celsius | 1.7°C to 4.4°C | 3°C |
| Freezer Section | Recommended Temperature |
|---|---|
| Food Safety & Quality | 0°F (-18°C) |
Using a separate thermometer is the best way to check these temperatures. Place it in a glass of water in the fridge or between frozen items in the freezer. Check it after several hours.
The Role of the Compressor
The compressor is the heart of your fridge’s cooling system. It is a pump. It moves a special liquid (refrigerant) through coils.
- Inside the Fridge: The liquid absorbs heat from the inside air. This makes the air inside colder. The liquid turns into a gas.
- Outside the Fridge: The compressor pumps the gas to the outer coils (condenser coils). Here, the gas releases the heat it picked up. It turns back into a liquid. This cycle repeats.
When you first plug in a new fridge, the compressor works hard. It needs to cool down the empty space and all the parts inside. This is why the refrigerator initial cool down period takes hours. The compressor might run almost all the time at first. This is normal. As the fridge gets cold and stays cold, the compressor will cycle on and off. It runs when the temperature goes up a bit. It stops when the right temperature is reached.
Energy Use During Cool Down
When a new fridge is cooling down for the first time, it uses more energy. The compressor runs a lot. Do not worry about this. It is normal. Once the fridge reaches its set temperature and is holding it, its energy use will drop. Energy efficiency improves when the fridge is just maintaining the temperature.
This is another reason why setting the Ideal refrigerator temperature setting to the recommended level is good. Setting it too cold makes the compressor work harder all the time.
What About Built-in or Commercial Fridges?
This guide mainly talks about home fridges. Built-in or commercial fridges might have different cool-down times.
* Built-in Fridges: Often designed to fit flush with cabinets. They might have different ventilation needs. Check the manual. Initial cool down might be similar to standard home fridges.
* Commercial Fridges: These are built for heavy use and quick cooling. They often have stronger compressors. They might cool down faster initially. They are also designed to handle many door openings.
Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for specific models.
Final Thoughts on Cooling Time
How long does it take a fridge to get cold? For a new one, plan on 4 to 24 hours before it is truly ready for food. The fridge section gets cold first (2-12 hours), the freezer takes longer (4-24 hours). This refrigerator initial cool down period is important. Don’t rush it.
Many factors affecting fridge cooling speed are within your control:
* Make sure there is space around it.
* Check the door seals.
* Don’t block inside vents.
* Set the right temperature (35-40°F for fridge, 0°F for freezer).
* Clean the coils.
If your fridge is slow to cool after a power cut (Time for fridge to get cold after power outage) or adding lots of warm food, give it time. If it’s always slow, or stops getting cold, try the Troubleshooting slow fridge cooling steps. If those don’t work, it’s time for a repair person.
Taking care of your fridge helps it cool properly. It keeps your food safe and tasting good.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How long before I can put food in a brand new fridge?
A: Wait until the fridge section is at or below 40°F (4.4°C) and the freezer is at 0°F (-18°C). This usually takes 4 to 24 hours after plugging it in. Use a thermometer to check.
Q: Why is my new fridge taking so long to get cold?
A: It is normal for a new fridge to take several hours. If it is taking much longer than 24 hours, check things like room temperature, ventilation space around the fridge, if the door is sealing, and if the temperature setting is correct. Adding food too soon will also slow it down.
Q: Does putting hot food in the fridge make it take longer to cool down?
A: Yes, absolutely. Putting hot or warm food in the fridge adds heat inside. The fridge has to work much harder to remove that heat and cool the food down. This raises the temperature of everything else inside too, making the whole fridge take longer to get back to its set temperature. Let hot food cool to room temperature first (within 2 hours) before putting it in the fridge.
Q: How long should a fridge stay cold after a power outage?
A: If the doors stay closed, a fridge can keep food safe for about 4 hours. A full freezer will keep food frozen for about 48 hours (24 hours if half-full). The longer the power is off and the more the doors are opened, the faster it warms up.
Q: My fridge feels cold, but the food doesn’t seem very cold. What’s wrong?
A: Check the actual temperature inside with a reliable thermometer. Sometimes the air feels cold near the vents, but the overall temperature might be too high. Also, check that vents aren’t blocked by food.
Q: Is it okay to leave a new fridge empty during the cool down?
A: Yes, leave it empty for the initial cool down period (4-24 hours). This allows it to reach the correct temperature efficiently. Once it is cold, it is better to keep it reasonably full during normal use, as cold food helps hold the temperature.
Q: My freezer is getting cold, but the fridge section isn’t. What could be the problem?
A: This often points to a problem with the fan that moves cold air from the freezer into the fridge section, or a blockage of the vent between the two sections. Frost build-up can also cause this.
Q: Can setting the fridge to the coldest setting make it cool faster?
A: For the initial cool down, setting it to the recommended safe temperature (35-40°F) is best. Setting it much colder might just make the compressor run longer unnecessarily. Once it reaches the set point, it will work to maintain it. Setting it too low for normal use can freeze some foods in the fridge section.
Q: How often should I check my fridge temperature?
A: It is a good idea to check the temperature with a thermometer every few months, or if you suspect a problem.
Q: What is the best way to organize a fridge for good cooling?
A: Don’t overpack it. Leave space for air to move. Keep items away from the back wall if that’s where the cold air comes from. Store milk and dairy in the coldest part (usually the back of the main shelves, not the door). Use drawers for fruits and vegetables as intended.
Q: Does opening the door affect the cooling speed much?
A: Yes, every time you open the door, cold air escapes and warm air enters. This makes the fridge work harder and takes time to cool down the new warm air. Limit door openings and close the door quickly.