The freezer is cold, but fresh food is warm
Identify the cabinet architecture before choosing an airflow or refrigeration hypothesis.
How does this model cool each compartment?
Follow the observed condition. Each branch identifies the next investigation, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Shared cooling and air paths
Trace supply and return air, doors, frost, fan function, and any damper. One open vent does not prove a complete circulation path.
Separate evaporators
Use the model’s operating modes and routing information. Avoid assuming a fresh-food air damper controls this architecture.
Temperatures are not verified
Record actual temperatures, probe location, door state, and elapsed time. A setpoint display is not equivalent to a measurement.
Make the evidence useful.
| Record | What to capture | What it can tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature trend | Both compartments under repeatable conditions. | A single reading after a door opening cannot describe recovery or stability. |
| Architecture | Model diagram and relevant operating state. | The same complaint can arise from different systems. |
| Air-path evidence | Location of blockage, frost, or impaired movement. | A spinning fan alone does not prove adequate airflow. |
A fictional shared-air cabinet has a cold freezer and obstructed return path. The compartment split helps prioritize airflow research, but the obstruction still needs direct confirmation.
Verify the result.
Restore covers and ducts before normal evaluation. Confirm a recovery trend and specify any longer stabilization still needed; address food-protection concerns separately.
Basis & further reading
This original guide synthesizes diagnostic reasoning with the reference below. Manufacturer guidance applies to the models and conditions it describes; use the exact manual for the appliance in front of you.
AR-101: Airflow and fan systems ↗Edition: October 24, 2026. Educational editorial content; not a manufacturer service bulletin.
Put the reasoning on paper.
Capture the symptom, test conditions, evidence, and verification.