Sub-Zero not cooling? Five checks before you call

Check the power and the breaker

No lights and no cooling usually starts here. Check that the unit is switched on at its control panel and that the home circuit breaker for it is on.

If the breaker trips again after you reset it, leave it off and call us.

Check the settings, then give it 24 hours

Sub-Zero recommends 38 °F for the refrigerator (between 4 and 6 on a dial) and 0 °F for the freezer, and asks owners to allow 24 hours for a new setting to take hold. New groceries warm the inside for a few hours too.

A display that reads 38 and 0 while nothing is cold may be in Showroom Mode, which runs the lights and the display without cooling.

Refrigerator above 48 °F on a 38 °F setting? A condenser cleaning is unlikely to bring it back: call us. Food kept above 45 °F is not safe.

Clean the condenser

A dusty condenser makes the compressor run long and can bring up a Service light. Sub-Zero asks owners to clean it every 6 to 12 months on most models, every 3 to 6 months on UC-24 undercounter and 700 Series units, and more often with pets. A unit less than 6 months old does not need it yet.

• Turn the unit off first, and wear gloves.
• Lift the grille and use a soft bristle brush and a vacuum, working in the direction of the fins.
• Do not bend the fins, and skip chemical degreasers.

Check the doors and the gaskets

A door that does not close fully lets warm air in, and the unit runs long, frosts up or sweats. Move anything that stops a door or drawer closing, and look along each gasket for rips or tears.

If a door was left open, close it and allow 24 hours for the unit to come back to temperature.

A torn gasket needs replacing: call us or book the repair.

Check the ice maker and the water filter

No ice? Sub-Zero's own checklist: the ice maker has been on for at least 24 hours, the freezer reads 5 °F or colder (0 °F is recommended), the ice bin is in place, the ice maker arm is down and the water supply is on.

Change the water filter when the filter light shows or once it is 12 months old. Hollow cubes usually mean the condenser needs cleaning.

Still no ice after 24 hours? Book the repair and tell us the model number from the tag.