On the covered Whirlpool French door bottom-freezer refrigerator, the Temperature Alarm light means over temperature. Whirlpool says the alarm alerts you when the refrigerator temperature rises above 48°F (9°C) or the freezer temperature rises above 15°F (-9°C) for more than 1 1/2 hours. First, note whether the audio alarm has already stopped.
Differential
Likely causes of “Whirlpool French door bottom-freezer refrigerator showing the Temperature Alarm light”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The refrigerator rose above 48 degrees Fahrenheit or the freezer above 15 degrees for more than an hour and a half
What separates it The alarm light flashes and the audio alarm sounds
How to confirm Check the temperature in both compartments with a thermometer
- 2
A door that was left open or did not seal
What separates it The door was open for a long time or a drawer did not close
How to confirm Close the doors fully and check the seals
- 3
A power cut that warmed the contents
What separates it The alarm followed an outage
How to confirm Leave the doors closed and wait for the temperature to fall
- 4
A large amount of warm food added at once
What separates it Groceries or a party tray raised the temperature
How to confirm Wait for the temperature to settle
- 5
A cooling fault
What separates it The temperature does not come down after several hours
How to confirm Check the vents, the coils and call for service
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the alarm light is still flashing
- The temperatures in the refrigerator and the freezer
- Whether the doors were open or the power was cut
- The model number
Try in this order
0 of 8 completedWhat to do first
ReversibleNote whether the audio alarm has already stopped.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleWhirlpool says the audio alarm shuts off automatically when the temperature returns to normal, but the indicator light keeps flashing until you press Alarm, to tell you an over-temperature condition occurred. If the temperature does not return to normal, Whirlpool points to the Temperature Concerns section of its troubleshooting guide.
Check the doors and the drawers
ReversibleMake sure every door and drawer is fully closed and nothing, such as a bag or a tray, stops it sealing.
Read the temperatures
ReversibleUse a thermometer to see how warm the compartments really are, since the alarm only tells you that a limit was passed.
Press Alarm to clear the light
ReversibleWhirlpool says the audio alarm stops by itself once the temperature returns to normal, but the light keeps flashing until you press Alarm.
Let the refrigerator recover
ReversibleKeep the doors closed for a few hours so that the temperature can fall without a flood of warm air.
Check the vents and the coils
ReversibleClear the vents inside the compartments and make sure the coils at the back or the base are free of dust.
Call service if it stays warm
ReversibleIf the temperature does not return to normal, Whirlpool points to its temperature concerns article, and a technician checks the cooling system.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The alarm on this page
- Over temperature: refrigerator above 48 degrees or freezer above 15 degrees for more than an hour and a half.
- Parts involved
- The doors and seals, the vents, the coils and the cooling system.
- Whirlpool's guidance
- The audio alarm stops when the temperature recovers; press Alarm to clear the light.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the temperature does not return to normal, follow Whirlpool's temperature concerns article and call service
- !Discard perishable food that has been above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for more than two hours
- !Do not open the doors more than you need while the refrigerator recovers
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does the Temperature Alarm light mean on a Whirlpool French door bottom-freezer refrigerator?+
Over temperature. Whirlpool says the alarm alerts you when the refrigerator temperature rises above 48°F (9°C) or the freezer temperature rises above 15°F (-9°C) for more than 1 1/2 hours.
Does the alarm stop by itself?+
The audio alarm shuts off when the temperature returns to normal, but the light flashes until you press Alarm.
Is my food safe?+
Perishable food above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for more than two hours should be thrown away.
What causes the alarm?+
An open door, a power cut, a lot of warm food or a cooling fault.
When should I call service?+
When the temperature does not come back to normal after several hours with the doors closed.