Danby refrigerator displays H1 or HI and the temperature reading flashes, indicating high temperature.

Safety: No immediate electrical work is required for this alarm, but unplug the unit before removing panels or testing components.

Steps to respond to H1/HI:

• Check doors: Ensure refrigerator and freezer doors are fully closing and gaskets are sealing all around. Remove items blocking the door from closing.
• Allow recovery time: If you recently loaded warm groceries or had a power outage, allow 12–24 hours for temperatures to stabilize. Keep doors closed as much as possible.
• Listen for fans and compressor: Confirm that the compressor is running and that you can hear the evaporator fan in the freezer when the door switch is pressed.
• Inspect for frost buildup: Heavy frost on the back freezer wall indicates a defrost problem. See defrost-related entries for further diagnosis.
• Check condenser cleanliness: Pull the unit away from the wall and clean the condenser coils and fan area to improve cooling efficiency.
• If temperature does not drop: After basic checks, if the unit still cannot reach set temperatures, there may be a sealed system issue (refrigerant leak, weak compressor) or a control problem. These require a qualified refrigeration technician for proper diagnosis and repair.