Display shows H1 or HI; interior temperature reading is very high and unit may shut down cooling to protect components.
Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
Possible Causes
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety: Always unplug the unit before cleaning coils or accessing rear components.
Steps to address H1/HI:
- Verify door seal: Check that the door closes fully and the gasket makes uniform contact around the frame. Look for torn or deformed sections. Adjust door hinges if sagging.
- Check for warm air leaks: Ensure the door is not being held open by oversized bottles or shelves. Remove obstructions and confirm a tight seal.
- Clean condenser coils: Pull the unit away from the wall. Remove the rear lower panel if present and vacuum dust from the condenser coils and fan. Dirty coils can cause overheating and poor cooling.
- Verify ventilation: Make sure there is adequate clearance around the cooler and that built-in models have proper front ventilation as specified in the Kenmore installation guide.
- Monitor compressor operation: After cleaning and reassembling, plug the unit in and listen for the compressor and fans. The interior should begin cooling within 1–2 hours.
- Allow recovery time: If the door was left open, it may take several hours for the temperature to drop and the H1 alarm to clear.
Service needed if: The compressor runs continuously but the temperature does not drop, which may indicate a sealed system issue (refrigerant leak, weak compressor) requiring a licensed technician.
Repair Difficulty
Required Part
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