Frigidaire Refrigerator H1 Code: Causes & 8 Ways To Fix It

Errors are one of the ways that your Refrigerator tells you if it has an error or any malfunction. However, it can be frustrating if your Refrigerator starts blinking an error code and you don’t understand what it means.

If your Frigidaire refrigerator is blinking the H1 code, you don’t have to worry because, in this article, I will tell you why your Frigidaire refrigerator is blinking the H1 code. Moreover, I will explain how to solve each cause of this error in detail.

Causes of Frigidaire Refrigerator H1 Code

The H1 error code is related to the appliance’s temperature, either the freezer or the refrigerator compartment. So, the H1 appears when the temperature exceeds a certain point.

The H1 code also can be displayed when the freezer temperature reaches or exceeds 26 degrees Fahrenheit. If the freezer door is left open for more than five, this affects its temperature and activates the H1 code.

Another reason why your Frigidaire refrigerator might be showing the H1 code is if the Thermistor is defective or the control board is broken.

There are many reasons behind the H1 code, but you don’t have to worry; I will discuss each reason in detail to make it more transparent.

1- Overloaded Freezer

Overloading your freezer compartment can cause it not to close completely; as a result, the warm air will leak into your freezer, which affects its temperature.

When the temperature of your freezer is affected so it reaches or exceeds 26 degrees Fahrenheit, the Frigidaire refrigerator starts showing the H1 code to alert you.

2- Faulty Door Seal

The door seal is essential to keep your fridge temperature constant, so if the door seal is faulty, the door will not close properly, which leaks the refrigerant increasing your refrigerator temperature.

As I have mentioned, the H1 code error is related to your fridge temperature, so whenever your freezer or refrigerator compartment is not closed completely, it’s displayed on the fridge.

Most modern refrigerators have an alarm triggered when your door is open for more than five minutes. If the door alarm is faulty, the H1 error will be displayed continuously to alert you.

3- Unleveled Refrigerator

If your Frigidaire refrigerator is not level or leaning, it can cause the H1 error code to appear. The Refrigerator has to be on a level surface. If the Refrigerator is leaning to one side, you should try to level it using a flat lever.

4- Insufficient Exterior Ventilation

Ventilation is essential to your refrigerator cooling process, so the exterior ventilation must be sufficient to ensure no errors.

If your fridge is too close to the walls, it can block air circulation and decrease ventilation. The room must also be suitable for the fridge and have enough ventilation.

5- Defective Circuit Board

The H1 error code might result from a defective circuit board; the electronic board fault is one of the common reasons for the H1 error code.

Unfortunately, if the circuit board is defective, you must replace the whole control unit to solve the issue.

6- Defective Thermistor

The Thermistor is responsible for the temperature of the fridge; if the Thermistor is faulty, it can lead to the H1 error code. The Thermistor sends signals to the control board to operate the fan and compressor.

You will need to check the Thermistor to know if it’s defective, you can do so using a multimeter. Set the multimeter to continuity and test the Thermistor; it’s defective if it shows no electrical continuity signals.

If the Thermistor is defective, the control board will have no signals to operate the evaporator fan and the compressor, increasing the fridge’s temperature. As a result, the H1 will start blinking on your fridge.

7- Ice Accumulation

Most modern refrigerators have an auto-defrost feature, which prevents any ice accumulation. If your Refrigerator lacks this feature, the ice accumulation will affect the compressor’s functionality.

At ice accumulation, the compressor generates a high amount of heat which increases the Refrigerator’s temperature, resulting in the H1 error code.

8- Power Outage

When your Frigidaire refrigerator goes through a power outage, it will probably display two errors after the power is back. The H1 and PF error codes, the PF code stands for power failure. The H1 appears because the temperature increases when the power is cut off.

How to Fix Frigidaire Refrigerator H1 Code

After discussing the reasons behind the H1 error code displayed on your Refrigerator, now, I will discuss the solutions. I will explain how to solve each cause to get your Refrigerator back working correctly.

1- How to Fix an Overloaded Freezer?

If your freezer is overloaded, it can get in the way of the freezer door and block it from closing. If the door is open for five minutes or more, the temperature will increase; therefore, you must organize your freezer so it closes properly.

It’s recommended that you don’t overload your freezer to give it a chance to cool efficiently and avoid the H1 error code flashing on your fridge’s display.

2- How to Fix a Faulty Door Seal?

If your door seal is faulty, it will make your door not close properly; therefore, you will need to either clean the seal or replace it if it’s defective. You can clean the door seal using a piece of cloth and warm water, add some soap to the water and dampen the cloth in it.

Start cleaning the seal using the cloth to remove any debris or dirt blocking the seal from closing. If the problem continues after cleaning the seal, you will need to replace the seal with a new one. Kindly follow the following steps to replace the faulty door seal:

1. Place the new seal into a bucket of warm water to make it easier to install.
2. Pull the seal to check if there are any metal retainers.
3. Use a hex-head screwdriver to loosen the metal retainers.
4. Pull the seal gently to remove it from the refrigerator door.
5. Install the new seal into the groove in the fridge’s door.
6. Screw the metal retainers to hold the seal.
7. Apply talcum or baby powder around the seal to decrease friction.
8. Apply petroleum jelly on the hinged seal side.
9. Close and open the fridge door to ensure there are no gaps.

3- How to Fix Unleveled Refrigerator?

If your Refrigerator is unlevel, you will need to level it; you can use a flat lever to ensure the fridge is not leaning on any side. If your Frigidaire refrigerator has no wheels, you can follow the following steps to level it:

1. Remove the fridge base grille; you can pull the grille or remove the screws holding it.
2. Check for the leveling legs at the base of the fridge.
3. Determine the leveling tool, whether a wrench or a screwdriver.
4. Rotate the legs counter-clockwise to lower the fridge or rotate them clockwise to raise it.
5. Measure the sides of the fridge using a level gauge to ensure it’s leveled.
6. Measure the slope of the fridge from its front to back. The front has to be higher than the back by 6mm.
7. Install the grille base back and tighten any screw you have loosened during the process.

If your Frigidaire refrigerator has rollers/wheels, you can level it through the following steps:

1. Remove the fridge base grille; you can pull the grille or remove the screws holding it.
2. Adjust the screws on the wheels/rollers to level the fridge. Rotate counter-clockwise to lower the fridge or rotate them clockwise to raise it.
3. Measure the sides of the fridge using a level gauge to ensure it’s leveled.
4. Measure the slope of the fridge from its front to back. The front has to be higher than the back by 6mm.
5. Install the grille base back and tighten any screw you have loosened during the process.

4- How to Fix Insufficient Exterior Ventilation?

If the Refrigerator does not have sufficient ventilation, it will heat up, so you must ensure the fridge is not too close to the wall. If the walls are too close, they block the air circulation of the fridge.

The kitchen or the room where the fridge is located has to be adequately ventilated. If this can not be done, you must place the fridge in another good-ventilated location.

5- How to Fix a Defective Circuit Board?

A defective circuit board must be replaced to solve the issue; however, you don’t have to worry as you can replace the control board yourself. Kindly follow the next steps:

1. Unplug the fridge from the power outlet to ensure safety while working.
2. Remove the fridge base grille; you can pull the grille or remove the screws holding it.
3. Disconnect the wires connected to the board but label them first.
4. Disconnect the port plug to remove the control board.
5. Connect the new control board to the wires.
6. Place the control board in its designated place.
7. Install the grille base back.
8. Power on your fridge.

6- How to Fix a Defective Thermistor?

After determining that the Thermistor is defective, you will need to replace it. It’s a straightforward process and doesn’t need an expert; you can do it through these steps:

1. Power off your Refrigerator to ensure safety while working.
2. Locate the Thermistor using the owner’s manual.
3. Disconnect the wires of the faulty Thermistor and label them.
4. Connect the new Thermistor.
5. Place the Thermistor in its place.
6. Power on the Refrigerator.

7- How to Fix Ice Accumulation?

If your auto-defrost feature is not working or your Refrigerator doesn’t have it, you will need to defrost it manually. Defrosting your fridge is an easy process that doesn’t need an expert, and you follow these steps to do it:

1. Power off your Refrigerator.
2. Take out the shelves and food.
3. Open the doors and leave them open for eight hours.
4. Clean the fridge of any ice left.
5. Place your shelves and food back.
6. Power on your fridge.

8- How to Reset the Fridge After a Power Outage?

When the power comes back, you must reset your fridge to make the H1 error code disappear. So you can reset the fridge by pressing the alarm reset switch and waiting for some time, and it will be solved.

Preventing Frigidaire Refrigerator H1 Code Error

After explaining how to fix each cause behind the H1 code, I will tell you how to prevent it from happening and avoid it in the future.

1- Close the Fridge Doors

Leaving the fridge or the freezer door open will raise the fridge’s temperature. When the temperature increases over a certain point, the error code H1 will blink.

Therefore, ensure you have closed your fridge door after every time you use it. If the door alarm is faulty, you should fix it so it can alert you whenever you have this accidental issue.

2- Provide Sufficient Ventilation

Place the fridge at a fair distance from the walls to allow air circulation. Ensure the space around the fridge is well-ventilated, or move the appliance to another area.

Organize the fridge and try not to overload it to ensure efficient air circulation inside the fridge compartment.

3- Regular Maintenance

Perform regular maintenance to your Refrigerator to ensure there are no defective parts like the door seal, Thermistor, or control board. A well-maintained refrigerator will show no error messages.