This page covers what's specific to Houston. For the full checklist — causes, safe checks, and repair or replace — see why isn't my refrigerator cooling?.
Houston at a glance
- Main appliance stress
- Long humid summers; storms and flooding
- Hurricane season
- June 1 – November 30 (NOAA)
- Natural gas
- CenterPoint Energy across much of the area
Rule out the Houston-specific causes
| Situation | How to tell | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Hot garage | Problem worse on hot afternoons; unit runs constantly | Check the manual's ambient range; improve clearance |
| After an outage | Warm right after power returned | Wait several hours with doors closed, then measure |
| Heavy use on a hot day | Warm after lots of door openings | Measure again the next morning |
Still warm? It's probably a real fault
If it's above 40 °F after a full day in normal conditions, the likely causes are the same as anywhere: airflow, defrost, condenser, or the sealed system. Our full refrigerator-not-cooling guide walks through them.
How long food lasts without power
| Appliance | If kept closed (FoodSafety.gov) |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | About 4 hours |
| Full freezer | About 48 hours |
| Half-full freezer | About 24 hours |
Moved it during flood cleanup?
If the refrigerator was moved or tilted during cleanup, check the manual before plugging it back in — some manufacturers recommend waiting several hours after a refrigerator has been on its side so oil can settle back into the compressor.
How a repair request works
- 1Call usTell us the appliance, the brand and what it's doing.
- 2Describe the problemBrand, model, symptoms, and what you've already checked.
- 3Provider reviews itThey contact you to accept and to ask anything they need.
- 4Diagnosis and quoteThe provider confirms any diagnostic fee and the repair price before work starts.
Common questions
How long after an outage should my fridge be cold again?
It can take several hours. Measure with a thermometer after about a day before deciding it isn't recovering.
Should I throw food away after every Houston outage?
No. Follow FoodSafety.gov: what matters is how long food sat above 40 °F. A thermometer in each section makes that decision much easier.