What Cooling Off Means
JennAir's page explains that when cooling has been switched off, COOLING OFF appears on the display and neither the refrigerator nor the freezer will cool. It is a setting rather than a problem - but it looks exactly like a failure to anyone who did not switch it on.
Common Causes of Cooling Off
- Cooling switched off deliberately for cleaning and not switched back on
- Cooling turned off accidentally while the controls were being wiped
- A power outage after which cooling needs turning back on manually on some models
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Turn cooling back on. On the models JennAir documents here, that means pressing and holding the LOCK and MEASURED FILL buttons together for three seconds - both at exactly the same moment, or you risk locking the dispenser instead.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- The most common outcome here is a service call for an appliance that was only ever switched off, which is why JennAir puts this check first.
- If cooling is on and the appliance still is not cooling, the problem is real, and the sealed refrigeration system is not something to open without EPA certification.
- Pressing control combinations at random to find the right one can lock the dispenser or change settings that then need undoing.
Opening a panel to inspect or repair something yourself doesn't automatically cancel your manufacturer's warranty — but it can risk accidental damage, and some manufacturers do have specific service conditions. Check your product's warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.
Technical Reference
- Code
- Cooling Off
- Appliance
- JennAir refrigerator
- Maker documentation
- JennAir owner manuals and use & care guides
- Checked
- September 2026
Code meanings can change between control generations. Before acting on a code, match the full model number on your appliance's rating label against the manual for that model. We are an independent repair service, not affiliated with Whirlpool Corporation.