Main electrical panel beside a subpanel with its cover removed

Refrigerator sides, door frame or center mullion hot to the touch (normal heat vs a real problem)

Most refrigerators deliberately run warm refrigerant or a low-wattage heater just behind the gasket line and the mullion so the cabinet face does not sweat, and many reject condenser heat through tubing in the side walls. That warmth is normal and gets stronger after start-up, a big grocery load or hot weather. It turns into a service issue when it lasts more than about a day together with poor cooling, or when the condenser area is choked with dust or the unit has no breathing room.

Cross-checked ~20 min easyBrands: All

Before you start

Unplug the unit or turn off its breaker before vacuuming the condenser or removing the toe grille or rear panel
Do not cut into, bend or drill the cabinet sides: the warm tubing inside them is part of the sealed refrigerant system (EPA 608 work)

Diagnostic steps

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