In refrigerators, a flap (also called an air damper or air flap) is a small door inside the air duct that controls how much cold air flows from the freezer/evaporator area into the fridge compartment. The control board opens and closes it (manually in older models, motorized in many modern ones) to keep the fridge temperature stable.

Typical problems:

• Flap stuck closed: fridge becomes warm while the freezer stays cold.

• Flap stuck open: fridge gets too cold, food may freeze.

• Clicking or buzzing: a worn damper motor or broken gears.

• Ice blocking the flap: airflow stops or becomes noisy.

What to do: make sure vents are not blocked by food, defrost the unit if you see ice in the duct area, and check that the flap moves freely. If it’s motorized and doesn’t respond, the damper assembly, sensor, wiring, or control board may need service/replacement. Unplug before any disassembly.