Why Your Freezer Is Not Freezing: 8 Potential Causes
Don’t let your frozen food lose its chill
Highlights
Set your freezer temperature at 0 degrees Fahrenheit to keep food safe.
Test your freezer door to confirm nothing is blocking it from sealing.
Clean your coils regularly to ensure proper airflow.
Ensure that your freezer isn’t packed too tightly with food.
There’s nothing more annoying than looking forward to a sweet treat, and opening your freezer to find your chocolate chip mint ice cream melted. Finding your frozen items thawing when your freezer’s not freezing is frustrating. Luckily, we have some troubleshooting steps you can take to identify and remedy the problem.
A freezer stops working for two primary reasons. The first reason comes down to how you’re using your freezer. This can mean that a clog or gap prevents the transfer of hot air to cold air. The second reason is a broken component that’s preventing your freezer from freezing properly.
Before troubleshooting the reason your freezer’s not freezing, use an appliance thermometer to measure its temperature. If it isn’t reaching the recommended freezer temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s time to troubleshoot. You may be able to put your freezer troubles on ice using these tips.
1. Freezer is Overloaded
If you notice that your freezer is not freezing ice cream or other items, quickly survey where the items are in your freezer. Your fix for a broken freezer could be as simple as clearing or rearranging items blocking your fan’s airflow.
You’ll want to properly organize your frozen items to ensure your freezer isn't overloaded. Yes, it could be as simple as throwing out that bag of freezer-burnt leftovers and giving your other items room to freeze. You’ll want to make sure that there is space around your items for the cold air to go between. Keeping it too tightly stacked will result in cool, but not frozen, food. And it’s best to keep food out of the way way back of your freezer to allow the cold air room to circulate in the first place.
2. Thermostat Is Set Too High
If you have a busy household, you’re probably no stranger to thermostats being adjusted throughout your home (either on purpose or through play). One of the simplest reasons your freezer isn’t freezing is the temperature being set too high. Freezers should be set to 0 degrees Fahrenheit to keep food completely frozen. And while colder might be better in some cases, think again for your freezer—setting it colder than 0 degrees can cause your food to lose flavor and moisture, not to mention cause your utility bill to increase.
3. Seals are Loose
The gaskets located on your freezer door could be letting air escape because they’re loose. Luckily, you can diagnose this problem in mere seconds.
1. Open your freezer door.
2. Slip a standard sheet of paper against your seal.
3. Close your freezer door.
If the paper stays in place, the seal is not the issue. However, if the paper slips out, you may need to replace your seal.
Even if your paper stayed in place, go ahead and tug on it. If it comes out easily, that is a sign that your seal is loose and letting cold air escape. Repeat this test at different places around your freezer door.
If a loose seal is the reason, you will need to buy a gasket for your freezer model. Gasket replacements can range from $20 to $100, and the installation is an easy DIY project. Or, if a DIY project is not your thing, a local handyman can help replace the seal in a flash.
4. Coils are Dirty
As you use your freezer, the coils can become dirty. Freezer coils are responsible for condensing your refrigerant. When dirt or dust clogs them, heat is trapped in the coils, causing your freezer to not freeze.
To see if it’s dirty coils that are impairing your freezer’s performance, check the following:
1. Unplug your freezer/refrigerator and pull it away from the wall.
2. Locate the coils along the bottom of the appliance.
3. If they are dirty, vacuum the coils using a coil-cleaning brush vacuum attachment.
4. Put your freezer/refrigerator back in place, and plug it back in.
This quick cleaning could be all you need to solve your freezer issue. To prevent this problem from happening, it’s best to clean your freezer coils every six months to a year.
5. Too Much Ice in Freezer
Does your freezer look like an ice cave? If so, then it’s time to learn how to defrost a freezer.
Ice buildup inside your freezer can make it hard for your coils and vents to work. A telltale sign that it's been too long since you've defrosted your freezer is the presence of ice crystals. Defrosting your freezer at least once a year is an important part of maintaining your appliance.
Clearing the ice out of your freezer will also fix a clogged defrost drain if it is frozen shut.
6. Bad Start Relay
Your freezer's start relay is inside the compressor circuit. Its job is to protect against overload by prepping the circuit for the compressor's running speed.
To check your start relay, unplug it from the compressor. (Be sure to unplug your freezer first). If you hear a rattling noise when you shake the start relay, it's time for a replacement. While replacing a start relay isn't much harder than swapping out one part for another, it's important to confirm that this is the actual problem to avoid wasting time and money. Your best bet is to call an appliance repair pro, unless you have experience in this sort of work.
If it passes the shake test and you want to take on the project yourself, you can remove the start relay and check the terminals with a handheld voltage tester to see if it’s working properly. Again, just be careful, and don’t attempt this type of work unless you’re sure you can do it safely.
7. Problem With the Evaporator Fan
Within your freezer, you may hear a fan running occasionally. This is the evaporator fan, which helps to circulate air throughout the freezer, keeping the entire compartment at the desired temperature.
If this fan isn’t operating properly, it could lead to issues with inconsistent temperatures, meaning your freezer won't freeze ice cream or other foods. In certain sections of your freezer, some of your food may thaw. Additionally, when the evaporator fan is malfunctioning, you may notice that your freezer is making a noise or is vibrating. You may also see excessive buildup of frost and ice on the shelves and/or walls.
To check the fan, unplug the appliance and move most of your frozen food into a cooler. Look for the panel in the back of the freezer; pull out any shelves that are blocking this panel. Remove any screws or clips that are holding the panel in place. The fan should now be exposed.
If you see ice built up on the fan blades, remove it and see if this fixes the problem with the uneven cooling and excessive noise. If there is no ice buildup, you should be able to spin the fan freely by hand. You can also test the fan’s motor with a multimeter. If you can’t spin the fan, or the multimeter test yields incorrect measurements, you likely need to replace your fan, rather than repair it.
The national average cost for a freezer and refrigerator repair ranges from $200 to $300 when hiring a pro. This is a little higher than the average appliance repair cost, which typically costs between $100 to $250.
8. Broken Compressor
A broken freezer compressor is the most common reason why freezers stop cooling properly.
In addition to causing your food to spoil, ignoring this issue can raise your electricity bill before ultimately causing your appliance to quit working altogether. While you can’t necessarily fix a bad or broken compressor, you can replace it. The cost of a refrigerator compressor typically costs between $100 to $500 for the part alone.
This is a pretty complex project that requires an understanding of the electrical workings of a freezer, so you’ll want to hire a local freezer repair pro. Expect to pay roughly $150 for labor, and a total average cost of $250 to $650 to replace the compressor.
Troubleshooting Freezer Problems DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Now it’s up to you on how you’ll diagnose the loss of your deep-freeze.
For many people, anything beyond vacuuming the coils, checking seals, or defrosting the freezer can be intimidating. And with good reason—any work with something electrical can be dangerous.
While you can always troubleshoot your freezer problems using the list above, you can also get reliable answers and help by bringing in a pro. They can diagnose the exact problem and offer a solution to get your freezer back to cold again. A pro can also help you determine if your fix is covered under your appliance’s manufacturer’s warranty, which will help you save money on the fix.