You might call it the homeowner's law of appliances: if something can break, it will do so at the most inconvenient time. Not that any time is good for an appliance to malfunction - much less a freezer. But when your freezer is full of meat, it's the middle of a hot summer and you're up to your neck in deadlines at work, it's barely even manageable. At times like these, troubleshoot the problem to determine the needed repair. You might be able to fix it yourself. If you can't, you'll save time and money knowing the proper solution.
How Freezers Work
Whether you have a refrigerator/freezer combination or a chest-style freezer - regardless of optional lights, ice makers or other features - the cooling system of any freezer works the same. The freezer compressor squeezes a refrigerant, typically freon, then transfers it to the condenser. Inside the condenser coils, the refrigerant changes from vapor to liquid as the heat in the refrigerant is expelled. This is the heat you feel blowing near the freezer when it's in a cooling cycle. Next, the now-cooler refrigerant flows through an expansion valve and into the evaporator. There, the refrigerant absorbs heat inside the warming freezer and cools the contents even as the refrigerant turns back into a warm vapor. Finally, the now-warm refrigerant returns to the compressor to restart the cycle.
Testing Your Freezer
Even perfectly functioning freezers will not maintain frozen food if the door is left even slightly ajar, such as when an item sticks out enough to press on the door. Also, using a freezer to cool hot items or opening the freezer frequently will affect the temperature inside. Another common reason you may think the freezer is running but not freezing is improperly packing the contents. Situated behind a vent inside your freezer, typically in the rear, the evaporator fan circulates cool air. Pull the contents away from this fan vent and leave room around items so air can reach every point in the freezer. After you've done that, put a thermometer inside the freezer and check it after an hour or two. The temperature should read about zero degrees Fahrenheit.
Freezer Door Seals
The seal around the freezer door can be another problem when your freezer is running but not freezing. Test your freezer's door seal by inserting a dollar bill between the door and freezer. Close the freezer door and see if you can pull out the dollar bill. If you can, something is interfering with the seal. A door seal that is dirty simply needs to be cleaned; if it's badly damaged, replace it. Different seals vary, so follow the manufacturer's installation instructions. If your freezer isn't level, it may also prevent a proper seal. Use a carpenter's level to determine when the door is plumb - straight up and down - or level and adjust the legs as needed.
Other Simple Repairs
If you're lucky, the temperature setting in your freezer was raised accidentally and the repair is obvious. There are a few other things to check when your freezer runs but fails to cool. Pull the freezer out and look for dust, debris or ice that might be smothering the coils. As chest-style freezers use internal coils, this applies to upright models or refrigerator/freezer combinations. A hair dryer quickly melts ice and a vacuum or soft cloth makes quick work of dust. With the freezer unplugged, locate the motor underneath the freezer and clean it. Defrost the freezer if it's clogged with ice. If you notice water pooling on the floor when the freezer is running but not freezing, check the drain tube in the freezer's floor or underneath the vegetable drawers in the refrigerator compartment. Insert a turkey baster of bleach water into the tube to clean it, or run a length of smaller tubing through it to push out the clog. Also, check for adequate clearance around your freezer and ensure it doesn't sit in a sunny, hot and humid location or in an unheated area.
Coolant System Repairs
Internal component repairs generally aren't DIY friendly. The cooling system involves dangerous parts and attempting to service them yourself can lead to injury. Some repairs also require specialized tools and in-depth knowledge. Among these repairs are bad evaporator fans that chirp and squeak or refuse to circulate cool air and lower refrigerant levels. A malfunctioning door safety switch is difficult to pinpoint but also prevents proper cooling even though the freezer is running. Likewise, a faulty defrost control timer, a bad thermostat and a failing evaporator will prevent cooling. Some repairs aren't even practical; both a bad compressor or a faulty main control board cost more to fix than to simply replace the freezer. A loud thumping is a sure sign that the compressor is at fault. Consult a professional in these situations.
In terms of essential kitchen appliances, nothing comes close to the importance of a freezer. After all, freezers allow you to save money, time, and energy by keeping your favorite foods fresh for long periods of time. Oh, and let’s not forget about ice cream.
This May Also Interest You: How to Deep-Clean Your Freezer
But what happens when that crown prince of kitchen appliances isn’t keeping cold like it should? Before calling in the appliance technician and spending an arm and a leg, you may want to see if you can solve the problem yourself ... but not before polishing off that pint of Cherry Garcia.
4 Reasons Your Freezer Isn’t Frozen
Loose Door Seals
If your freezer isn’t as cold as it should be, but your refrigerator is working fine, you may want to take a look at the freezer's door seals, or gaskets. Due to normal wear and tear, these door gaskets can dry out and start to crack. When this happens, warm air and moisture can slowly leak into the freezer, keeping it from freezing properly, as well as causing frost buildup to occur.
While you might be able to discern the quality of your gaskets simply by taking a close look, sometimes it’s hard to tell. In that case, take a dollar bill and close the freezer door leaving enough of the bill sticking out to pull on. If the dollar bill pulls out easily, the gasket isn’t sealed adequately. Keep in mind that a door gasket can fail in only one spot, and it’ll be enough to keep your freezer from freezing. Be sure to check in multiple spots.
If the gasket is worn in any areas, you’ll need to replace it. Luckily, replacing a door seal is a fairly simple task. Order the door seals from the freezer’s manufacturer and install them according to the instructions on the package. While gasket installation can vary, installing a gasket is typically as simple as sticking the lip of the seal into the corresponding groove in the freezer’s door.
No Air Circulation
Another common reason that your freezer isn't cold enough is that the unit is overloaded. When a freezer is packed too full, it limits airflow around the unit, causing the evaporator fan to work harder than it should. Left unchecked, the evaporator fan motor can eventually burn out and fail completely. Save yourself the trouble (and cost) of replacing the evaporator fan by making sure your freezer has adequate cold air circulation.
That said, if your evaporator fan motor is failing, you may hear it make a high-pitched sound that comes and goes. In this case, locate the fan in the back of the freezer and make sure there isn’t anything caught in the fan blades. If you don’t notice anything, but the fan is still making the noise, you likely have a dying motor. Because replacing a fan is pretty technical work, it’s probably best to call in a professional if you suspect this might be the issue.
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- 6 Reasons Your Fridge Is Making a Squealing Noise — and How to Make It Stop
Dirty Condenser Coils
If your door gaskets are in good condition and the shelves of your freezer look like Marie Kondo’s, you’ll want to take a good long look at the unit’s condenser coils to make sure they aren’t covered in dust and dirt. Over time, the coils can become covered in debris, causing the condenser fan motor to overwork and eventually stop working. Depending on the brand, the coils are located at the base of the unit, or often behind it. The coils should be covered by a grill that snaps off easily.
To clean the coils, start by unplugging the unit. Then, pull the unit away from the wall and find the condenser coils. They should be fairly easy to spot, as they’re wound U-shaped metal tubes. For best results, use a condenser brush here. They’re designed specifically to clean in between the coil grid. With the brush, take some time to remove as much debris as possible, making sure that you clean even the tightest corners. When you’re done, use a vacuum to clean any debris that has fallen on the floor.
Keep in mind that cleaning condenser coils is part of routine refrigerator and freezer maintenance and should be done once or twice a year to keep your fridge in good working order.
Faulty Start Relay
When your freezer is temperamental — stopping and starting over and over — it could be an indication that your start relay is malfunctioning. Sometimes called the controller, the relay helps turn the compressor on and off when needed, acting as a liaison between the thermostat and the compressor. If the relay is defective, the compressor either won’t turn on, or will turn off prematurely.
To check the relay, unplug the unit and pull it away from the wall, making sure you have enough room to work behind the fridge. Then, use a screwdriver to remove the back panel of your freezer, and then set it aside.
Once the back cover is off, find a large black cylinder on one side of the unit. This is the compressor. The relay is attached to the side of the compressor and may or may not have a plastic cover that will need to be removed.
From there, disconnect the wires from the relay and remove it from the prongs on the compressor. Once removed, take a close look at the relay and check for any burned, charred marks. If you notice any, it probably means
that it has shorted and will need to be replaced.