Expertises: Cooking, Food, Kitchenware, Kitchen utensil, Kitchen
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A freezer is one of the most reliable appliances you can find at home. It can store all your goodies and keep them cool for future use.
Is your freezer not freezing anymore? Are your mini freezers starting to fail? Then you've come to the right place!
Today, we will discuss why freezers stop freezing and how to fix them. If this sounds like something you're interested in, keep reading, and let's get started!
What Are the Reasons Why Your Freezer Is Not Freezing?
There are various reasons why even the best chest freezer could stop working correctly. We've listed some common reasons below that you must be aware of.
Don't worry because you don't have to replace your freezer and spend a ton of money.
1. Loose Door Seals
A part of refrigerators' daily wear and tear is the door gasket getting loose. When this happens, the door seal is less effective than before.
Cool air escapes from the freezer door, pulling warm air in. This affects all your produce insides, causing it to melt in worse cases.
2. No Air Circulation
Having too many items inside your freezer causes overloading. When this happens, there's airflow blockage and hardly any space left for air to circulate in.
The evaporator fan motor tends to work double time and break down from all the exhaustion.
3. Dirty Condenser Coils
Check your condenser coils and clean them at least every six months. Dirty coils tend to overwork the condenser fan motor, reducing its cooling capacity.
Make sure there's no build-up of dust and cobwebs around the coils.
4. Faulty Start Relay
A faulty start relay causes a freezer to keep turning on and off. When this happens, your freezer can't maintain a stable internal temperature.
Have the start relay replaced once you notice the problem becoming more persistent.
5. Freezer Is Overpacked
Too many things inside the freezer prevent cold air from circulating. More importantly, it tends to block the fan inside.
This could either mean a stubborn ice build-up or a warm freezer.
6. Compressor Coils Are Dirty
Dirty compressor coils result in a poor cooling system and a skyrocketing electricity bill. The compressors could be working double time to keep the freezer functioning.
7. The Thermostat Is Broken
A broken thermostat won't be able to accurately read your freezer's temperature. A thermostat might reflect a reading completely different from the actual temperature.
The contents of your freezer can either be too cold and have freezer burns, or too warm such that the contents will melt.
8. Internal Parts Are Malfunctioning
If you notice any persistent humming sound from your freezer, there might be problems with its internal parts.
This may cause your refrigerator to malfunction and freezer issues to surface. Whatever the reason, always have a professional inspect the job.
9. Door Isn't Properly Sealed
A simple dollar bill test can check your door's seal. If you can pull your dollar bill from the seal, then it means the doors are already loose.
How to Fix a Freezer That Isn't Cold Enough?
You can do a few simple fixes for the common freezer problems. We've shared some of them here to help you get started.
Step 1: Check the Setting Controls
Ensure that your freezer is operating at its optimal temperature. You can do this by checking what's indicated in the temperature control thermostat.
Try changing your refrigerator to the lowest setting to get your freezers to start circulating cold air. You can also turn it to the highest setting to melt any ice buildup.
Step 2: Clear Out the Freezer Shelves
You can boost cold air circulation by clearing out your freezer shelves. You might have an excess amount of containers inside, which causes overpacking.
Clean any dirt build-up, and get rid of any unused items.
Step 3: Clean the Condenser Coils
Check the condenser coils and make sure it's free from dust. Condenser coils are usually at the bottom of the back of a fridge.
You can use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of any dirt build-up. Make sure to set a freezer maintenance schedule to lessen any problems.
Step 4: Eliminate Excess Frost Buildup
If you notice any built-up ice on your freezer parts and interior walls, it's time to start chipping them away.
Modern freezers and modern refrigerators today have defrosting capabilities that can help prevent ice build-up.
Additional Tips to Keep Your Freezer Cold and Working Properly
No one wants a broken freezer. They're one of the most important kitchen appliances you must have at home for storing and freezing food.
Here are a few tips to keep your frozen unit working fine all the time.
Review the Owner’s Manual for Maintenance Instructions
Always check the model-specific maintenance recommendations in the owner's manual. This is one of the most important things a freezer owner should do.
Doing this prevents freezer problems outside the usual normal wear and tear. Based on the recommendations, you'll know how to use and maintain your refrigerator better.
Keep Fridge and Freezer Components Clean
Set a freezer maintenance schedule by cleaning both the inside and outside. Make sure the insides are clean and free of unnecessary things.
You should regularly clean the outsides with the help of a vacuum that has a crevice attachment. Some components you need to watch out for include the following:
- Freezer's evaporator fan and fan blades
- Freezer door switch and gasket
- Control board and back panel
- Condenser and evaporator fan motor
- Freezer compressor
Periodically Check the Freezer’s Thermostat
Make sure the thermostat reflects an accurate reading at all times. Sometimes, the thermostat can reflect a different reading from the actual temperature.
Sometimes, your freezer can feel a lot warmer than what's indicated. When this is the case, you can use a separate device to arrive at a proper reading.
Ensure Airways Are Open
Don't block the fans and airways in your refrigerator and freezer to ensure proper air circulation.
You can do this by rearranging the contents of your freezer or doing a general cleanup. You can also remove dust or ice accumulated on the vents.
Eliminate Leaky Door Seals
A proper freezer door seal keeps all the cold air inside. It ensures all the food inside remains frozen and cold as intended.
More importantly, it ensures the freezer stays at its optimal freezer temperature. Luckily, a simple gasket replacement can easily fix problematic door seals.
Before we leave with our parting words, we’ve answered some of the FAQs we get about problematic freezers. Keep reading because you might learn a thing or two about why your freezer is not freezing anymore. On average, freezers can last you for as long as 11 years. The same goes with a combination refrigerator freezer and the best upright freezers, as long as you follow the manufacturer’s recommendation. Your freezer can reach up to 20 years if you maintain it properly. This means having the freezer unit quickly diagnosed and easily fixed when a problem arises. There are other telltale signs that your freezer isn’t functioning properly, such as the following: Make sure to watch out for these signs so you can start working on the DIY fixes. More importantly, you know when to schedule a service call when the problem becomes more severe and persistent. If your freezer stopped working, there are a few DIY fixes you can do. However, we recommend calling a professional when the problem becomes too much for you. Internal parts, such as the compressor or evaporator fan, must be replaced. Cases like these require a professional to get the job done. Freezer Not Freezing Related FAQs
How Long Do Freezers Last?What Are Other Signs the Freezer Isn’t Working?
Can I Fix a Freezer on My Own?
Conclusion
No need to replace your old freezer just yet, especially if it's still worth saving. Often, a freezer not freezing can be because of various reasons a DIY solution can fix.
If there's too much frost in your freezer and it's affecting how it functions, try the different solutions we've named here.
We hope you enjoyed this article. Let us know in the comments how you were able to fix your freezer problems. We'd love to hear about it!
