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A freezer does not provide a whole lot of value if it is not keeping the temperature below freezing. So if you have opened your freezer door and found a mountain of melted items, you are now wondering why my freezer stopped working.
We have put together this list of possible problems and symptoms and some remedies to those problems. Be forewarned that while some items may be simple to fix, the parts of your freezer can be quite complex and may require professional intervention to get them operating correctly.
Freezer Not Freezing
There can be any number of reasons why your freezer is not cold enough. If the reason the freezer is not freezing is as simple as the door being left open or the thermostat was turned down, those problems obviously can be fixed quite easily.
If there is however an issue with some of the parts in your freezer, the solutions can become more complicated.
Dirt and debris in vital parts
The condenser coils for a freezer can reside in two locations. If the condensing coils on your freezer are located inside the unit, they do not require cleaning.
If however the condenser coils are located outside of your unit, they should be cleaned at least every six months. If the coils have become dirty, they are less effective at dissipating heat thus significantly reducing the cooling capacity and may be the reason for a freezer not cooling.
Another issue you may face is evaporator coils that are frosting over. In a typical system, the defrost heater will turn on many times during the day to melt away this frost.
If the defrost heater is not turning on, frost will continue to accumulate on the coils and they will not function properly. When this happens your freezer will not operate properly.
Problems with mechanical parts
Your freezer uses a variety of fans and coils to create freezing air. When these parts are damaged or inoperable, that can lead to freezer temperature problems.
One possible issue can be a faulty evaporator fan motor. If the fan is not working, the freezer will not cool.
One great way to check for this problem is to open your freezer door and manually activate the freezer door switch. If you activate the switch and the fan does not operate, the evaporator fan motor may be the culprit.
Another issue may be a faulty condenser fan motor. Without this fan, the condenser can overheat and will not work properly. If you find the condenser fan is spinning freely but it’s still not operating, chances are you need to replace the condenser fan motor.
One last mechanical part of the freezer that can be an issue is a faulty compressor. This is the pump that circulates the refrigerant through both the evaporator and condenser coils.
Unlike the fans, this is the least likely culprit when you encounter problems; however, if the fans are operating normally and your freezer is not getting cold, it may be time to look at replacing your compressor.
Problems with electronic parts
In addition to the mechanical parts of your freezer, your unit has a number of electronic parts. Since these items often regulate the operation of the mechanical parts of your freezer, they obviously need to be in good working order fridge repair.
If your freezer is not cold, one issue may be a faulty start relay for your compressor. This relay provides power to the compressor so that it will run properly. If the start relay is faulty, the compressor will only intermittently run or may not run at all.
Another problem may be the temperature control thermostat. This item controls voltage to the compressor, condenser fan motor, and evaporator fan motor. If this thermostat is inoperable, those systems will not get power and that may be why the freezer is not getting cold.
Your freezer also contains several control and display boards as well. While these items rarely break and are usually not a cause of a problem, if all other systems have been checked and you have found no faults, these boards may be the culprit causing an inoperable freezer.
How To Solve Freezer Temperature Problems
Now that we’ve shown you some of the reasons for a freezer not cooling enough, let us show you how we can help you solve some of these issues.
Check the simple things first
So is the unit plugged in? While that may seem simple, it is not uncommon when a unit is being moved for cleaning, for example, that the unit is unplugged and then not plugged back in.
Maybe the freezer door is not closing completely. When this happens, freezing air is simply rushing out the door and the freezer compartment does not stay below freezing.
Check your mechanical parts
Take a look at your evaporator coils on the back of the freezer and make sure there is no dust or debris there. Make sure that all of the fans we mentioned can turn properly with nothing getting in their way.
If you suspect that any of the motors for the fans are faulty, or that your compressor has failed, this is in fact, something you can repair on your own. These parts can easily be found online or at any appliance store.
While you can do this on your own, be forewarned that this is a somewhat complicated job that is usually best left to professionals. We feel confident in saying that the pros here at MAAR24 can do this job much more quickly than the average homeowner, and the job will be done right the first time.
Solving the electronic parts issues
All the electronic parts of your freezer are probably the least likely to fail, yet they can be the most challenging to repair. Go through the steps we outlined above to make sure none of those things are the problem and if they are not, your electronics may be the culprit.
Just as with mechanical parts, the electronic parts can easily be found online or at an appliance store. Unlike the mechanical parts, the electronic parts can be difficult to install and configure correctly.
