Why Your Freezer Is Not Freezing: 8 Potential Causes & Solutions

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 isn't 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 is how you’re using it. 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 isn't 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 or you’ve got softened ice cream in the freezer, 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.

Next Steps

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 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. 

Next Steps

Different models of freezers have different thermostats. You might have a new-fangled version that allows you to manually select an exact temperature on a digital screen, or it may be a simple knob you can turn on a scale from “cold” to “coldest.” Locate the thermostat (usually in the back of your freezer, but check your owner’s manual) and adjust as needed.

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.

Next Steps

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. The coils are responsible for condensing your refrigerant. When dirt or dust clogs them, heat is trapped in the coils, preventing your freezer from freezing. 

Next Steps

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.

Next Steps

Clearing the ice out of your freezer will also fix a clogged defrost drain if it is frozen shut. To really go the distance, find a temporary home for your frozen goods, then unplug your freezer entirely, allow all the frost to melt, and clean up the excess water as needed.

6. Bad Start Relay 

Your freezer's start relay is inside the compressor circuit. It protects 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. 

Next Steps

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 a local 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 is not cold enough for 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. That’s one of the reasons your freezer might be frosting up.

Next Steps

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.

Next Steps

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.

Why Is My Refrigerator Working, but Not the Freezer?

You might expect your combination refrigerator and freezer to operate as a single unit. If one portion isn’t working, you would think the whole thing wouldn’t be working. But it’s possible that your freezer is not freezing while your refrigerator is working just fine. Here are a few scenarios in which that can happen:

• Your freezer is too full: If you cram too many items into your freezer, there’s probably not enough cold air circulation. This can cause the evaporator fan to go into overdrive and potentially burn out. Throw out old food you don’t need anymore, or repack the freezer more strategically to take up less space.

• Specific freezer components are broken: Your refrigerator and your freezer have separate components that keep them cool at their respective temperatures. It’s completely possible that your refrigerator could be working fine while your freezer is simultaneously not working because of issues with components such as the condenser coils, evaporator fan, or start relay.

• There’s an issue with the thermostat: It’s possible the thermostat for your freezer component isn’t working—or that someone has accidentally adjusted it to a higher temperature setting. 

• The door isn’t sealing properly: If the door gasket has deteriorated, you could be losing cold air through the freezer door, which means the door isn’t truly shutting all the way.

Repair vs. Replace the Freezer

In many cases, it makes sense to repair your freezer, especially if it’s a combination refrigerator and freezer, and the refrigerator is still working properly. On average, refrigerator repairs cost between $200 and $300, though some freezer repair prices can go as high as $650.

Even so, that’s significantly more affordable than the cost of a new refrigerator with a built-in freezer. Based on our analysis of home appliance costs, the typical refrigerator runs between $900 and $8,000 new.

However, if you regularly experience issues with your refrigerator and freezer, if they are old and out of warranty, or if they are simply not big enough for your family’s needs, it might be prudent to stop spending money on freezer repairs and instead upgrade to a newer, larger freezer.

A refrigerator with a freezer lasts between 12 and 20 years. If you’re nearing the end of the life cycle of your unit, it probably makes more financial sense to purchase a new appliance.

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.