WHY IS MY FREEZER NOT FREEZING? 9 POSSIBLE CAUSES

If your freezer is not working, the first thing to check is if the shelves are packed too tightly. Overstuffed freezers can cause an airflow blockage, especially when the evaporator fan is blocked. If your freezer is not cold enough, try clearing off your freezer shelves. By clearing and reorganizing food, and getting rid of items possibly forgotten in the back of the freezer, you can make sure the evaporator fan has proper airflow. If you find your freezer is consistently overpacked, you may benefit from a Maytag^® Deep Freezer for a surplus of frozen foods and bulky items.

Excess frost buildup on the walls of your freezer can congest the vents and coils that keep your freezer functioning. If it’s not working, you can defrost your freezer to melt buildup to help your freezer maintain its proper temperature. Keep in mind that most modern freezers have auto defrost, so if you have frost buildup, it may indicate a bigger issue. You might need to consult a service professional for further evaluation.

If you have a refrigerator freezer combination that isn’t freezing, dirty condenser coils may be the cause. When coils aren’t maintained properly, it can reduce the cooling capacity of your freezer. To clean the condenser coils, you can vacuum the coils with a crevice attachment. 

If you have an upright or chest freezer, the coils are in the walls of the freezer and are likely not the cause of your appliance’s malfunction. Be sure to check your Use and Care Guide for model-specific maintenance recommendations.

Your freezer’s start relay provides power to the compressor. If the relay malfunctions, the compressor can’t run and your freezer will begin to thaw. Listen for the routine humming of the compressor as it starts the cooling process. If you don’t hear the humming kick-start within 30 minutes, there may be an issue with the start relay. Check your product manual for a proper diagnosis or schedule a service technician.

Your freezer’s evaporator fan motor keeps cold air circulating throughout your appliance. A malfunction of this motor stops your freezer’s cooling function. Depending on the model of your freezer, the evaporator fan motor shuts off when the door is open. To check the function of the motor, open your freezer door and manually hold down the freezer door switch. If the motor does not begin to run, it may need to be replaced by a professional.

If your chest freezer is not freezing, you may want to inspect its thermostat. Typically, most modern refrigerators and freezers have an electronic control and use temperature sensing devices to regulate the temperature. Your chest freezer’s thermostat is the control hub of the inner mechanisms necessary to regulate your appliance’s temperature. It controls the compressor, the evaporator fan motor and the condenser fan motor. When there’s a problem with a chest freezer’s thermostat, those parts are unable to do their job in keeping the freezer cold. To determine if the thermostat is the cause of a freezer not getting cold enough, change the thermostat from the lowest to the highest setting and listen for a click. If you don’t hear a click, then it likely needs to be replaced by a professional.

If your freezer is not cold, the problem may be caused by a broken condenser fan motor. The condenser fan draws cool air through the condenser and over your freezer’s coils. If this fan is broken, your freezer’s inner temperature will rise, and the compressor will overheat. Since it can be tricky to access the condenser fan, it is best to consult a professional to check if the fan blades are turning properly and determine if the  condenser fan motor is worn out.

Your freezer door gasket is what keeps the warm air of your home locked out and the cool air of your freezer locked in. If the door is not sealing completely shut every time you close it, that cool air will leak out and your freezer’s temperature will rise. To check if your freezer door is sealing properly, place a piece of paper flat against the gasket and close the freezer door. Then, tug at the paper. If there is little to no resistance to pulling the piece of paper free from the door, the seals are likely loose and need to be replaced. Be sure to test multiple areas along the seal. In newer freezer models, there are no tools necessary to replace the gasket. Typically these freezers have wrap around gaskets or gaskets that can simply be pushed into place. If your freezer is an older model, the gasket is probably attached with screws and replacing it requires a few extra steps.

If you’ve checked all the other components of your freezer for malfunctions and you still haven’t found the root of the problem, the source may be the compressor. The easiest way to diagnose a problem with your freezer’s compressor is by listening for its routine humming sound. Pay attention to your freezer for at least 30 minutes. If the humming sound doesn’t kick in within that time, the compressor may not be working correctly. Schedule a visit with a technician for more help.