Freezer issues are very common no matter what generation of refrigerator you’ve bought. These issues make themselves known when the ice cubes aren’t freezing properly, there’s ice and frost build up, or it makes too much noise that you can barely hear the sound coming from another room. Once this happens, your refrigerator is due for repair/maintenance to ensure it continues to work and won’t spoil the foods you’ve stored in there.
For starters, here are the common reasons why your freezers may not be working properly.
Overpacking
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.
Frost Buildup
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. Source: Maytag
Dirty Condenser Coils
Dirty coils won’t cool down refrigerant before it enters the evaporator, resulting in poor cooling performance. Clean the condenser coils if they’re caked with lint and dust. You may need to have a service technician clean the condenser coils if they’re not easily accessible.
Broken Evaporator Fan Motor
A failed evaporator fan can cause freezer cooling problems because it won’t circulate air through the freezer cabinet. You’ll need to have a service technician replace the evaporator fan if it doesn’t run when activated. Source: Sears Home Services
Bad Start Relay
Finally, a freezer that isn’t freezing might mean that your start relay is not working as it should, meaning that it isn’t giving power to your compressor. You can conduct a physical test on your start relay by unplugging your refrigerator, opening up the compartment at the back of your freezer, unplugging the start relay from the compressor, and then shaking the start relay. If you hear a rattling noise that sounds like dice in a can, your start relay will have to be replaced. If it does not rattle, that might mean that you have a compressor issue, which will require professional repair assistance. Source: American Home Shield
Make sure that these freezer problems won’t linger for too long in your refrigerator. Once it happens, get it assessed by a professional to have it fixed as soon as possible. For this instance, get in touch with us and we’ll have your freezer working again in no time!