Common Freezer Problems And Solutions

Does your food not stay cold inspite of keeping it in the freezer for hours? Or is your freezer not cooling at all? Before calling an expert for repairs, it’s important that you understand some common problems that often arise in a freezer and have an idea about how to fix them.

We’ve listed down a few freezer problems that customers usually complain about. Read on to find out solutions to these problems…

Strange Noise From The Freezer

If it’s an unusual loud noise, it’s an indication that the evaporator fan motor needs to be replaced. The fan motor is placed at the back of the freezer and it circulates air through the evaporator coil. The coils then convert heat into cool air, which is then circulated in the freezer and refrigerator. Evaporator fan motors have a long life cycle of over 8 – 10 years, but they can break down over time if the fan blade is jammed or is unable to rotate, which causes a strange noise from the freezer.

There are also some noises that do not necessarily mean that there is a problem with your freezer. For instance, if you hear a sizzling sound from the freezer it simply means that the freezer is going through a defrost cycle. Similarly, if you hear a gurgling sound, it means the water is draining off the evaporator coil during the defrost cycle. In this case, there’s nothing to worry about, as the sound will stop in a few seconds. But if you constantly hear a loud noise, we recommend calling an expert to check the fan motor.

Frost Buildup In The Freezer

If you notice heavy frost forming in the freezer, the defrost heater has clearly malfunctioned and may need to be replaced. If you notice frost forming around the freezer gasket, it indicates the freezer door wasn’t properly shut. Check for any gap between the freezer and the door gasket and pack the gap with a thermocol or an item to properly seal the gasket. Also check if the freezer temperature is set too low, as this can also cause frost buildup. The ideal freezer temperature is around 0°F (-18°C) and around 37°F (3°C) for refrigerator. The freezer will need a few defrost cycles to clear the excessive frost buildup.

Depending on the size, defrosting the freezer may take some time. To defrost, simply unplug the refrigerator and keep the freezer door open to allow the ice to melt on its own. This method may take anywhere between 2 – 3 hours to defrost the freezer completely. To avoid this problem, ensure that you place the fridge at a distance from the wall for the air to circulate. The heat from the compressor should have sufficient room to dissipate.

Freezer No Longer Freezes

If the freezer has stopped cooling, check if the back wall of the freezer is cold enough. Also check if the evaporator fan is properly working. If you can feel the air flowing from the freezer vents, there is nothing to worry about. But if you can’t, this is again a sign that there is a problem with the evaporator fan motor. The only option you have is to replace the fan motor in this case by calling an expert.

There is also a possibility that the condenser coils (located either in the back or at the bottom of the unit depending on the model) are dirty, which also reduces the overall cooling in the freezer. It’s important to clean the condenser coil once a year so that it can properly do the job of dissipating heat. You can unplug the fridge and clean the coil using a vacuum or a brush used at home for dusting purpose. They are easily available online.

There Is No Light In The Freezer

This means there’s an issue with the indicator light in the freezer due to broken wires, which may have to be replaced. Indicator lights in the freezer display the operating mode. The green indicator is lit when the refrigerator is connected to the mains. It indicates electrical supply to the appliance, while the red indicator is lit to alert you of a high temperature warning.

You can get this checked with the help of an expert and if its confirmed that the indicator light is fine but there’s still no light, it simply means the user control and display board need to be replaced.