3 Common Freezer Problems and What You Can Do About Them

We constantly give credit to refrigerators by saying that they are the hardest working appliance in the kitchen, but we might not be giving freezers enough credit. After all, they run nonstop like a refrigerator, but are responsible for making food much colder than a refrigerator does. Because freezers run nonstop, they are susceptible to problems. However, not every malfunction ends in a trip to the appliance store – try some of these home troubleshooting techniques before deciding it's time for a new freezer.

My freezer isn't running.

If your freezer isn't running, there could be a variety of problems with it. First, make sure your freezer is plugged into a working outlet and if your unit has a power switch, it is set to the ON position. Also check to make sure that the power cord to the freezer is not visibly damaged and if you are using an extension cord, get rid of it and plug the freezer straight into the wall. If your freezer still hasn't turned on, call a local appliance repair company and schedule an in-home diagnosis.

My freezer isn't cold enough.

If you think that your freezer isn't cold enough, first test it with a thermometer. If it is at or around 0° F, it is working properly. If it is significantly higher than that, check your temperature settings. Turn down your freezer's internal thermostat and wait a couple of hours before retesting the temperature. If that didn't make a difference, make sure your freezer isn't over-packed, which could block vents and hinder airflow. If your freezer is still too warm, seek professional consultation.

There is a build up of frost inside of my freezer.

If your freezer does not have an automatic defrost function, it is time to do it manually. To manually defrost a freezer, remove all food and place it somewhere where it will stay cold, such as a cooler. Next, unplug the freezer from the wall and wait 5-8 hours for it to defrost before plugging it back in and restocking it. If you have an automatic defrosting model but it isn't working correctly, the problem is most likely a clogged drain pipe. To fix this, manually defrost the appliance then blow dry the drain pipe for 5 minutes and clean it with a pipe cleaner. If you run into more issues than this, call a professional repair service.

If these freezer troubleshooting steps did not work for you and you live in New York City or Long Island, contact 24/7 Refrigerator Service at 866-782-9376 today. We offer around-the-clock emergency service and in-home repairs on any make or model of freezer. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.24-7-refrigeratorservice.com/