Common causes
- Defrost failure. The evaporator coil slowly clogs with ice and can no longer move cold air. Look for heavy frost on the back panel.
- Evaporator fan failure. No fan noise in the freezer when the door switch is pressed.
- Dirty condenser or failed condenser fan. The refrigerator cannot reject heat, so cooling capacity drops — very common in Las Vegas summers.
- Door gasket leak. Warm air enters, causing frost on food and higher temperatures.
- Overloaded or blocked vents. Packing the freezer tightly against the vents restricts airflow.
- Start relay or compressor problems. The compressor clicks but does not run, or runs only briefly.
- Refrigerant leak. Only part of the evaporator frosts, and both compartments slowly warm.
What you can check
- Set the freezer to 0°F and verify with a thermometer after 24 hours.
- Check that the door closes fully and the gasket is not torn.
- Rearrange food to clear the air vents.
- Clean the condenser coils.
- Listen for the evaporator fan and the condenser fan.
Garage freezers
A freezer in a Las Vegas garage faces extreme temperatures both ways. In summer, it can lose the battle with 115°F air. In winter, combined refrigerator-freezers can stop cooling the freezer because the fresh-food thermostat rarely calls for cold. See garage refrigerator repair.
What a refrigerator technician checks
- Freezer and evaporator temperatures, and the frost pattern behind the panel
- Evaporator fan speed and whether ice has reached the blade
- Defrost heater, defrost thermostat or sensor, and the defrost control
- Condenser condition and condenser fan operation
- Compressor start and run current
- Sealed-system performance if airflow and defrost check out
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should a freezer be?
0°F (–18°C). Food stays safe at that temperature indefinitely, though quality slowly declines.
My freezer is cold but not freezing ice. Why?
If ice cubes freeze slowly or ice cream is soft, the freezer is probably sitting in the 10–20°F range. That points to reduced airflow or capacity — partial defrost failure, a weak fan, or a dirty condenser.
