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freezer not freezing but the fridge is cold 2024

freezer not freezing but the fridge

freezer not freezing but the fridge is cold 2024

A freezer that’s not freezing but the fridge is cold could have a number of causes, including:

  • Dirty condenser coilsIf the condenser coils are covered in dust or debris, they can’t remove heat properly.
  • Failed evaporator fanThis fan circulates cold air from the coils to the fridge. If it’s failed, it’ll need to be replaced by a licensed appliance technician.
  • Faulty start relayA broken start relay can prevent the compressor from supplying refrigerant gas to the freezer.
  • Faulty compressorA broken compressor is a common reason why freezers stop cooling properly.
  • Frost build-upIf the freezer stops cooling but the refrigerator compartment works, it may have frost build-up or clogged venting.
  • Loose door sealsIf the freezer isn’t as cold as it should be, but the refrigerator is working fine, check the freezer’s door seals. 

Other potential causes include:

  • No air circulation
  • The freezer is overpacked
  • The freezer needs to be defrosted
  • The thermostat is broken
  • The internal parts are malfunctioning

If your freezer isn’t as cold as it should be, but your refrigerator is working fine, you may want to take a look at the freezer’s door seals, or gaskets. Due to normal wear and tear, these door gaskets can dry out and start to crack.
If your freezer is not freezing properly but the fridge is still cold, there could be several reasons for this issue. Here are some common troubleshooting steps you can take to identify and potentially resolve the problem:

  1. Check the Thermostat Settings:
    • Make sure that the thermostat settings for both the fridge and freezer are at the correct temperatures. Refer to your appliance’s manual for the recommended settings.
  2. Inspect the Freezer’s Evaporator Coils:
    • Check if the evaporator coils inside the freezer are covered with frost or ice. If so, it could be a sign of a defrost system malfunction. You may need to manually defrost the freezer and investigate further.
  3. Ensure Proper Air Circulation:
    • Ensure that there is proper air circulation inside the freezer. Avoid over-packing the freezer, as this can obstruct airflow and impact the cooling efficiency.
  4. Clean the Condenser Coils:
    • Dirty or dusty condenser coils can reduce the efficiency of the cooling system. Clean the condenser coils located at the back or underneath the fridge.
  5. Check the Freezer Fan:
    • If your freezer has a fan, make sure it is working properly. The fan helps circulate cold air within the freezer. If it’s not working, it may need to be replaced.
  6. Inspect the Door Seal:
    • Check the door seal for any gaps or damage. A faulty door seal can allow warm air to enter the freezer, affecting its ability to maintain a low temperature.
  7. Verify the Defrost Timer:
    • Some freezers have a defrost timer that regulates the defrosting cycles. If the timer is faulty, it can impact the freezer’s performance. Test or replace the defrost timer if necessary.
  8. Test the Temperature Control Thermostat:
    • The temperature control thermostat regulates the power to the compressor. If it’s defective, the freezer may not cool properly. Test the thermostat for continuity and replace it if needed.
  9. Check the Compressor:
    • The compressor is a crucial component in the cooling system. If it’s not working correctly, the freezer won’t cool adequately. Listen for any unusual noises coming from the compressor, and if necessary, seek professional assistance.

If you’ve tried these troubleshooting steps and the issue persists, it may be advisable to consult with a professional appliance repair technician. They can diagnose and address more complex problems with the cooling system of your freezer.

Freezer Not Freezing but the Refrigerator Section is Working. This problem is usually a result of a freon issue. … This means the freezer is not producing enough cold air to freeze the contents of the freezerbut there is enough cold air being made to cool the contents of the refrigerator section.

This problem is usually a result of a freon issue. Basically what is happening here is the evaporator inside the freezer is not completely frosted over.

This means the freezer is not producing enough cold air to freeze the contents of the freezer, but there is enough cold air being made to cool the contents of the refrigerator section.

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Freon Problem – Freezer Cold But Not Freezing 2024

The way you want to check this is easy. You need to remove the back panel inside your freezer so you can check the coils. What you would want to see back here is an evenly frosted over set of coils. What you are probably going to see if you have a freon problem is only a small portion of the coils have frost on them.

You may also see a large ball of ice in one of the upper corners. This is usually the worst-case scenario when it comes to refrigerator repair.

freezer not freezing but the fridge is cold 2024

Compressor Not Running Continuously

Another common issue that causes this is a compressor that cannot run long enough. It may be overheating, have bad relays, or the windings in the motor are shot. This will cause the compressor to only run for a short amount of time.

How do you fix a freezer that is not freezing?

Vacuum the coils under or behind the fridge. Clogged coils can cause poor cooling. Check to make sure nothing is stuck in the condenser fan and that it spins freely (models with coils on the back won’t have a fan). To do this, unplug the fridge and pull it out.

Why is my freezer not freezing ice cream?

Your freezer may fail to cool properly if the air circulation vents inside the freezer compartment are blocked. If you have difficulty locating the vents in your freezer section, refer to your owner’s manual for information. Once you’ve located them, rearrange the food in your freezer to allow airflow in that area.

Can a refrigerator work without the freezer?

The Short Answer

No, you can‘t turn the freezer off and expect your fridge to keep running. In fact, the coldness in the fridge comes from the freezer. They share the condenser and cooling technology, so the freezer must remain on.

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freezer not freezing but the fridge is cold 2024

This allows just enough cooling for the fridge compartment, but not the freezer. If you feel the compressor, it probably feels excessively hot or makes some sort of buzzing and clicking sound.

To fix this problem you are going to have to find out what is causing the compressor to not run long enough. If it’s overheating, this would be caused by the fan down by the compressor not running. This fan needs to operate when the compressor is running. This is what cools the compressor and the condenser when the machine is supposed to be operating normally.

Freezer Cold But Not Freezing

If you’re hearing the buzzing and clicking sound, you will need to check the windings on the compressor. You have three pins on the compressor that the relays connect to.

You need a multimeter to test these pins for continuity. If the pins are testing good, then replace the relay and capacitor on the side of the compressor. It’s possible that they are shot and need to be replaced.

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What to check when your freezer is not freezing but the 2024

Another thing that may cause the freezer to appear not to be working is the ice maker. If your freezer has an ice maker installed and you are not using it, make sure that it is turned off. The ice maker will continue to run through its cycles even if there is not water.

The only problem is that it goes through the cycles much faster. And every cycle it goes through the heater under the icemaker tray comes on. So anything that is close to the icemaker will thaw. Bread will not freeze in this case and your ice cream will stay soft.

I encounter this all the time on the road and the call usually starts with, “My Freezer is not working right.” This also causes a buzzing sound, when it’s trying to get water. This is water valve noise, not to be confused with the buzzing from the compressor.

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Common solutions for: Freezer not freezing 2024

01 – Condenser Coils are Dirty

If the condenser coils are located within the freezer walls, the coils do not require cleaning. However, if the condenser coils can be readily accessed from behind or under the unit, you should clean them every 6-12 months. If the condenser coils are dirty, they won’t be able to dissipate heat effectively, greatly reducing the cooling capacity of the freezer. If the condenser coils are dirty or have not been cleaned in a while, clean them.

2 – Evaporator Fan MotorFreezer Cold But Not Freezing

The evaporator fan motor draws air over the evaporator coils and circulates it throughout the freezer. If the evaporator fan motor is not working, the freezer will not cool. On most refrigerators, the fan motor will not run when the door is open. To check the evaporator fan motor, open the freezer door and then manually activate the freezer door switch. If the door switch is activated, but the evaporator fan motor won’t run, replace the evaporator fan motor.

3 – Start Relay – freezer not freezing but the fridge is cold 2024

The start relay provides power to the compressor. If the start relay isn’t working properly, the compressor may run intermittently or may not run at all. If the compressor won’t run, the freezer will not cool. To determine if the start relay is defective, unplug the freezer and remove the start relay from the compressor. Use a multimeter to test the start relay for continuity between the start and run terminals. If the start relay does not have continuity, or if it smells burnt, replace it.

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4 – The Evaporator Coils are Frosted Over

The most common cause of this condition is a problem with the defrost system. The defrost heater turns on several times throughout the day to melt away any frost that may have accumulated on the freezer evaporator coils. If the defrost heater won’t turn on, frost will continue to accumulate on the evaporator coils, and the coils will eventually frost over. To determine if the defrost heater is at fault, use a multimeter to test the defrost heater for continuity. If the defrost heater does not have continuity, replace it.

5 – Condenser Fan Motor Freezer Cold But Not Freezing

The condenser fan motor draws air through the condenser and over the condenser coils. If the condenser fan motor is not working properly, it won’t draw air through the condenser, causing the refrigerator not to cool. If the condenser fan motor is not running, check the fan blades for obstructions. Next, ensure that the blades spin freely.

If the fan blades do not spin freely, the fan motor bearings are worn out, and the fan motor should be replaced. friends If no obstructions are present and the fan blades spin freely, use a multimeter to test the fan motor for continuity. If the condenser fan motor does not have continuity, replace it.

6 – Main Control Board – freezer not freezing but the fridge is cold 2021

Control boards are often misdiagnosed—before replacing the control board, first check more commonly defective parts. If you have determined that all of the other components are working properly, replace the main control board.

7 – Temperature Control Thermostat Freezer Cold But Not Freezing

The temperature control thermostat directs voltage to the compressor, evaporator fan motor, and condenser fan motor. If the thermostat is not working, the refrigerant system will not get power and the freezer will not cool. To determine if the thermostat is defective, rotate the thermostat from the lowest setting to the highest setting and listen for a “click.” If you hear a click, the thermostat is not likely defective. If you do not hear a click, use a multimeter to test the thermostat for con..

8 – User Control and Display Board

The user control and display board might be defective. However, this is rarely the case. Control boards are often misdiagnosed—before replacing the control and display board, make sure you check more commonly defective parts. If you determine that all of the other components are working properly, replace the user control and display board.

9 – Compressorfreezer not freezing but the fridge is cold 2024

The compressor is a pump which compresses the refrigerant and circulates the refrigerant through the evaporator and condenser coils. If the compressor is not working, the freezer won’t cool. However, this is rarely the case. Before replacing the compressor, first, check all of the more commonly defective parts. If you have determined that all of the other components are working properly, check the compressor. Use a multimeter to test the continuity between the electrical pins on the side of the

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10 – Sealed System Leak Freezer Cold But Not Freezing

If the freezer only freezes the top shelf, there may be a sealed system leak in one of the shelves. Sealed system repairs are usually cost-prohibitive. If the sealed system is leaking, you will probably need to replace the freezer.

lg freezer not working but fridge is fine

If the condenser coils are dirty or have not been cleaned in a while, clean them. The evaporator fan motor draws air over the evaporator coils and circulates it throughout the freezer. If the evaporator fan motor is not working, the freezer will not cool. … If the compressor won’t run, the freezer will not cool.

samsung freezer not working but fridge is

In most cases, the inability of the Samsung fridge to cool is as a result of having excess ice frosting over the evaporating coils as well as the fan. Therefore, one can easily initiate a FORCED DEFROST mode by pressing FREEZER and LIGHTING or ENERGY SAVER and FRIDGE buttons at the same time for 8 seconds.

freezer not freezing ice cream

Your freezer may fail to cool properly if the air circulation vents inside the freezer compartment are blocked. If you have difficulty locating the vents in your freezer section, refer to your owner’s manual for information. Once you’ve located them, rearrange the food in your freezer to allow air flow in that area.

refrigerator and freezer not getting cold

Clogged coils can cause poor cooling. Check to make sure nothing is stuck in the condenser fan and that it spins freely (models with coils on the back won’t have a fan). To do this, unplug the fridge and pull it out. … Plug in the fridge and make sure the fan runs when the compressor is running.

What is section modulus?

chest freezer not freezing bottom

Causes: If your freezer won’t freeze, most likely the condenser coils are dirty which reduces the overall cooling capacity of the freezer. The evaporator fan motor is malfunctioning, and since it’s in charge of circulating the air throughout the freezer, this will need to be resolved, pronto.

freezer not running Freezer Cold But Not Freezing

If your freezer won’t start, you may have a defective start capacitor. This device is used to help energize the compressor start windings until the unit is running. If the capacitor is defective, the compressor might hum but may not start.

top of freezer not freezing

Causes: If your freezer won’t freeze, most likely the condenser coils are dirty which reduces the overall cooling capacity of the freezer. The evaporator fan motor is malfunctioning, and since it’s in charge of circulating the air throughout the freezer, this will need to be resolved, pronto.

chest freezer not freezing

Causes: If your freezer won’t freeze, most likely the condenser coils are dirty which reduces the overall cooling capacity of the freezer. The evaporator fan motor is malfunctioning, and since it’s in charge of circulating the air throughout the freezer, this will need to be resolved, pronto.

freezer not freezing but the fridge is cold 2024

In terms of essential kitchen appliances, nothing comes close to the importance of a freezer. After all, freezers allow you to save money, time, and energy by keeping your favorite foods fresh for long periods of time. Oh, and let’s not forget about ice cream.

This May Also Interest You: How to Deep-Clean Your Freezer

But what happens when that crown prince of kitchen appliances isn’t keeping cold like it should? Before calling in the appliance technician and spending an arm and a leg, you may want to see if you can solve the problem yourself … but not before polishing off that pint of Cherry Garcia.

4 Reasons Your Freezer Isn’t Frozen

Loose Door Seals

If your freezer isn’t as cold as it should be, but your refrigerator is working fine, you may want to take a look at the freezer’s door seals, or gaskets. Due to normal wear and tear, these door gaskets can dry out and start to crack. When this happens, warm air and moisture can slowly leak into the freezer, keeping it from freezing properly, as well as causing frost buildup to occur.

While you might be able to discern the quality of your gaskets simply by taking a close look, sometimes it’s hard to tell. In that case, take a dollar bill and close the freezer door leaving enough of the bill sticking out to pull on. If the dollar bill pulls out easily, the gasket isn’t sealed adequately. Keep in mind that a door gasket can fail in only one spot, and it’ll be enough to keep your freezer from freezing. Be sure to check in multiple spots.

If the gasket is worn in any areas, you’ll need to replace it. Luckily, replacing a door seal is a fairly simple task. Order the door seals from the freezer’s manufacturer and install them according to the instructions on the package. While gasket installation can vary, installing a gasket is typically as simple as sticking the lip of the seal into the corresponding groove in the freezer’s door.

No Air Circulation

Another common reason that your freezer isn’t cold enough is that the unit is overloaded. When a freezer is packed too full, it limits airflow around the unit, causing the evaporator fan to work harder than it should. Left unchecked, the evaporator fan motor can eventually burn out and fail completely. Save yourself the trouble (and cost) of replacing the evaporator fan by making sure your freezer has adequate cold air circulation.

That said, if your evaporator fan motor is failing, you may hear it make a high-pitched sound that comes and goes. In this case, locate the fan in the back of the freezer and make sure there isn’t anything caught in the fan blades. If you don’t notice anything, but the fan is still making the noise, you likely have a dying motor. Because replacing a fan is pretty technical work, it’s probably best to call in a professional if you suspect this might be the issue.

More Related Articles:

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  • Defrosting, Demystified: Here’s How Often You Need to Defrost Your Freezer
  • How to Clean Your Icemaker and Change the Filter
  • Iced Out? Why Your Fridge Is Freezing Over
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Dirty Condenser Coils

If your door gaskets are in good condition and the shelves of your freezer look like Marie Kondo’s, you’ll want to take a good long look at the unit’s condenser coils to make sure they aren’t covered in dust and dirt. Over time, the coils can become covered in debris, causing the condenser fan motor to overwork and eventually stop working. Depending on the brand, the coils are located at the base of the unit, or often behind it. The coils should be covered by a grill that snaps off easily.

To clean the coils, start by unplugging the unit. Then, pull the unit away from the wall and find the condenser coils. They should be fairly easy to spot, as they’re wound U-shaped metal tubes. For best results, use a condenser brush here. They’re designed specifically to clean in between the coil grid. With the brush, take some time to remove as much debris as possible, making sure that you clean even the tightest corners. When you’re done, use a vacuum to clean any debris that has fallen on the floor.

Keep in mind that cleaning condenser coils is part of routine refrigerator and freezer maintenance and should be done once or twice a year to keep your fridge in good working order.

Faulty Start Relay

When your freezer is temperamental — stopping and starting over and over — it could be an indication that your start relay is malfunctioning. Sometimes called the controller, the relay helps turn the compressor on and off when needed, acting as a liaison between the thermostat and the compressor. If the relay is defective, the compressor either won’t turn on, or will turn off prematurely.

To check the relay, unplug the unit and pull it away from the wall, making sure you have enough room to work behind the fridge. Then, use a screwdriver to remove the back panel of your freezer, and then set it aside.

Once the back cover is off, find a large black cylinder on one side of the unit. This is the compressor. The relay is attached to the side of the compressor and may or may not have a plastic cover that will need to be removed.

From there, disconnect the wires from the relay and remove it from the prongs on the compressor. Once removed, take a close look at the relay and check for any burned, charred marks. If you notice any, it probably means that it has shorted and will need to be replaced.