What to Do When Your Freezer Stops Freezing: A Step-by-Step Guide

Finding a puddle of water under your freezer or discovering that your ice cream has turned into a milkshake is every homeowner’s nightmare. A freezer that stops freezing can ruin hundreds of dollars in food and leave you scrambling. The good news? In many cases, you can troubleshoot the problem yourself before calling in the pros. In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through the most common reasons your freezer isn’t staying cold and exactly what to do about it—step by step.

At SkyBreezeTech, we’ve been repairing refrigerators and freezers for Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, Odessa, Shady Hills, Hudson, Dade City, and the surrounding areas for years. We see these issues every single day, so you’re getting advice straight from the technicians who fix them.

1. First Things First: Is It Really Not Freezing?

Before you panic, double-check a few basics:

• Touch the items inside. Are they completely soft or just slightly thawed?
• Check the temperature with a freezer thermometer (ideal is 0°F or −18°C).
• Look for frost buildup on the back wall of an upright freezer or on the evaporator coils in a chest freezer.

Sometimes the freezer feels “warm” but is actually still at 10–15°F—cold enough to save most food if you act quickly.

2. Check the Simple Stuff (90% of “No Freeze” Calls Start Here)

Power Issues

• Is the freezer plugged in securely? Outlets in garages and basements often get bumped.
• Test the outlet with another appliance or a voltage tester.
• If you have a GFCI outlet (common in garages), press the reset button.

Door Seal Problems

A bad door gasket is the #1 reason freezers lose cold air.

• Do the dollar-bill test: Close a dollar bill in the door. If you can pull it out easily, the seal is weak.
• Clean the gasket with warm soapy water and a toothbrush. Dirt prevents a tight seal.
• Look for tears or warping. Replacement gaskets are inexpensive and easy to install yourself in most cases.

Overloading or Blocked Airflow

• Don’t pack food tight against the walls or vents. Freezers need air circulation.
• Leave at least 2–3 inches of space at the back and sides if it’s a built-in model.

3. Listen to Your Freezer – What Sounds Do You Hear?

• Nothing at all → Likely power or control board issue.
• Constant running with no cold → Possible refrigerant leak or compressor problem.
• Clicking every few minutes → Start relay or compressor failing (common on older units).
• Loud humming or buzzing → Dirty condenser coils or failing evaporator fan.

4. Clean the Condenser Coils (The Fix That Works More Often Than You Think)

Dirty coils are the silent killer of freezers. Most people never clean them, and when they get clogged with dust, pet hair, and grease, the freezer has to work twice as hard—and eventually gives up.

How to Clean Them:

1. Unplug the freezer.
2. Locate the coils (either behind the unit or underneath behind a kick plate).
3. Use a vacuum with a brush attachment or a coil cleaning brush (about $10 at any hardware store).
4. Gently remove dust bunnies. Be careful not to bend the fins.
5. Plug it back in and wait 4–6 hours to see if temperature drops.

We can’t tell you how many service calls SkyBreezeTech has made in Wesley Chapel where a 10-minute coil cleaning saved the customer a $400+ repair bill.

Related: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet for Appliance Error Codes (Fridge, Washer, Dryer)

5. Defrost Issues (Especially on Older or Manual-Defrost Models)

Too much frost buildup blocks airflow and prevents proper cooling.

Signs of Excessive Frost:

• Thick layer of ice on the walls or ceiling.
• Food near the front is thawed but back items are still frozen.

How to Fix It:

• Unplug and fully defrost (yes, the old towels-and-hairdryer method).
• Leave the door open for 8–24 hours with fans blowing in.
• Once dry, plug it back in. Many freezers return to normal after a proper defrost.

Pro tip: If you have a no-frost (frost-free) model and still see heavy ice, the defrost timer, heater, or thermostat has likely failed.

6. Check the Evaporator Fan

Open the freezer door and listen. You should hear a fan running when the compressor is on.

• No fan sound → The fan motor may be dead (common failure on Whirlpool, GE, and Frigidaire models).
• Fan running but no cold air → Possible evaporator coils completely iced over (defrost system failure).

7. Thermostat or Temperature Control Problems

Older freezers have a mechanical thermostat dial. Newer ones have electronic controls.

Quick Tests:

• Turn the dial to a colder setting and listen for the compressor to kick on.
• If the compressor never starts, the control may be bad.
• On digital models, look for error codes (Samsung = blinking bars, LG = Er FF, etc.).

Related: What to Do When Your Freezer Stops Freezing: A Step-by-Step Guide

8. When It’s Time to Call a Professional

Some problems are DIY-friendly; others are not. Call SkyBreezeTech right away if you notice:

• Hissing or gurgling sounds (possible refrigerant leak).
• Compressor is hot to the touch but not running.
• Burning plastic smell.
• The back of the freezer is hot (sealed system issue).
• You’ve tried the basics and temperature is still above 20°F after 24 hours.

We stock the most common parts for Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, GE, Frigidaire, Maytag, and Kenmore right on our trucks, so most repairs in Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, Odessa, and surrounding areas are completed the same day.

9. How to Save Your Food While Waiting for Repair

• Don’t open the door more than absolutely necessary. A full freezer stays cold for 48 hours if unopened; half-full only 24 hours.
• Move food to a neighbor’s freezer or buy dry ice (about $1–$2 per pound at most grocery stores in Wesley Chapel).
• Use coolers with ice if it’s just a few hours.

10. Prevention Tips So This Doesn’t Happen Again

1. Clean condenser coils every 6 months (set a calendar reminder!).
2. Leave space around the unit for airflow.
3. Vacuum the door gasket monthly.
4. Don’t overload—air needs to circulate.
5. Consider a surge protector, especially in storm-prone Florida.

Final Thoughts

A freezer that stops freezing is stressful, but most of the time it’s caused by something simple: dirty coils, a bad seal, or power fluctuation. Follow the steps above in order, and you’ll solve the majority of problems yourself.

If you’ve gone through the checklist and still need help, SkyBreezeTech is just a phone call away. We proudly serve Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, Odessa, Shady Hills, Hudson, Dade City, and all of Pasco and north Hillsborough counties. Same-day appointments are available in most cases, and we always give honest upfront pricing before we start any work.

Don’t let a warm freezer ruin hundreds of dollars in groceries—give us a call at (813) 123-4567 or book online at skybreezetech.com. We’ll have you back to rock-hard ice cream in no time.

Stay cool, The SkyBreezeTech Team