Have you ever decided to have a movie night while enjoying cold and tasty ice cream, only to pull out a tub of soft ice cream from your freezer? Pretty frustrating, isn’t it?
Well, if your freezer is not freezing ice cream, you may have a problem bigger than just melted ice cream. It may be a sign of a failing freezer component.
In this guide, we’ll help you diagnose your freezer’s problem and give some tips on how to fix it.
The freezer’s environment is too hot or too cold
Each manufacturer specifies a recommended surrounding temperature for their appliances. Generally, most freezers should not be placed in a room where the temperature is lower than 0°F or higher than 110°F.
If the temperature around the condenser is too hot, it may not be able to cool down the freezer. It can also start working much longer than necessary, causing overheating.
On the other hand, if the temperature is too cold, it may cause the freezer to defrost.
This is usually the problem for freezers placed in garages, cellars, and sheds.
How to Fix It
Move the freezer to a room with a more controlled temperature. The kitchen is one of the best places to put the freezer as it rarely gets too cold or too hot.
The thermostat setting is incorrect
Check if you have the temperature in the right setting. For ice creams to stay frozen, make sure your thermostat is set anywhere between -5°F and 0°F.
How to Fix It
If not set correctly, slowly turn the knob or dial to the right condition. Check the ice cream again after 24 hours to see if it has melted.
The freezer is too empty or too full
It’s a common misconception that food will freeze immediately if there’s less food in the freezer. An underloaded freezer can be just as bad as an overloaded freezer.
If there’s too little food in the freezer, there’s also more room for warm air to enter and for cold air to escape. The food inside won’t be enough to keep in the cold whenever you open the door, unlike a full freezer.
However, if there’s too much food in the freezer, air vents may get blocked, which can cause the ice cream to melt.
How to Fix It
It’s suggested that ¾ of the freezer’s capacity is stocked to fully maximize its function. If you don’t have much food to put, fill up containers with water and put them in the freezer.
If your freezer is packed, remove some items and rearrange everything in such a way that the vents won’t be blocked.
The freezer seal is loose
Freezers have a door seal that helps keep cold air inside. A loose door gasket can let warm air in, which can make it hard for the freezer to stabilize the temperature inside.
To check if your freezer seal is loose, get any sheet of paper that you have. Close the freezer door on the sheet of paper and see if it slides down.
If the paper stays in place, try pulling it out to see if it comes out. If the paper comes out or slides down, then your seal might be broken.
How to Fix It
Buy a gasket and replace the one on your door. Try the paper test again after replacement to make sure that it’s intact.
There’s too much frost in your freezer
If your freezer doesn’t have an auto-defrost function, check if it already has too much ice buildup. This may cause the vents and coils to malfunction and make it hard for cold air to flow inside.
If you can already see ice crystals in your freezer and its walls are covered in ice, then it’s time to defrost.
How to Fix It
Disconnect the freezer from the power source and wait for all the ice to melt.
The condenser coils are dirty
Dirty condenser coils trap the heat and reduce the freezer’s cooling capacity. Hence, it can be one of the primary reasons why your ice cream is not freezing.
Pull your freezer from the wall and check the condenser that’s usually located at the back or under it. If you can see a pile of dust and barely see the coil’s structure, it’s time for a cleaning.
How to Fix It
Vacuum off as much dust as you can from the condenser coils, then use a condenser brush to reach areas that your vacuum can’t. After brushing off all the areas of the condenser, use the vacuum again to remove the remaining specks of dust.
Clean the coils at least once a year to make sure that your freezer is performing in optimal condition.
The evaporator fan is not functioning
If the evaporator fan is not functioning, the temperature inside the freezer will rise, causing ice cream to melt. It can also cause the compressor to overheat, as it will try to compensate for the rising temperature.
To check if the evaporator fan is working, put your hand on the freezer and see if you can feel cold air. If you can’t, then there’s probably a problem with your evaporator fan.
Another way to check is by pressing the switch by your fridge door. If you hear the fan motor working, then your evaporator fan is probably working just fine.
Additionally, if you hear a chirping sound from the fridge, it may be an indication that the evaporator fan is having a problem.
How to Fix It
Detach the fan from the fridge to see if it needs replacing or just simple cleaning.
There are coils below the fan motor. Check if these coils are frozen because they may be the problem, not the fan.
If they’re not frozen, then the reason why your ice cream is not freezing is probably the fan.
Remove any dirt you’ll find on the fan or anything that may block the blades from turning. Place the fan back in the freezer and see if it will work.
If the fan still doesn’t work, then you need to buy a replacement.
The start relay is not working properly
The start relay helps the compressor start. Even if your compressor is not broken, but the start relay is not functioning, then the compressor won’t work, and your ice cream won’t freeze.
How to Fix It
If everything we’ve mentioned before is not the reason behind your freezer not freezing properly, and you suspect that your freezer’s start relay is the problem, then it’s better to call a professional to get it fixed.
Trying to remove and inspect the start relay on your own may cause more damage to the freezer, so just trust the ones with experience.
Your compressor is broken
The compressor is the component that’s primarily responsible for freezing ice cream or any other food you place in your freezer. If it’s broken, then your freezer won’t be able to maintain cold air inside.
Your compressor might be failing if you can hear loud noises from the freezer, if the freezer is not cooling properly, or if your voltage is too high.
How to Fix It
If you suspect that your compressor is malfunctioning, then it’s time to call a professional technician. Don’t try to fix it yourself if you don’t have experience repairing freezers to avoid any more possible damage.