Don’t you hate it when your freezer won’t freeze your food properly? If this has happened to you, you may have a problem with either your freezer’s evaporator coils or the condenser. This is not only inconvenient for you and your family, but either problem can mean spoiled food and lost grocery money. Read on for a quick rundown of what you need to do to fix the problem.

Evaporator Coils

Poor cooling can be the result of a heavy frost buildup on your refrigerator’s evaporator coils. These coils cannot be seen without removing the panel on the inside of your freezer, which must be done by a professional. However, if you see any frost or ice on the inside walls, floor or ceiling of the freezer, your coils may simply be frozen. This can indicate a problem with the self-defrosting system or damaged door gaskets. Your freezer should self-defrost approximately four times in every 24-hour period.

If a part of the self-defrosting system fails, then the freezer will continually try to cool. This results in frost buildup on the evaporator coils and may ultimately cause a circulating fan failure. Your freezer may still feel cold inside (because the coils are iced over), but with no air flow over the coils, the freezer can’t maintain its appropriate temperature.

Test Your Self-Defrosting System

To determine whether your problem is indeed the self-defrosting system, start by removing all the food from the refrigerator and freezer. Next, turn the thermostat to the off position, then leave the doors open for 24 to 48 hours. Have a few old towels at the ready, in case the melting frost and ice cause your drip pan to overflow. Once you have completed this manual defrost process, set the thermostat back to its normal setting. If the unit returns to proper cooling, you can safely assume that you have a problem with your self-defrosting system.

Faulty Freezer Condenser

Self-defrosting refrigerators utilize a set of coils and a cooling fan that is normally found underneath the unit. These must be cleaned regularly, and kept free of blockages and debris in order to avoid any problems. If these coils become coated with dust, dirt, lint or pet hair, the refrigerator may fail to cool properly. If you look under the kick panel and see a radiator-type device made of thin, black coils, you’ve found it. To clean the coils, unplug the refrigerator and use a condenser cleaning brush (found at your local appliance store) and your vacuum to remove any debris or buildup. You may have to pull the unit away from the wall to access the coils from all sides.

If you’re in the North Salt Lake area, contact Complete Appliance Repair for repairs and periodic maintenance of all your household appliances. Regular maintenance can help prevent unexpected appliance failure and eliminate the inconvenience and unexpected cost that can result. Contact Complete Appliance Repair the next time you discover that your freezer isn’t freezing your food properly.