Freezer Repairs: Troubleshoot, Fix and Prevent Common Problems

A freezer works quietly in the background until something goes wrong, and then you have food at risk. Most freezer problems fall into three groups: noise, ice and temperature. This guide explains what is behind each one, what you can safely check, and when it's time to call an engineer.

Strange noises

Freezers hum, click and gurgle as part of normal running. What matters is a new noise, or one that has become louder.

• Rattling or vibrating: usually the freezer is not level, or it is touching a wall or unit. Adjust the feet and check nothing is touching the back.
• Buzzing or grinding from inside: often a fan catching on ice or a loose item. Check the freezer is not overfilled and that nothing is blocking the fan cover.
• A loud, constant hum or clicking from the back: may be a struggling compressor or relay, and needs an engineer.

Safe to check: move the freezer slightly, check it is level, and make sure nothing is vibrating against it.

Too much ice

A thin coat of frost is normal in a non-frost-free freezer, but heavy ice build-up is a sign something is letting moist air in or isn't defrosting.

• A door seal that isn't closing. Check the rubber for splits or gaps. Close the door on a strip of paper: if it slides out easily, the seal is not gripping.
• The door left open or opened often. Each opening lets in warm air, which freezes as frost.
• A defrost fault in a frost-free freezer. If ice keeps building up even though the door is sealing, the defrost system may be faulty.

Safe to do: in a non-frost-free freezer, switch it off, move the food to a cool place and let it defrost fully, then wipe it dry before switching back on. Don't chip at the ice with a knife, because it is easy to puncture the cooling system.

Not cold enough, or warm and cold in turns

Freezers should hold -18°C or colder. If food is going soft, or the temperature swings, check:

• The temperature dial, in case it has been knocked.
• Airflow. An overstuffed freezer, or one pushed hard against a wall, can't circulate air. Leave a gap around the back and sides.
• The door seal and how often the door is opened.
• Dust on the condenser coils (on many models, at the back or underneath). Switch off and unplug, then vacuum gently.
• The room temperature. A freezer in a hot room, or an unheated garage in winter, can struggle.

If none of those explain it, the thermostat, a fan or the compressor may be at fault. That is for an engineer.

Preventing problems

• Defrost non-frost-free freezers once or twice a year, and wipe the seal clean.
• Don't put warm food straight in. Let it cool first.
• Keep it reasonably full, but not packed so tightly that air can't move.
• Vacuum dust from the back or underneath every six months or so, with the freezer unplugged.
• Check the door closes properly every time. A door left slightly ajar is a common cause of ice and warm food.

When to call a professional

Call us if the freezer isn't holding temperature after the checks above, makes a loud or worsening noise, keeps icing up, or has stopped working altogether. Our engineers repair freezers, fridge freezers and under-counter units of all makes across Caerphilly and the surrounding valleys. Repairs start from £70 + VAT and are guaranteed for 90 days. See our fridge freezer repair page, or read what to do if your freezer isn't freezing.

Frequently asked questions