Perhaps you could understand if your whole fridge was not working. But why would your refrigerator be cool while the freezer is warm? There are several contributing factors.
One of the leading causes of a warm freezer (and a cold fridge) is that there’s dirt and ice on the freezer’s motor and operational parts. If they’re dirty or iced up, removing the dirt and ice should allow the freezer to cool down. These parts include condenser coils, evaporator coils, and the evaporator fan motor. Damage to these parts, overfilling, and forgetting to defrost the freezer are also common causes.
But, why would this cause your freezer to be warm and not your refrigerator? And, what can you do about it? Continue reading to understand more about this bizarre mystery.
Blocked or Clogged Vents
It is possible your freezer’s vents are simply blocked by either too much stuff or ice build-up. This may cause your freezer to overwork or overheat.
This won’t always make your fridge overheat or get warm. But, it will usually manifest as puddles and condensation on the walls of your fridge. If you see this, and your freezer is not cooling properly, make sure nothing in the freezer is blocking air vents.
Dirty or Broken Evaporator Coils or Fan
Depending on your model, a warm freezer and cool fridge could mean the evaporator unit is damaged or otherwise disrupted. Some models have only one evaporator unit. In these cases, both your fridge and freezer will suffer when it breaks.
But, some units have a separate evaporator unit for both the freezer and fridge. In these cases, it is possible that your freezer coils are broken or dirty while the fridge’s coils are fine. It could also indicate that the motor fan is broken or dirty as well.
This is one of the most common causes of this strange occurrence. If you notice the freezer is warm while the fridge is cool, check the evaporator unit.
Issues with Your Freezer’s Thermostat
Similar to the evaporator coils, some models have a separate thermostat unit for your fridge and freezer. If you notice your freezer is warm, check to ensure the thermostat is working appropriately.
The best way to verify that your thermostat is working is to turn the temperature down. Wait a minute or two and see if you hear a click as the thermostat adjusts the motor running. If you do not hear this, it is possible the thermostat is broken.
Broken Door Gaskets
This may seem like a trivial issue, but it matters. Is your freezer sealing properly every time you close it? Or, when you close your refrigerator door, does the pressure cause your freezer to crack open?
This means your freezer’s gaskets are broken or no longer working. It could be a tear in the gasket or moldy or dirty gaskets preventing the proper suction.
What To Do If Your Freezer Isn’t Getting Cold (But Your Fridge Is)
Now that you know some of the leading causes of your issue, the question remains, what can you do about it?
The good news is that you may not need to call in an expert. One of the first things you should check is if your freezer is performing its defrost sessions.
Most freezers today are equipped with an auto-defrost setting. In the past, people used to have to shut their freezer off and empty it, allow the ice to melt, and then turn it back on. If you have an older freezer, it’s possible your freezer does not do this automatically.
But, if you have a new model, the freezer should enter this mode automatically during the appropriate cycle. If you notice frost and large chunks of ice building up inside your unit it is probably a fault in this system.
If you’ve ruled this out as the cause of your issues, then it could be any one of the options above. If you’ve tested your thermostat and found it to be faulty, you may need to call for help to have this replaced.
The internal thermostat is essential for the proper function of the whole unit and must be replaced as soon as possible.
But, here are the solutions you can try if facing some of these issues.
Fixing Broken Gaskets or Other Door Issues
The next probable culprit is your freezer door. As we mentioned above, this could be caused by the gaskets being dirty or otherwise damaged.
To clean your gasket follow these instructions:
- Check the edges of the gasket for block spots or moisture
- If you notice build-up, remove the gaskets (check your manual)
- Place your gasket in the sink
- Fill the sink up with soapy hot water and let it soak for 30 minutes
- Meanwhile, ensure the door is held shut with duct tape or other adhesive tape
- After 30 minutes, remove the gasket and dry it with a rag
- Make sure to reach into the crevices of the gasket the best you can
- Follow the manual’s directions to replace it back in the freezer
If you notice while cleaning this gasket any tears along the line of the gasket, you should replace it. These tears are disruptive to the sealing process and can cause your freezer to become warm.
Clean the Vents
If you notice your freezer’s vents are covered in ice or dust, this can cause the freezer to warm up. This is because the vents are essential for filtering the air throughout your unit and keeping it cool.
There is usually a vent in the back of the interior of your freezer which can become caked with ice and dust. To clean this, start by taking a rag and soaking it in hot water with soap. Then, wipe the vent the best you can.
The heat from the water should remove most of the ice and any dirt which may have accumulated. If you notice this does not improve your freezer’s function, you may need to remove the cover.
To remove the cover, use a small screwdriver to remove the screws holding the vent cover on. You may want to use a vacuum cleaner’s hose and suck up some of the dirt and dust from inside. Consult your freezer’s manual for further directions.
If you still notice issues associated with the vent, you may wish to consult an expert. A technician should be able to replace any failing or bad parts.
Check the Evaporator Coils and Fan
The Evaporator coil and fan operate by keeping the air circulating and thus cooling the freezer. It is usually located in the back of your refrigerator unit on the outside.
There is typically a cover over the coils which you can usually remove with a screwdriver. Here you will find the coils and can clean them with a vacuum cleaner. Do not attempt to directly wipe the coils down without checking your manual first.
Some coils may not be strong enough to be wiped directly. Too much pressure can break these coils which will require a mechanic to replace them.
How Long Can You Keep Food In the Freezer When It’s Not Working?
According to the Food and Safety website, the freezer will typically remain frozen for 24-48 hours. This depends on how full your freezer is when it broke or you lost power. A full freezer can remain frozen for up to 48 hours while a half-full freezer will remain frozen for 24 hours.
As a general rule of thumb, you should throw out food after 48 hours of either losing power or your freezer thawing. If you are uncertain how long your freezer has been warm, then you must check the food itself to determine if you should keep it or not.
To determine this, you must base the decision on what type of food you have. First, any food above 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.5 degrees Celsius) should be suspected.
The Food and Safety website has a useful chart to help you decide what to keep and what to throw away. But, as a general rule of thumb, follow these guidelines:
- Meat: 40 degrees or above for 2 hours or more should be thrown away
- Vegetables/Fruits: Keep unless moldy or smells musty
- Bread/Pastries: Keep unless moldy
Meat dishes are the most dangerous to keep. As well as dairy and cheeses since they develop bacteria quickly in temperature shifts.
How Much Does It Cost To Repair a Freezer?
According to Forbes, the average cost for repairs for a freezer is $350.00 in the USA. This varies based on the state and region in which you’re located. This is the national average based on the average combined costs of repairs. The average cost for the cheapest repairs is $60.00 while the most expensive can reach up to $600-700.00 dollars.
In order to make the determination of how much your freezer repairs will cost, first check your warranty. It is possible you are still within the term of the warranty, which often includes repairs on the freezer and fridge.
If you are outside this time frame then you will need to evaluate which part needs repair. If you believe it to be the evaporator coil or motor, it can cost anywhere between $100-$500.00. This depends on the severity of the damage and what parts need to be replaced.
Replacing a broken gasket is usually fairly cheap. It tends to cost between $45-65.00 dollars. But, if there is something more serious about the door (broken hinges or other damage) it can cost more.