Most refrigerator calls are a warm fridge with a working freezer. The reverse, a freezer that will not freeze while the fresh-food section stays cold, is less common and points to a shorter list of causes.
Here is how the two compartments share cold air, what fails when the freezer goes soft, and the checks you can do safely before a technician arrives.
How the freezer and fridge share cold
On most refrigerators there is one evaporator coil, in the freezer. A fan blows air across it and a damper sends part of that air to the fresh-food section. If the freezer is warm but the fridge is fine, the cold is being made but is not staying in the freezer, or the thermostat is calling for the wrong thing.
The usual causes
- Freezer door not sealing. A gasket that is torn, hardened or held open by a package lets warm, moist air in. Frost on the packages and around the door is the giveaway.
- Evaporator fan failing. If the fan runs slowly or stops, the coil gets very cold but the air does not move. Fridge side can still feel cold for a while.
- Defrost system iced over. A failed defrost heater, thermostat or timer lets frost build up until the coil is a block of ice and can no longer cool air efficiently.
- Thermostat, thermistor or control fault. The control reads the wrong temperature and cycles the compressor off early.
- Low refrigerant or compressor problem. The coil never gets cold enough. This usually affects both compartments eventually and is a technician-only diagnosis.
Checks you can do safely
- Make sure nothing inside is holding the freezer door open, and check the gasket for gaps with a sheet of paper.
- Clear the vents inside the freezer and check that the freezer is not packed so tightly that air cannot move.
- Set the freezer control to the recommended zero degrees Fahrenheit and give it 24 hours.
- Listen for the evaporator fan running when the doors are closed (press the door switch). Silence means a fan problem.
When to call a technician
Call when the gasket is fine, the vents are clear and the freezer is still soft after a day, or when you see heavy frost on the back wall of the freezer. Fans, defrost parts and thermostats are routine repairs on a refrigerator of almost any age.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we hear most about this problem.
Is my food safe if the freezer is at 20 degrees?
Food that has partly thawed but still has ice crystals can usually be refrozen. Anything that has reached refrigerator temperature for more than a couple of hours should be used or discarded.
Why is there frost on the back wall of my freezer?
That is the evaporator coil icing over, which points to a defrost problem or a door seal letting moist air in.
How much does this repair cost?
Fans, defrost heaters and thermostats are modest repairs. Our $75 diagnostic fee covers the inspection and diagnosis and is applied toward the approved repair.
Related services
Need a hand with it? Alliance Appliance Services diagnoses first and explains the repair before any work starts. Call (571) 303-8548 or request a repair online. We serve Springfield, Alexandria, Fairfax, Arlington and the surrounding Northern Virginia communities.