Why is my freezer not freezing?

Wondering what's going on in there?

How your freezer stays cold, in plain English

A freezer doesn't make cold. It moves heat out of the box and into the room.

Each number matches a step below.

Cold coils. Inside, often behind a back wall, are very cold coils. Pros call them the evaporator.
The fan. In most fridge freezers, a small fan blows air over those coils and around the food. Food piled against the vents slows it down.
The compressor and outer coils. The compressor pumps the cooling liquid, called refrigerant. The heat leaves through coils at the bottom or back, the condenser coils, often with a second fan.
The door seal. A rubber seal keeps the cold in and warm, damp air out.

Frost: Whirlpool says most modern freezers defrost on their own. Chest freezers and some uprights need you to defrost them by hand.

So a freezer that won't freeze is usually stuck at one of these:

Where it sits or how it's set: a cold garage, a warm setting, or a fresh load.
Cold getting out or blocked: the door seal, or food over the vents.
Frost: ice on the walls, or a defrost part that failed.
Heat not getting out: dusty coils, a stopped fan, or the compressor.

The questions at the top check these in the same order. Fridge side warm too? See our guide to a refrigerator that's not cooling.

Who to call

Rather not do it yourself? Call an appliance repair tech.

That's a fine choice. Maybe you're busy. Maybe you're selling the house and just want it done right. An appliance repair tech can find out why it isn't freezing and fix it.

$120–$400New fan or defrost part

$200–$1,000New compressor

Most repair companies charge $60–$150 to come out, and many put that toward the repair.

Find refrigerator repair near you

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What to say

Calling a pro? Here's what to say.

A few lines to read when they pick up, and the questions to ask before anyone comes out.

Before you call

Under a year old? Call the maker first.

Store protection plan? Call them first.

4.5 stars or more, and works on your brand.

Say this

Hi. My freezer isn't freezing. When's the soonest you can get here? And what's your fee for the visit? Does it go toward the repair?

Always ask

What's your fee to come out, and does it go toward the repair?
Do you work on my brand, and can you bring the likely part on the first visit?
Will you tell me the full price before you start any work?

Watch out if

They push a brand-new appliance on the first visit for a small problem.
They won't give you a price before starting.
They want you to pay for parts before they've found the problem.

Feeling pushed to decide on the spot? You can say no and hang up. You owe nothing for a phone call.

Know what's wrong before they come

Answer up to 5 quick questions. We'll give you the words a pro uses.

Answer the questions →

More of a list person?

Common symptoms, causes, tests and costs

Find the row that sounds like your freezer. The quick test is something you can check yourself in a few minutes.

What you notice	What it probably is	Quick test	Do it yourself	With a pro	Verdict
In a garage or porch; worse in cold weather	It's too cold where it sits	Check how cold the room gets	Free	Not needed	FIXSee the answer: It's too cold where it sits
Dial set warm	The setting is off	Look at the setting	Free	Not needed	FIXSee the answer: The setting is off
Just plugged in, or just loaded with food	It just needs time	Wait 24 hours	Free	Not needed	FIXSee the answer: It just needs time
Dollar bill slides out easily; seal torn or loose	The door isn't sealing	Do the dollar-bill test	Free	$60–$300	FIXSee the answer: The door isn't sealing
Food against the vents or fan cover	Packed too full, blocking the cold air	Look for food blocking the vents	Free	Not needed	FIXSee the answer: Packed too full, blocking the cold air
Thick ice on the walls	Too much ice: it needs defrosting	Look for ice more than ¼ inch thick	Free	Not needed	FIXSee the answer: Too much ice: it needs defrosting
Thick frost on the back wall of a frost-free freezer	Frost buildup: a defrost problem	Look at the back wall inside	Pro job	$120–$400	CALLSee the answer: Frost buildup: a defrost problem
No fan sound or air inside a fridge's freezer	The freezer fan stopped	Listen for the fan behind the back wall	Pro job	$120–$400	CALLSee the answer: The freezer fan stopped
Coils thick with dust	Dusty coils	Pull off the bottom grille and look at the coils	$0–$60	$60–$130	FIXSee the answer: Dusty coils
Coils clean; the fan by them doesn't spin while it hums	The coil fan stopped	Watch the fan near the coils while it hums	Pro job	$120–$350	CALLSee the answer: The coil fan stopped
Coils clean, fans run, but it runs nonstop or clicks on and off	The compressor, or a refrigerant leak	Listen: nonstop running, or clicking every few minutes	Pro job	$100–$1,200	CALLSee the answer: The compressor, or a refrigerant leak

2026 U.S. averages, rounded. Pro prices include parts and labor. Most repair companies charge $60–$150 to come out, and many put that toward the repair. Nights, weekends and big cities cost more. See all repair prices

Want proof it's really too warm?

The thermometer test

The dial tells you the setting, not the real temperature. This tells you how cold it really is.

Put a freezer thermometer in the middle of the freezer.
Keep the door shut for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
Read it as soon as you open the door.

0°F or colder: it's working. Whirlpool and Frigidaire both say 0°F.
Warmer than 0°F: take the questions at the top.

Not sure it's safe to keep running?

Unplug it, or call a pro right away, if…

You smell burning, or see smoke.
The outlet or plug feels hot.
It's leaking oil or an oily film near the coils.
The breaker trips again after one reset.

About your food: FoodSafety.gov says a full freezer holds a safe temperature about 48 hours, or 24 if half full, with the door shut. Food with ice crystals, or at 40°F or colder, can be refrozen. Meat, poultry and seafood above 40°F for over 2 hours should go. When in doubt, throw it out.

Got a big repair quote?

Should you repair it or replace it?

Many freezer fixes are free: a setting, the door seal, defrosting or the coils. Fan and defrost repairs run about $120–$400. A compressor runs about $200–$1,000. Ask yourself three things:

How old is it? The date is on the model sticker inside.
Is it under warranty? Many compressors have longer coverage than the rest of the appliance.
The half rule. If the repair costs more than half the price of a new freezer, get a replacement price too.

Example: a $200 fan motor on a 5-year-old freezer is worth doing. A $1,000 compressor on an old chest freezer is worth comparing with a new one.

Ran into a word you don't know?

Freezer words, explained

Tap through these before you go looking. The drawings show roughly what each part looks like.

Chest freezer: A freezer that opens from the top, like a big box.
Upright freezer: A freezer that looks like a fridge, but is all freezer.
Freezer thermometer: A small thermometer that shows the real temperature inside.
Door seal (gasket): The rubber strip around the door that keeps the cold in.
Manual defrost: A freezer you defrost by hand when ice builds up. Many chest freezers work this way.
Frost-free (auto defrost): A freezer that melts its own frost with a small heater.
Evaporator fan: The fan inside, behind the back wall, that blows cold air around the food.
Condenser coils: Coils at the bottom or back that let heat out into the room.
Condenser fan: A small fan near the coils that blows the heat away.
Compressor: The pump that moves the refrigerant. It hums when it runs.
Refrigerant: The cooling liquid sealed inside the coils.
Garage Mode: A setting on some garage-ready fridges for cold rooms.

Still have questions?

Questions people ask most

Why is my freezer not freezing, but the fridge is cold?

A freezer that won't freeze while the fridge stays cold often has a stopped freezer fan, frost blocking the air, or food packed against the vents. Check the setting and the door seal first. The questions at the top go in that order.

Is a freezer that won't freeze an emergency?

A freezer that won't freeze is usually not a safety emergency, but it's urgent for your food. Keep the door closed, and move food to another freezer or a cooler with ice if it's thawing. Unplug it and call if you smell burning or the plug feels hot.

What temperature should my freezer be?

A freezer should be at 0°F, according to Whirlpool and Frigidaire. A freezer thermometer tells you the real temperature, not just the dial setting.

Why is my garage freezer not freezing?

A garage freezer may stop freezing because most are made for indoor rooms. Frigidaire says not to put theirs where it drops below 55°F. Check your manual for the coldest room it's rated for, or use Garage Mode if it has one.

How long will food last if my freezer stops working?

FoodSafety.gov says a full freezer holds a safe temperature about 48 hours, or 24 if half full, with the door shut. Food with ice crystals, or at 40°F or colder, can be refrozen.

How often should I defrost my freezer?

Defrost a freezer at least once a year, or when the ice is more than ¼ inch thick, Whirlpool says. Most modern freezers do it on their own.

Who do I call for a freezer that won't freeze?

Call an appliance repair tech who works on refrigerators and freezers. If it's still under warranty, call the maker first. The free checks at the top, like the setting, the door seal and the coils, are worth doing before anyone comes out.

How much does it cost to fix a freezer that won't freeze?

Fixing a freezer that won't freeze often costs nothing, if it's the setting, the door seal, the coils or defrosting. A fan or defrost repair runs about $120–$400. A compressor runs about $200–$1,000.

How we built this

The questions follow the order an appliance tech checks a freezer that won't freeze: where it sits, the setting, the door and packing, frost and the inside fan, then the coils and the compressor. Each answer makes some causes more likely and others less likely.

Prices are 2026 national averages from published repair-cost guides, rounded. Your local prices will differ.

How we make money: some links go to parts stores that pay us a small commission, and some pro listings pay us when you call them. Verdicts come from the diagnosis, not from who pays more.