You have heard your freezer running for hours, though you know it should’ve stopped by now. While it may be easy to ignore, you should take a closer look. Throughout this article, we will go through common problems that could cause your freezer to run continuously and ways to fix it. Possibly its the condenser motor, the temperature control thermostat or the evaporator fan motor. Before you decide to call for freezer repair, go through the following list of the four more common problems that cause a freezer to constantly run.
Gasket
If your freezer won’t stop running and temperatures are not being maintained correctly, it could be due to a faulty door or lid gasket. The gasket is the rubber lining that goes around the door and the opening of the freezer. The gasket is used to create a tight seal that contains the cold air within the freezer. If your gasket is leaking or has cracks, it will cause frost to buildup on the evaporator, which makes the compressor run constantly.
This is the easiest issue to assess. Check the gasket for any damage by placing your hand around the closed freezer and feel for any escaping air. If there are areas where frost buildup is more prevalent, this can be an indicator of where there are cracks or leaks. If there are any cracks, you will need to replace the gasket. To keep the gasket in good shape, it should be cleaned frequently.
Replacing a gasket is quite easy to do on your own and just requires putting the new gasket in the same way you took the old one out, but if you are unsure you can call a freezer repair service for assistance.
Temperature Control Thermostat
A common problem that causes freezers to run for too long, is the thermostat not working properly, also known as the temperature control. The thermostat is a rotary dial with a capillary tube and bulb sensor connected to the inner liners of the freezer. The internal electrical contacts in the thermostat that power the compressor circuit are prone to welding or sticking closed.
To identify if the thermostat is defective, turn the thermostat from the lowest setting to the highest and listen for a “click.” If you hear a click, the thermostat is more than likely not the problem. However, if you do not hear a click and the contact inside your thermostat doesn’t open, then your thermostat is more than likely defective. If they are defective you will need to replace the thermostat. If you are unsure how to replace the temperature control thermostat yourself, you may have to call a freezer repair service for assistance.
Defrost Timer
If your freezer doesn’t have any frost and isn’t cold enough, yet constantly running, it could be an issue with the defrost timer.
Defrost timers turns on the defrost heater several times throughout the day to melt any frost that accumulates on the freezer evaporator coils. If the timer isn’t turning on, the frost will build up and the frost coils will frost over, causing the compressor to run constantly.
To determine if your defrost timer is defective, turn the timer slowly until the timer clicks, causing the compressor and fans to shut off. Manually advance the timer to attempt to prompt the defrost cycle as a way to test if the timer is working properly. If the evaporator coils defrost as they should, the timer is the problem and should be replaced. If you are unsure how to replace the defrost timer, you will have to call a freezer repair service for assistance.
Defrost Thermostat
If there is no frost within your freezer, it never gets cold enough and it is constantly running, there may be a problem with your defrost thermostat. The defrost heaters circuit keeps the evaporator coil from frosting over.
If your defrost thermostat is working properly it should allow the heater circuit to work during the defrost cycle, the defrost thermostat then signals the circuit to end the defrost cycle after the frost has been melted. If your defrost thermostat is defective, your defrost heater will not turn on and the evaporator coils will frost over. To see if your defrost thermostat is faulty, use a multimeter to test the thermostat for continuity. If your defrost timer doesn’t have continuity, it must be replaced. For those unsure of how to replace the defrost thermostat, you can always call a freezer repair service for assistance.
If you have gone through all of these steps and are still unable to assess or fix the problem, it may be time to call an appliance repair company to have your freezer repaired.
If you are in need freezer repair in Barrie, Express Appliance Repair is the company to call. We have been doing appliance repair for the past 25 years and we can fix any appliance brand and model, and we also offer same-day services. Contact us today at (705) 481-0683 for any freezer repair needs.