Freezer Repairin Dallas, TX
Stand-alone freezers often live in a garage or utility room, so a problem can go unnoticed until food starts to soften. We repair upright, chest and built-in column freezers in Dallas-area homes. If your freezer is part of a refrigerator, see refrigerator repair.
While you wait: Keep the freezer closed. A full, closed freezer holds temperature much longer than a half-empty one.
Common freezer problems we fix
1. It runs, but food is softening
- Usual causes
- A dusty condenser, a condenser fan that has stopped, weak compressor start parts, or low refrigerant. In a hot garage the unit may also be working outside the temperature range it was built for.
- What we check
- Condenser airflow, the start components, cabinet temperature, and the conditions where the freezer sits.
2. It runs nonstop and never cycles off
- Usual causes
- Warm air leaking past a worn door or lid seal, a dirty condenser, a failing thermostat or sensor, or a very hot location.
- What we check
- The seal all the way around, the condenser, and the thermostat or temperature sensor.
3. Frost on the back wall of an upright freezer
- Usual causes
- On frost-free uprights, a failed defrost heater, defrost thermostat or defrost timer or control lets frost build up on the coil.
- What we check
- Each defrost component and the drain that carries melt water away.
4. A thick band of ice around a chest freezer lid
- Usual causes
- A worn or torn lid gasket, a lid that no longer sits flat, or hinges out of adjustment. Manual-defrost chests also need defrosting from time to time.
- What we check
- Gasket contact all the way around and the lid hinges.
5. It won't run at all
- Usual causes
- Garage outlets are often GFCI outlets, and a tripped one cuts power without any sign on the freezer. Other causes are the cord, the thermostat or the compressor start parts.
- What we check
- Power at the outlet, the thermostat, and the start components.
6. Water on the floor around it
- Usual causes
- A blocked defrost drain or a cracked drain pan on frost-free models.
- What we check
- The drain path and drain pan.
Safe things to check first
- If it's on a garage or outdoor outlet, press the outlet's reset button and see if the freezer starts.
- Leave a few inches of clearance around the back and sides so the condenser can shed heat.
- Close the door or lid on a sheet of paper. If it slides out easily, the seal isn't holding at that spot.
If none of these fix it, call us before taking anything apart.
Types we work on
- Upright frost-free and manual-defrost
- Chest freezers
- Built-in column freezers
- Garage-ready models
What to have ready when you call
Brand and model number
On uprights, inside on a side wall or the ceiling of the cabinet. On chest freezers, on the back or side of the outer cabinet, or on the underside of the lid.
What it's doing, and since when
Noises, smells, leaks, or when in the cycle the problem starts.
Any error code
Write it down exactly as the display shows it.
Repair or replace?
Defrost parts, thermostats, fans and gaskets are reasonable repairs on most freezers.
A small, inexpensive chest freezer with a sealed-system failure is often cheaper to replace. Built-in column freezers are almost always worth repairing. We'll tell you what failed and let you weigh the options.
Freezer repair questions
My garage freezer quit in the summer. Is it broken?
Not always. Texas garages can get far hotter than a standard freezer is designed for, and it may run nonstop without keeping up. Check the manual for its rated room temperature range, then call us if it's within range and still warm.
The freezer won't turn on. What should I check first?
The outlet. Garage and utility-room outlets are often GFCI outlets that trip quietly; press the reset button. If there's power and it still won't run, have it checked.
How long will food stay frozen?
The USDA says a full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours if the door stays closed, and a half-full one for about 24 hours.
Do you repair chest freezers?
Yes, along with uprights and built-in column freezers.
Related services
Need your freezer looked at? Call or send a request.
Tell us what it's doing and the model number if you have it, and we'll set up a visit.