Refrigerators & freezers
Freezer not cold enough
Ice cream that turns soft, or frozen food that is thawing at the edges. The cause is different for a top-and-bottom fridge-freezer than for a standalone chest or upright freezer.
- Proudly CanadianOttawa-based team
- BBB accreditedRepairWell, our operator
- 15+ yearsin appliance repair
- Insured technicianslicensed for gas work
- Satisfaction guaranteed90-day warranty on replaced parts
- Free diagnosticwhen you go ahead with the repair
Safe checks before you book
- Target temperature. A freezer should hold about −18 °C. Put a thermometer between two frozen items and read it after a few hours.
- Door and lid seal. Close the door on a sheet of paper. If it slides out easily anywhere around the edge, the gasket is not sealing.
- Frost pattern. Heavy frost on the back panel of a frost-free freezer points to a defrost fault. Thick ice on the walls of a manual-defrost chest freezer just needs defrosting.
- Room and clearance. Freezers in an unheated garage or a hot utility room can struggle. Give the back and sides the clearance the manual asks for.
Unplug first. Switch off power (and close the water or gas supply where it applies) before looking behind or inside an appliance. If anything feels unsafe, stop and call.
What usually causes it
| Evaporator fan | In frost-free freezers, a stopped fan leaves the cold trapped at the coil. |
|---|---|
| Defrost system | Same story as fridges: the coil ices over and air stops moving. |
| Start relay or compressor | A compressor that hums and clicks off without running often has a failed start component, which is much cheaper than the compressor itself. |
| Refrigerant leak | Chest freezers with a slow leak lose cooling gradually. A certified refrigeration technician handles any refrigerant work. |
When to stop and call
Food is thawing. Keep the door shut, move what you can to another freezer or coolers, and book as urgent.
What the visit costs
The diagnostic is free when you approve the repair and it's completed. You get the cause, the parts, labour and total in writing before any work. If you don't go ahead, it's $89 + tax for a home electric appliance, or $149 + tax for a gas appliance.