In-home repair
Freezer repair in Miami: upright, chest and built-in freezer drawers
A freezer that stops holding 0°F does not ruin the food at once, but the clock is running. We repair upright, chest and built-in freezers in your home; below is what to do with the food meanwhile.
- EPA 608 certified technicians
- Family-owned
- Up to 6-month workmanship warranty
Upright, chest and built-in: three different machines
An upright freezer is usually frost-free: a fan moves air over a hidden evaporator, and a defrost heater clears the frost on a cycle. When the fan or the defrost system fails, the freezer warms up even though the compressor keeps running.
A chest freezer is usually manual-defrost. The evaporator runs inside the inner walls and the condenser inside the outer ones, so frost builds on the inside and the outer sides feel warm. Warm sides are normal. Frost thicker than about a quarter inch is worth defrosting, because it insulates the food from the cold.
What usually fails
On frost-free models: the evaporator fan and the defrost parts, meaning the heater, the thermostat or sensor, and the timer or control board. Frost on the back panel and soft ice cream are the classic signs.
On every type: door and lid gaskets, hinges that let a door sag, and the start relay on the compressor. A worn gasket lets humid air in, and that moisture turns into frost around the opening and on the packages.
Less often, the sealed system itself: a refrigerant leak or a compressor that runs without moving heat. That work is done by EPA 608 certified technicians.
Garage freezers in South Florida
Plenty of freezers here live in the garage, and a closed Florida garage in August is far hotter than any kitchen. Models labeled garage-ready are built for that range; many others are not, and in summer they run almost nonstop and still struggle to hold 0°F.
Leave space around the unit for air, keep its coils and vents free of dust, and keep it out of direct sun.
What it is doing, and what that usually means
Freezer runs but doesn't freeze
On frost-free models, usually the evaporator fan or a defrost failure. On any type it can also be the condenser fan, the start relay or, less often, a refrigerant leak.
Frost on the back panel
A failed defrost part: the heater, the defrost thermostat, a sensor or the defrost control.
Ice and frost around the door
A worn gasket, a sagging door, or a drawer or lid that is not closing all the way.
Water on the floor under an upright
Usually the defrost drain or the drain pan underneath: a blockage, a crack or a pan out of place.
Loud buzzing or rattling
A fan blade hitting ice, a failing fan motor or a worn compressor mount.
What to do with the food while you wait
Keep the door or lid shut. USDA guidance: a full freezer holds a safe temperature for about 48 hours with the door closed, a half-full one for about 24.
- Move what you can to another freezer, or to coolers packed with ice.
- Dry ice helps too. Handle it with gloves and keep the room ventilated.
- Food that still has ice crystals, or has stayed at 40°F or below, can be refrozen, though some quality may be lost.
- When in doubt, throw it out. Never taste food to check it.
Freezer drawers and built-in columns
Built-in freezer drawers fail in their own way. A drawer that does not close fully, because of an overfilled basket or a worn slide, lets in air until the evaporator ices over. The fix can be as small as a gasket or a slide, or as big as a coil that needs a full defrost and a check of the defrost parts.
Built-in freezer columns and drawers from brands such as Sub-Zero, Thermador, Liebherr and U-Line are among the appliances we repair, along with upright and chest freezers from everyday brands.
More from Appliance Repair Doctors
Parts, warranty and the people who come out
The people who come out are background-checked technicians from a family-owned company with 15+ years of repair experience. Parts are genuine OEM, the work is insured, and each repair is backed by a workmanship warranty of up to 6 months.
Common questions
Asked about freezer repair
How cold should a freezer be?
Can I defrost a frost-free freezer myself?
Should I unplug a freezer that isn't cooling?
Is it worth repairing an older freezer?
Book a technician
Tell us the type of freezer, the brand and what it is doing, and keep the door shut in the meantime. Dispatch will call back with a realistic arrival window.
Name, phone and the appliance are enough. Dispatch calls back, and we agree on a realistic arrival window rather than promise one we can't keep.
(786) 807-3854