Why is There Frost in my Freezer?

Reasons for Frost Build-Up in Freezer

After seeing a collection of ice and frost in your freezer, it can be frustrating to wonder why is my freezer frosting up. Let’s look at some of the most common reasons why frost builds up in your freezer.

Faulty seal

The seal or gasket in a freezer is designed to prevent air exchange from the cold appliance and your home. Warm air may slowly seep into the freezer compartment over several weeks if this seal is not tight, eventually causing a buildup of frost on the freezer’s surfaces. To fix this issue, try:

• Cleaning the seal. If the seal is compromised with dirt, pet fur, or grime on it, it may not completely seal the compartment.
• Inspecting the gasket. If this part is loose or damaged, it could be the culprit why your freezer is frosting up excessively.

Defrost system is malfunctioning

If any aspect of the defrost system is not working, such as a faulty timer or thermostat, this could cause unexpected frost build up in a freezer. To fix this issue, try:

• Seeking repair. Inspection by a local appliance repair company may be best to determine whether the defrost system needs repair.
• Checking the defrost timer. The freezer may need to run in defrost mode at certain times. Review the freezer’s user guide to help with this process.

Humid air entering freezer

Every time you open your freezer door, the warm, humid air from your home is entering the freezer’s compartment with its sub-freezing temperatures. The moisture in the humid air then causes icy frost to build up on the surfaces inside the freezer. To fix this issue, try:

• Avoiding opening the door unnecessarily. Before opening the door, try to figure out first what you need. Freezer frost can build up significantly more quickly even from just keeping the door open several seconds longer than necessary per day.
• Making sure the door closes each time. If your freezer door is slightly ajar, it can cause frost to form.

Storing hot food

The freezer’s surfaces can frost up when you place packages of hot food inside. Any warm, moist air released into the freezer from the food could adhere to a surface and create an icy frost. To fix this issue, try:

• Wiping off excess moisture. If some of the frozen items have moisture on the outside from partially defrosting, wipe this water away before placing the items in the freezer.
• Cooling food before freezing. Before placing hot food in the freezer, allow it to cool in the refrigerator beforehand.

Fluctuations in freezer temperature

The temperature inside your home freezer should generally be around -17°C. You may see quick frost build up in a freezer if temperatures fluctuate often inside the compartment, or if they are consistently warmer than the manufacturer’s recommendation. To fix this issue, try:

• Calling for repairs. If you are wondering why the fridge is not cold but the freezer is one day, but the following day, the opposite problem occurs, or the thermostat is not holding the temperature correctly, contact your local refrigerator repair company.
• Setting and measuring the temperature. Ensure your freezer remains at a constant temperature by setting the freezer’s thermostat to -17°C and using a thermometer to measure it occasionally.

Freezer is too close to the wall

Freezers and refrigerators can only operate efficiently when they have free space around them for air circulation. The freezer’s compressor can’t properly dissipate heat without enough clearance and air movement. This can lead to frost build up in a freezer because the compartment is failing to keep a consistent temperature.

To fix this issue, we advise leaving a couple of inches between the wall and the back of the freezer to allow for adequate airflow. Also, make sure there’s a gap between the sides and top of the appliance and any cabinets. The more available free space for air circulation, the more efficient the compressor will run.

Freezer sits too close to other appliances

Avoid placing the freezer too close to any other kitchen appliance that is designed to heat items, such as an oven or a dishwasher. The freezer’s compressor may not dissipate heat the way it needs to if the heat of these other types of appliances is affecting the freezer’s operation in the room. You will likely notice significant freezer frost building up inside if the compressor is not working efficiently.

If your freezer is setup in a basement or garage, avoid proximity to heat-generating appliances commonly found in these areas, like a furnace, water heater, washer, dryer, or wood-burning stove.

Evaporator Fan not working 

If the freezer’s evaporator fan becomes riddled with ice or it breaks down, this prevents the fan blades from turning properly and can lead to uneven temperatures inside the appliance’s compartment. To fix this issue, try:

• Calling for repairs. If the fan isn’t spinning properly, replacing it is a great option. Contact your local freezer repair company for help.
• Checking the fan for ice. You can locatethe fan behind a panel on the interior of the freezer. Clean off any ice from the blades to see if that resolves the problem.

Not enough food in freezer 

Your freezer can more easily maintain a consistent temperature when it’s relatively full. Temperatures rarely fluctuate with already-frozen items taking up most of the space inside the freezer compartment. There is also less room for warm air from the house to enter the appliance by having a full freezer. The best configuration for how to prevent ice buildup in a freezer is to leave about an inch of free space between the exterior walls and ceiling of the freezer and any food stored in the compartment.

Freezer is too close to windows 

A freezer located near a window could lead to operational issues that create extra frost inside the compartment. The exterior of the appliance can heat up if sunlight coming through the window directly strikes the freezer for a few hours each day. This can result in a buildup of frost because the freezer’s compressor will struggle to dissipate heat properly.

Additionally, poor insulated windows can allow cold air to seep indoors near the freezer during winter. This can potentially increase the frost inside the appliance due to uneven compressor performance.