Freezer not freezing while the refrigerator side still works fine? That's one of the most common calls we get for freezer repair in Nashville, and it almost always comes down to one part rather than the whole unit failing.
Freezer Not Freezing
When a refrigerator is working but the freezer isn't freezing, the cause is usually a failed evaporator fan motor that's stopped moving cold air through the compartment, or a frosted-over evaporator coil from a defrost heater or thermostat that's quit cycling. A blocked air damper between compartments can cause the same symptom on side-by-side and French-door models. If the freezer is holding cold but the ice has stopped coming or is clumping, that's a different fault, and our ice maker repair page covers it.
Chest Freezer and Deep Freezer Repair
Chest and deep freezers kept in a garage or basement have their own quirks. A torn or hardened door gasket lets warm, humid air in and makes the compressor run longer than it should. In cold garages, low ambient temperature can make a chest freezer short-cycle or read warmer than it actually is, which sometimes turns out to be a defrost thermostat problem rather than a sign the compressor is failing.
Upright Freezer Not Cold Enough
An upright freezer that's running but not cold enough often points to the same evaporator fan or defrost issue as a chest freezer, plus a condenser coil that's collected dust behind or underneath the cabinet. A door gasket that no longer seals tight is also common on older upright models and lets the compressor run constantly trying to keep up.
Before assuming the worst, confirm the unit is plugged in and the breaker hasn't tripped, check that the temperature control hasn't been bumped, and look at the condenser coils for dust buildup. If the compressor hums but won't start, cycles on and off rapidly, or you notice scorch marks or a burning smell, turn the unit off at the breaker and stop there. That's a call, not a DIY fix.
This comes up across Davidson County and Middle Tennessee, from an older upright tucked in a basement laundry room to a chest freezer out in the garage of a newer Smyrna or Mount Juliet build. Storm season power flickers can also trip a freezer's control board or reset a defrost cycle, which sometimes looks like a bigger failure than it is. If the freezer is dead and the breaker keeps tripping, see appliance power problems.
If the freezer has quit and there's food in it, keep the door shut. USDA food-safety guidance is that a full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours with the door closed, and a half-full one for about 24 hours. Put a thermometer inside: food that still has ice crystals, or that reads 40°F or below, can be refrozen. If the reading is climbing, call us at (615) 412-2497 rather than waiting it out.
Whether an older freezer is worth repairing depends on the age of the compressor, what the failed part costs, and whether the sealed system is involved. We explain what we find and what the repair involves before any work starts, so you know what you're approving. If your freezer isn't freezing or isn't holding temperature, call (615) 412-2497 to talk through what you're seeing, and see refrigerator repair if the fridge side is acting up too.
Technician insight
A chest freezer in an unheated garage or basement often looks like it's failing on a cold January morning when it's really just running through a normal defrost cycle. Confirming it's actually cycling, rather than just reading the thermometer once, saves a lot of guessing.
A common call
A common call in Nashville homes with an older upright freezer: the top shelf stays frosted while the rest of the cabinet runs warm. That pattern usually points to a blocked evaporator coil from a defrost heater that's stopped working, not the compressor.
Freezer Repair Services We Offer
✓Compressor and Start Relay Repair
We test amperage draw and relay continuity first, then replace the start relay or compressor when the unit won't cool.
✓Defrost System Repair
A failed defrost thermostat, heater, or timer causes frost buildup on the evaporator coil; we test the full defrost circuit to restore the cycle.
✓Evaporator Fan Replacement
A noisy or stopped evaporator fan raises cabinet temperature even with the compressor running; we replace the motor and check blade balance.
✓Control Board Replacement
Board and inverter faults are isolated with a multimeter and confirmed against the symptom before a replacement board is ordered.
✓Door Seal and Gasket Replacement
A torn or hardened gasket lets warm air in; we measure the exact profile and fit a new seal, including custom sizes on older chest and upright models.
✓Drain and Defrost Heater Service
A clogged drain or failed defrost heater leads to standing water or ice buildup; cleaning and heater replacement address the cause.
How it works
- 1
On-Site Diagnosis
We test the compressor circuit, evaporator fan, and defrost components on site, then explain what we found before any repair is quoted.
- 2
Component Isolation
The relay, fan, thermostat, and board are each checked individually so only the part that actually failed gets quoted.
- 3
Repair Execution
We recover refrigerant properly if the sealed system needs to be opened, replace the faulty component, and reassemble with new gaskets where needed.
- 4
Performance Check
The freezer runs through a full cycle while we confirm it's holding temperature before we consider the job finished.
Pricing
What a freezer repair costs depends on which part failed and whether the sealed system is involved. We explain what we found and what the repair involves before any work begins, so you know what you're approving.