Troubleshooting a Chest Freezer That Doesn't Work

An open chest freezer.
  • 2 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 0-50

A chest freezer is great for storing additional food that may not fit in your fridge freezer. If your chest freezer stops working, it's important to be able to troubleshoot it quickly so that food waste is kept to a minimum. Keep the following tips in mind if your chest freezer stops working.

Step 1 - Check the Electricity

If your chest freezer doesn't seem to be working at all, check the outlet the freezer is plugged into. Unplug the chest freezer from the wall and plug something else in such as a lamp or digital clock. If the new appliance doesn't work either, you know the problem is with your outlet and not your freezer.

If the appliance does work, you will need to refer to other troubleshooting methods. Check that you don't have a blown circuit breaker at the main breaker box and if the outlet is GFCI, try the reset button.

Step 2 - Inspect the Relay

The relay is a component that helps power the compressor. It is housed in a plastic box with the motor terminals and the overload protector and is connected to the Compressor; the relay is the largest component in the box.

Closely inspect the relay and make sure it is not burned out. The relay can also be tested using a multimeter. If you see any signs the relay has shorted out, you will need to replace it. If the relay makes a rattling sound when shaken, this is also a sign that it has shorted out.

Step 3 - Examine the Compressor

The compressor is essential to the performance of your chest freezer. It is the motor that powers the entire cooling system and if your freezer has ceased to work, you need to check it. This unit is located at the back of the freezer and sits in plastic housing; it can be identified by its football shape.

You can tell that the compressor is broken if your relay is fine or if you hear a light hum followed by a clicking sound and silence. If your freezer is relatively new, it might still be under warranty and you could get a replacement compressor for free. If not, your compressor will need to be replaced by a professional.

Step 4 - Investigate the Thermostat

The fact that your chest freezer is not working could be down to the thermostat. This is the unit that regulates the temperature inside the freezer. To test your thermostat, remove the access panel on the side of the freezer. Next, use a screwdriver to remove the actual thermostat from the inside wall but do not disconnect the tube that runs from the unit into the freezer.

Set the range scale on Rx1 on your multimeter to test for continuity. If your multi-tester reads continuity, your freezer problem lies in another spot. If your multi-tester does not read continuity, it means your thermostat is not working and you will need to replace it.

Remove the tube from the old thermostat and attach it to the new one. Screw the new unit into place on the freezer wall and make sure the tube is not coiled or kinked as this will prevent the new thermostat from working properly.

Troubleshooting a chest freezer that doesn't work is easy with this guide. Hopefully, your fix is just as easy.