My freezer is running but not freezing. What causes that?

A soft freezer shares most of its causes with a fridge that will not cool: a control board or inverter board not driving the compressor, a failed start capacitor and relay, a dead evaporator fan, or a defrost fault icing over the coil. The one extra possibility is a refrigerant leak in the sealed system, where there is no refrigerant left to make cold. We confirm whether the compressor is running, check the fan and coil, and only test for a leak when the symptoms point there.

How is repair pricing determined?

Because the cause sets the cost. Repair pricing is provided in a written estimate after the on-site diagnosis. We diagnose first so you get the exact number in writing, not a guess, before any work starts.

Is a sealed-system repair worth it?

It depends on what you own. A sealed-system rebuild only makes sense on a unit worth keeping. Sub-Zero, GE, and Monogram are built to be serviced, parts are available, and we back full sealed-system work with a 2-year repair warranty, so on those it is usually worth it. On a cheap unit the math can swing toward replace. We tell you straight which side you are on before we touch anything.

Are you local, and how fast can you come out?

We are based in San Ramon and run appliance calls across the Tri-Valley and the East Bay every day. Call (925) 999-4095 with the model and what the freezer is doing. Our dispatcher will confirm the next available appointment window based on the current route.

REFRIGERATOR

Refrigerator not freezing? We fix it.

A freezer that has gone soft, where things are thawing and the ice cream will not set, shares most of its causes with a fridge that will not cool, plus one more serious possibility. The same boards, fans, and defrost system have to work, and on top of that the sealed system has to be holding refrigerant. We diagnose first so you know exactly which of these you are dealing with before any number is quoted.

The diagnostic visit is $99 and we credit it toward the repair. You get the exact part and labor in writing before any work starts.

$99 diagnostic, credited toward the repair
Written quote before work
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Why this happens

What we look for first.

Control board not powering the compressor. The control board tells the compressor to run. No compressor means no cold, so the freezer slowly comes up to room temperature while everything thaws. We meter for output at the compressor circuit and confirm the board is the dead link before replacing it. Repair pricing is provided in a written estimate after the on-site diagnosis.
Inverter board failure. On a variable-speed compressor the inverter board runs the show, taking the control signal and driving the compressor at the right speed. When it fails, freezing stops. We test for the drive output and check the compressor windings before we replace the board. Repair pricing is provided in a written estimate after the on-site diagnosis.
Failed capacitor and start relay. The start capacitor and relay kick the compressor on each cycle, and they fail more often than the compressor itself. They are the cheaper end of the repair. The tell is a compressor that clicks and shuts off on its overload, or will not start at all. We meter both and confirm the compressor is good before replacing them, since these are the inexpensive parts to rule out first.
Dead evaporator fan. The evaporator fan moves cold air off the coil into the freezer. When the motor dies, the coil gets cold but the air never moves into the freezer, so the compartment warms even though the system is making cold. We pull the back panel, check the fan for power and free rotation, and replace the motor when it has failed.
Defrost fault trapping the cold in the coil. When the defrost system quits, frost builds on the evaporator until it blocks airflow, and the cold stays trapped in the coil instead of reaching the compartment. From the front it looks like a freezer that will not freeze. We look behind the back panel for a frost block and test the defrost heater and thermostat. Common, and very fixable.
Loss of refrigerant in the sealed system. This is the one that sets a soft freezer apart from a fan or board problem. If the sealed system is leaking, there is no refrigerant left to make cold, and the compressor runs constantly without ever pulling the temperature down. This is the top-end repair and it is EPA-regulated work, which we are licensed for under EPA #1279674151528. We isolate the leak, repair it, evacuate, and recharge. A full sealed-system rebuild carries a 2-year repair warranty.

How we diagnose and fix it

The walk-in workflow.

01
Pull the model and serial and confirm whether the compressor is running, since that splits a board or start-component problem from everything else.
02
Look behind the freezer back panel for a frost-blocked evaporator coil, which points at a defrost fault.
03
Check the evaporator fan for power and free rotation so a stalled fan is not mistaken for a refrigerant problem.
04
Meter the start capacitor, start relay, and compressor windings to separate a cheap start failure from the compressor itself.
05
If the compressor runs continuously but the box never pulls down, test the sealed system for a refrigerant leak before quoting that work.
06
Once the failed part or the leak is confirmed, quote the exact repair and labor in writing before we start.

Pricing and warranty

What it costs. What we stand behind.

$99

Diagnostic visit. Credited toward the repair when you book the work with us.
Typical

Repair pricing is provided in a written estimate after the $99 on-site diagnosis, which is credited toward the repair.
Warranty

You get a parts and labor warranty in writing before we start: from 3 months to 2 years depending on the type of repair. Standard repairs carry 3 months on parts and labor, inverter boards 1 year, and a full sealed-system rebuild 2 years. We put the part, the price, and the labor on the quote before we touch the machine, so you know exactly what is covered.

Before you call

Is your fridge worth repairing?

Repair price depends on what failed and how the unit is built. If your refrigerator cost under $1,000 new, the repair math may not work. We diagnose the unit on site and provide the written repair estimate before any work starts.

Premium built-ins in the Sub-Zero, Monogram, and Thermador class are designed to be serviced. We diagnose the fault and help you compare the written repair estimate with replacement.

Two free checks before you call: vacuum the condenser coils, and run the dollar-bill test on the door seal by closing the fridge on a bill and seeing how easily it slides out. If the power blinked recently, give the compressor a full day before deciding it is dead. If the fridge really is done, put that money toward the next one instead. Our other trade is heating and cooling, and a replacement assessment visit for an A/C, furnace, or heat pump is free.

FAQ

Refrigerator questions.

My freezer is running but not freezing. What causes that?

A soft freezer shares most of its causes with a fridge that will not cool: a control board or inverter board not driving the compressor, a failed start capacitor and relay, a dead evaporator fan, or a defrost fault icing over the coil. The one extra possibility is a refrigerant leak in the sealed system, where there is no refrigerant left to make cold. We confirm whether the compressor is running, check the fan and coil, and only test for a leak when the symptoms point there.
How is repair pricing determined?

Because the cause sets the cost. Repair pricing is provided in a written estimate after the on-site diagnosis. We diagnose first so you get the exact number in writing, not a guess, before any work starts.
Is a sealed-system repair worth it?

It depends on what you own. A sealed-system rebuild only makes sense on a unit worth keeping. Sub-Zero, GE, and Monogram are built to be serviced, parts are available, and we back full sealed-system work with a 2-year repair warranty, so on those it is usually worth it. On a cheap unit the math can swing toward replace. We tell you straight which side you are on before we touch anything.
Are you local, and how fast can you come out?

We are based in San Ramon and run appliance calls across the Tri-Valley and the East Bay every day. Call (925) 999-4095 with the model and what the freezer is doing. Our dispatcher will confirm the next available appointment window based on the current route.

Same appliance

Other refrigerator symptoms we cover.

Ready to book the call?

Tell us the model and the symptom. We will quote it.