My Freezer is Frosting Up

An overly-frosty freezer is a longer-term problem for most people, causing issues such as unreliable temperatures and damaged food items. Luckily, it shouldn't be too difficult to fix.

Failed Seal

The most common reason for a freezer to frost up is a failed seal, which will need replacing. A failed seal will have holes and rips in it, possibly quite small.

Frost Build Up

If your freezer is too full, it may also result in a build-up of frost. In this case, simply remove some of the food inside your freezer to stop the frost build-up.

Almost all modern refrigerators are frost-free. Older refrigerators may need regular defrosting even when nothing's wrong. You shouldn't let frost get more than 3mm thick.

Thermostat

A modern, frost-free refrigerator frosting up could indicate a problem with the thermostat or defrost mechanism. If the problem is with the thermostat, you should try adjusting it to see if a different setting works better. If the problem is with the defrost mechanism, you will need to replace it.

Clearing the Freezer Safely

Once you've fixed the root cause of the problem, you still need to clear out the fridge and remove the frost.

Never use sharp implements when you're clearing ice from a freezer, as it will invalidate the warranty and may cause serious damage. Instead, defrost slowly and carefully with a container to catch the water in. Use warm water if you need to speed the process up.

Powdered ice is what we're usually discussing when we talk about frosting up. If you find solid ice in your freezer, it's likely that your freezer has a leak somewhere.