How to fix ice build-up in your freezer?

Have you noticed that your freezer has been taken over by ice so much so that you are struggling to fit your groceries and frozen produce into the appliance itself? Well if this situation feels all too familiar and you are wondering why your freezer is building up ice, it can be fairly simple fix depending on the issue.

Ice buildup in your freezer should not be ignored and can start to become a serious issue which can cause your freezer to become too hot which could lead to health risks such as your food going off and spreading harmful bacteria around your freezer.

Knowing how to fix a freezer that has excess ice buildup inside can be fairly difficult however there are some common faults and reasons why this is probably happening. Throughout this article, we will provide you with five of the most common reasons your freezer is building up ice and tips on how to repair and fix these issues.

If you require a new freezer for your home in Southend-on-Sea or Chelmsford, here at Sale Appliances we offer affordable and high-quality freezers from high-end brands such as Bosch, Indesit and more. Call us on 01702300010 today.

5 reasons why your freezer is building up ice

There are some common reasons as to why your freezer will start to build up ice and cause you issues. As an experienced appliance retailer and appliance repair specialist, we have many years of experience in fixing and repairing different types of freezers.

Over the years, we have noticed that there are typically five common reasons to why your freezer is building up ice. This includes the following issues:

1. Your freezer is overpacked

2. The freezer door seal is broken

3. Your freezer is not level

4. Your freezer temperature is too high

5. Your freezer is open too often

1. Your freezer is overpacked

One of the most common reasons why your freezer is having excessive ice buildup is due to the fact that your freezer is overpacked. If you have recently bought a large bulk of groceries and stuffed them all into your freezer, it can lead to problems and ice buildup.

If your freezer is fully packed out, it can lead to minimal air being able to circulate around the freezer. This leads to moisture building up inside the appliance and turning into ice. The longer your freezer is overpacked, the more ice that will form and build up.

In order to fix this issue, you will need to defrost your freezer completely and moving forward ensure that you do not overpack your freezer. As a rule of thumb always leave some space so that air can easily flow around your freezer.

2. The freezer door seal is broken

Another cause that leads to ice buildup in your freezer is a broken door seal also known as a gasket seal. The gasket is the rubber seal around your freezer door which is used to provide a suction which keeps the cool air inside the freezer.

If the seal becomes damaged, this can lead to your freezer door letting cold air escape and warm air enter your freezer. When your freezer warms up and more warm air enters the freezer, this can lead to more ice and frost build-up within your freezer.

The buildup of this frost and ice will make it more difficult for your freezer to stay cold and will cause the compressor to continue to work harder. This can lead to your freezer breaking down quicker than usual.

To fix this issue, first, defrost your freezer and then replace the damaged gasket seal around your freezer with a new one. This should fix the issue and ensure your freezer door closes properly.

3. Your freezer is not level

If your freezer is not level, this can lead to ice buildup on the inside of your freezer. It is one of those simple and easy-to-fix aspects which you may overlook when it comes to attempting to diagnose the issues that are occurring with your freezer.

If your freezer is not level, this can mean that the freezer door is also not level meaning the door won't seal properly leading to hot air getting into your freezer and cold air escaping your freezer. As mentioned previously this is a recipe for disaster as this will cause more ice to build up inside your freezer.

Therefore, if you notice that your freezer is not level, you should look to fix this. Simply unplug your freezer, pull it out and place a level on top of it. Next, get to adjusting each of the different legs at the bottom of the freezer and twist them until everything is balanced and level. You may also need to slightly adjust the freezer door in order to make sure it is in line.

4. Your freezer temperature is too high

Sometimes if the temperature of your freezer is set to be too high, it can lead to excessive ice buildup inside your freezer. The optimal temperature your freezer should be set to is around -18 to -22 degrees Celsius.

Occasionally what can happen is when you pull out an item from the freezer it can knock the temperature dial leading to the temperature changing. This means that if your freezer is set to higher than the optimal temperatures it can lead to more moisture building up within the inside of your freezer. This leads to ice buildup inside.

To fix this, simply check the temperature and change it to the optimal temperature so that this doesn't happen.

5. Your freezer is open too often

Another reason your freezer has lots of ice inside of it, is the fact that your freezer door may be open too often. At one point or another, we have all left the freezer door open for a long period of time whether that be by accident or purposefully.

However, each time you leave your freezer door open for a bit of time, it can lead to warm air entering the appliance and cold air escaping. This will lead to the temperature slowly increasing inside your freezer and therefore causing ice to form.

In order to avoid this issue, always ensure that your freezer door is shut and that it isn't left open for any longer than it needs to be.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you should now have a clear idea on what the most common issues lead to your freezer becoming a frozen mess. When it comes to fixing your freezer that has too much ice built up inside of it, always make sure you defrost the freezer first so that your freezer wont have any excess frost inside once you have fixed the issue.

If you are unsure how to fix your freezer and require appliance repair in the Southend-on-Sea or Chelmsford area, we also offer a comprehensive and reliable freezer repair service.

In addition to this, if your old freezer is beyond repair, we also stock a wide selection of the leading refrigeration brands such as Hotpoint, Iceking, Bosch, Indesit and many more. With fast delivery across Southend-on-Sea and Chelmsford, we can deliver and install your new fridge as quickly as possible.

If you are interested in a new freezer for your home, please speak to a member of the team on 01702300010 or visit our showroom in Westcliff-on-Sea or check out Chelmsford appliances..