A Kenmore Refrigerator Whose Freezer Would Not Freeze in Pasadena

A Kenmore Freezer That Would Not Stay Frozen in Pasadena

A homeowner in Pasadena called A+ Appliance Repair and Maintenance about a Kenmore single-door refrigerator whose freezer was not freezing. A freezer that will not hold its cold is a real problem, and this one came down to two things that often work together: the defrost system and the condenser coils.

The defrost sensor and why it matters

A freezer makes its cold at an evaporator coil, and because that coil runs below freezing, frost naturally forms on it. To manage that, the refrigerator runs a defrost cycle that periodically melts the frost away so it does not build up and block airflow. The defrost system relies on sensing components, including a defrost sensor, to manage that process correctly, keeping the coil clear and the defrost cycle working as it should.

When the defrost sensor fails, the defrost system can no longer do its job properly. Frost is allowed to build up on the evaporator coil until it becomes a wall of ice that chokes off the airflow the freezer depends on. Once that happens, cold air can no longer circulate, and the freezer warms and stops freezing, even though the unit is still running. A freezer that will not freeze while the refrigerator still runs is a classic sign of a defrost problem, and the defrost sensor was the failed component here.

The condenser coils, too

On top of the defrost issue, the condenser coils needed cleaning. The condenser coils are where the refrigerator sheds the heat it removes, and when they are dirty, the unit cannot reject heat efficiently, which undermines its ability to make cold in the first place. Dirty condenser coils compound a cooling problem: even a healthy defrost system struggles to keep a freezer cold if the unit cannot shed heat properly. Addressing both the defrost sensor and the condenser coils tackles the freezer's problem from both directions, restoring the airflow and the heat rejection the freezer needs.

The repair

Our technician replaced the defrost sensor and cleaned the condenser coils. With a working defrost sensor, the defrost system could once again keep the evaporator coil clear of the ice that had been choking the airflow. With clean condenser coils, the unit could shed heat efficiently again. Together, those restored the freezer's ability to make and circulate cold. Our technician confirmed the freezer was returning to and holding its proper temperature, verifying the freezing was genuinely restored rather than just improved. On a freezer-not-freezing complaint, confirming the freezer actually holds its cold is the measure of a completed repair.

Keeping a freezer freezing

A few habits help a freezer keep its cold. Keep the condenser coils clean, since that is one of the most impactful and most overlooked maintenance items on any refrigerator, and as this repair shows, dirty coils contribute directly to cooling problems. Watch for heavy frost or ice building up inside the freezer, which is a sign the defrost system may not be keeping up. Do not overpack the freezer so tightly that air cannot circulate, and keep the interior vents clear. And if the freezer starts warming while the unit is still running, have it looked at, since that pattern points at the defrost and airflow system.

About A+ Appliance Repair and Maintenance

We service Kenmore, Whirlpool, LG, Samsung, GE, Frigidaire, and every other major refrigerator brand throughout Pasadena and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley. Our technicians are certified and carry common parts, so a defrost repair like this one can usually be diagnosed and completed in a single visit.

We quote the price upfront before any work begins, we waive the service call fee when you move forward with the repair, and every completed repair is backed by our full repair warranty. If your freezer is not freezing while the refrigerator still runs, we can find the cause, whether it is the defrost system, the coils, or both, and restore the cold.