KitchenAid Freezer Not Freezing [How to Fix]

Wondering how to fix the problem of a KitchenAid freezer not freezing? You have come to the right place.

KitchenAid Refrigerator Not Cooling or Freezing – Solutions

The following are parts of the refrigerator to check if your KitchenAid refrigerator is not cooling or freezing:

1. Condenser Fan Motor

Turn the blades of the condenser fan with your hand to know if the motor is faulty. If they don’t turn freely, the fan motor is bad. But if the blades turn freely and there is nothing obstructing them, check the continuity of the motor using a multimeter. If there is no continuity, replace the fan motor.

The condenser fan is responsible for pulling air through the coils and taking it over the compressor. If the motor of the fan is not working, the refrigerator will not get cold.

2. Condenser Coils

Dirty condenser coils will not be able to efficiently dissipate the heat in the refrigerant as it passes through them. This, in turn, will make the refrigerator unable to remain cold or even freeze anything.
Therefore, clean the coils especially if you have never cleaned them before. Repeat the cleaning once every 6 or 12 months.

3. Start Relay

Check the continuity of the start relay by testing it with a multimeter between its start and run terminals. If you don’t find continuity, then the start relay is bad and must be replaced. Additionally, if there is burnt smell coming from the relay, replace it.

The compressor is unlikely to run or could run but not consistently if the start relay is faulty. And if the compressor doesn’t run, the refrigerator will not cool. Therefore, replace it as soon as possible.

4. Evaporator Fan Motor

Try to spin the blades of the fan by hand to see if they spin well. If they don’t, replace the fan motor because it is an indication that it is bad. However, if the blades spin well, test the windings of the fan motor to check for continuity. No continuity in the windings indicates that the fan motor needs to be replaced.

The evaporator fan is responsible for circulating cold air in the refrigerator after drawing it over the coils. If the motor of the fan is defective, there will be cold air in the unit, causing it not to cool.

5. Thermistor

With a multimeter, test the thermistor of the refrigerator. You should see the resistance of the thermistor changing just as the temperature of the refrigerator is changing. If this happens, the thermistor is working fine. But if the resistance doesn’t change and there is no continuity, the thermistor is defective and needs a replacement.

The control board is able to regulate power to the evaporator fan and compressor by depending on the reading of the air temperature sent by the thermistor. So if the thermistor is not working, the board can’t regulate power accurately and the fan and the compressor won’t run as needed. Consequently, the refrigerator will not cool.

6. Start Capacitor

To know if the start capacitor of the refrigerator, found on the compressor, is working, test it with a multimeter to check for continuity. If there is no continuity, replace the capacitor.
Without the start capacitor, it is likely that the compressor will run at short intervals or not run at all.

7. Temperature Control Thermostat

Move the thermostat from the lowest point to the highest point and wait to hear a click. If it clicks, then the thermostat is working fine and is not a problem. But if the thermostat doesn’t click, test it for continuity using a multimeter. If you don’t find continuity in the thermostat at any temperature setting, replace the thermostat.

This video shows you how to replace a temperature control thermostat yourself…

Also, check the compressor, the main control board or the temperature control board if every other part checks out fine. Hardly are these 3 parts ever the cause of a freezing problem. But they can still become defective.

Following these steps will help you solve the problem of a KitchenAid refrigerator not cooling or freezing, no matter the model of the KitchenAid refrigerator – side-by-side, 3-door French door, 4-door French door, top freezer, bottom drawer freezer and all other types.

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KitchenAid Freezer Not Freezing – What to Do

If you find that you have a problem of a KitchenAid freezer not freezing, check the following:

1. Recent Installation?

A recently installed freezer will need 24 hours, at the least, to reach the right temperature. So if your KitchenAid freezer is not freezing, give it time and see if it cools enough.

If it doesn’t, then check to see if the door is closing well. Ensure that nothing is keeping the door even slightly ajar. Rearrange the freezer contents so that the door can close properly.

2. Too Much Food?

If you put too much food in the freezer at the same time, it will affect the speed at which it freezes. Also, if you put hot food in the freezer, it will take a longer time to cool than if you put cold food.

Reduce the amount of food in the freezer if it is too much. This is to help the cold air circulate better and get the freezer to cool faster. And allow hot food to cool before storing it in the freezer.

3. Obstructed Air Vents?

Obstructed air vents will affect the amount of cold air that flows in and out of the unit. And if the cold air doesn’t circulate, the freezer will not get cold, let alone freeze. therefore, if you find that your KitchenAid freezer is not freezing, ensure that no item is blocking the vents so that air can flow freely. And don’t keep food items that are sensitive to temperature so close to the air vents.

4. Room Too Hot?

Check the temperature of the room where the freezer is located to see if it is too hot. Also, check to see if the freezer is too close to a heat source or is getting hit directly by sunlight. If any of these is the case, relocate the freezer. This is because the temperature in the room will affect the cooling ability of the freezer. Constant heat will keep the freezer from freezing.

5. Temperature Set Right?

For normal use in the house, the temperature control is set to mid-setting. This setting should cool food and drinks. However, if you need the freezer to be cooler, you can adjust it but give the unit at least 24 hours to adjust accordingly.
You may need to adjust the temperature lower if you live in an area that is warm. Doing this will help the freezer to freeze.

If all the above does not apply to your KitchenAid freezer, then check the following parts:

1. Start Relay

Test the start relay for continuity using a multimeter. Test it between its start and run terminal sockets. If there is no continuity, replace the relay. Additionally, if the start relay smells burnt, replace it.

The start relay enables the compressor to run. So if the relay is not functioning, the compressor is likely not to run at all or run but intermittently.

2. Condenser Coils

If the condenser coils are dirty, clean them using the brush head of your vacuum cleaner and dust any leftover dust with a soft cloth. Doing this will enable the coils to effectively remove heat from the refrigerant so that it doesn’t carry it into the freezer.

3. Evaporator Fan Motor

Open the door of the freezer and manually activate the door switch. When the door is open, the evaporator fan stops running. But when you activate the door switch, it should start running again even with the door still open. So if you manually activate the switch yet the fan doesn’t run, you know the motor of the fan is faulty. Replace it.

The evaporator fan circulates cold air in the freezer. If it is defective or malfunctioning, then the freezer will not get cold or freeze.

This video is a detailed instruction on how to replace the motor of an evaporator fan in a KitchenAid 5-door refrigerator…

4. Evaporator Coils

Check the evaporator coils for frost or ice buildup. The freezer will not cool or freeze if the evaporator coils are frozen. Thaw the ice or frost with a safe source of heat or by defrosting the freezer manually.

However, you have to find the reason why frost is building on the coils.

If your freezer defrosts automatically, the reason for this is easy to ascertain. Something is wrong with one or all of the defrost components. The likeliest is the defrost heater since it is responsible for warming the coils when they get too cold.

Contact the customer service center of KitchenAid to request service or assistance. You can also call a certified refrigerator technician to assist you.

KitchenAid Undercounter Ice Maker Not Freezing – Quick Fix

Here are ways to fix a KitchenAid under-counter ice maker that is not freezing or making ice:

1. Power Cord

Take a look at the power cord of the ice maker to see if it is plugged into the wall socket. If it is, then ensure it is fully plugged in and that the cord is not damaged.

Additionally, check the wall socket or outlet to be sure it is working and delivering the right amount of needed voltage.

2. Room Temperature

Ensure that the temperature in the room is above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Relocate the ice maker, if you have to, to another room with a friendlier temperature. Otherwise, the ice maker will shut off and won’t make ice.

3. Control

Check to see if the control of the ice maker is on. That is, be sure that the control is at ‘On’. You may inadvertently switch it off.

4. Circuit Breaker

Be sure that the circuit breaker or fuse that controls the wall socket to which the ice maker is connected is closed. Otherwise, the wall outlet will not receive power and the ice maker will not work.

5. Fill Chute

A frozen water fill chute will keep water from entering the ice maker. And if there is no water, the ice maker can’t freeze anything. You will have to unplug the ice maker for about 8-10 hours so that it will fully defrost and free up the chute.

6. Water Supply Line

Check for kinks in the supply line. This prevents water from entering the ice maker so that it can’t make ice. Release the kinks if there are any so the ice maker can work properly.

7. Drain Hose

If the drain hose has any kink, release the kink to free it. And if it is frozen, thaw it with some hot water so that water can pass out freely.

8. Clean Light

The clean indicator tells you that the ice maker is due for a cleaning. A dirty ice maker will not make ice as well as it should. So if the light is on, clean the ice maker and repeat the cleaning process every 9 months,

This video further explains how to fix an ice maker that is not freezing or making ice…

KitchenAid Ice Maker Not Freezing – What to Do

Check the water inlet valve of the ice maker if it is not freezing. It could be that it is defective or that the water pressure is not enough. Therefore, it is not letting water into the ice maker. If there is no water in the ice maker, it can’t freeze.
Check the power supply to the valve with a multimeter. If the power is good, then check the water pressure. Now, if it is up to 20psi, replace the inlet valve because it is defective.

Furthermore, ensure that the temperature of the unit is not below 0 degrees Fahrenheit or above 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideally, the temperature should not be above 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything above that will affect the freezing capacity of the ice maker.

Additionally, check the ice maker assembly. A part of it could be defective. But since it is difficult to find individual parts of the ice maker, you will need to replace the entire assembly.

Have a refrigerator technician run a diagnostic work on the ice maker to determine what is wrong with it and fix it properly.

KitchenAid Refrigerator Not Freezing But There Is Ice in the Freezer

There may be insufficient airflow from the freezer into the refrigerator. Since most refrigerators with a freezer share a single cooling system, the freezer supplies cold air to the refrigerator. The evaporator fan’s job is to circulate the air, and the damper should open for a preset number of seconds for the air to flow into the refrigerator.

So, check the fan and damper if the refrigerator does not cool as it should while the freezer runs. Unplug the appliance from the wall outlet and remove the items in the freezer. Unthread the screws on the back panel so you can remove the panel and check the fan in the evaporator compartment.

Check the fan blade by turning it by hand; if it rotates well, the fan may not be faulty. However, if the blade does not turn well, it may indicate a problem with the fan motor. The bearings may be worn or it may be faulty in another way.

Since you cannot replace the bearings, the only repair is to replace the motor. But if the bearings are not worn, test the motor for continuity using a multimeter and replace it if you find no continuity.

Important Note

It is important to call for professional help in fixing your KitchenAid freezer or refrigerator if the steps are too difficult. Doing this will save you extra costs and time.
Before troubleshooting or fixing the problem of a KitchenAid freezer not freezing, or even a refrigerator, remember to unplug it from the wall outlet. This is to avoid electric shock to you or damage to your unit.

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