My freezer will not operate

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Is the power supply cord unplugged?

• Plug into a grounded 3 prong outlet.

Has a household fuse blown or circuit breaker tripped? 

• Replace the fuse or reset the circuit breaker.

Is the Temperature Control turned to the OFF position? 

• See "Using the Control" below.

Is the freezer defrosting (on some models)? 

• Some models regularly run an automatic defrost cycle. Recheck to see whether the freezer is operating in 30 minutes.

Using the control: 

• Turn the freezer temperature control to a numbered setting. Allow the freezer to cool six to eight hours before filling with frozen food.

• The middle setting (typically "4") is designed to maintain the temperature at or near 0°F (-17.8°C) under normal operating conditions.

• Let the freezer cool overnight before adding large amounts of unfrozen food. Never add more than two to three pounds (907 to 1,350 g) of unfrozen food per cubic foot (28.32 L) of freezer space.

NOTE: When the freezer is first started, the compressor will run constantly until the freezer is cooled. It may take up to six to eight hours (or longer), depending on room temperature and the number of times the freezer door is opened. After the freezer is cooled, the compressor will turn on and off as needed to keep the freezer at the proper temperature. The outside of your freezer may feel warm. This is normal. The freezer's design and main function is to remove heat from packages and air space inside the freezer. The heat is transferred to the room air, making the outside of the freezer feel warm.

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Why is my upright freezer too warm?

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Are the air vents blocked?

• This obstructs cold air movement. Move objects away from the air vents. 
  See "Ensuring proper air circulation" below for air vent locations.

Is the door opened often? 

• Be aware that the freezer will warm when this occurs. In order to keep the freezer cool, try to get everything you need out of the freezer at once, keep food organized so it is easy to find, and close the door as soon as the food is removed.

Has a large amount of food just been added to the freezer?

• Adding a large amount of food warms the freezer. It can take several hours for the freezer to return to the normal temperature.

Is the control set correctly for the surrounding conditions? 

• See & quote: "Using the control" below.

Ensuring proper air circulation: 

• In order to ensure proper temperature, you need to permit proper airflow in the freezer. Cool air enters through the freezer wall and moves downward.

• The air then recirculates through the vent near the bottom. Do not block any of these vents with food packages. If the vents are blocked, airflow will be obstructed, and temperature and moisture problems may occur.

Using the control: 

• Turn the freezer temperature control to a numbered setting. Allow the freezer to cool six to eight hours before filling with frozen food.

• The middle setting (typically "4") is designed to maintain the temperature at or near 0°F (-17.8°C) under normal operating conditions.

• Let the freezer cool overnight before adding large amounts of unfrozen food. Never add more than two to three pounds (907 to 1,350 g) of unfrozen food per cubic foot (28.32 L) of freezer space.

NOTE: When the freezer is first started, the compressor will run constantly until the freezer is cooled. It may take up to six to eight hours (or longer), depending on room temperature and the number of times the freezer door is opened. After the freezer is cooled, the compressor will turn on and off as needed to keep the freezer at the proper temperature. The outside of your freezer may feel warm. This is normal. The freezer's design and main function is to remove heat from packages and air space inside the freezer. The heat is transferred to the room air, making the outside of the freezer feel warm.

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Why is there frost or ice buildup in my freezer?

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• Small ice droplets on the freezer walls and on the back panel are normal.

• Frost will likely build up if the door is left open for a period of time. Make sure the door is closing completely and is not blocked by something between the door gasket and cabinet.

• Frequent door openings can let in humid room air. Keeping door openings to a minimum will help, but may not completely eliminate frost or ice in the freezer.

• During months of high humidity (especially if a home is not air-conditioned), it is normal to see some frost and sweating on the interior walls or on food packages.

Heavy sheet of ice on the back panel 

• A heavy sheet of ice on the freezer back panel is likely an indication of a defrosting problem. If ice buildup continues, call the service department for an appointment.

Frost buildup around the exterior door or on the ceiling 

• Frost buildup around the door or on the ceiling suggests an air leak, likely due to a gasket problem.

• The door gasket should seal all the way around on the door. Make sure that nothing is keeping the gasket from making a good seal.

 

The motor on my upright freezer runs too much

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Is there excessive frost or a package preventing the door from closing?

• Defrost and clean the freezer, or move the package so the door closes properly.

Is the room temperature hotter than normal? 

• The motor will run longer under warm conditions. At normal room temperatures, your motor will run about 40% to 80% of the time. Under warmer conditions, expect it to run even more of the time.

Has a large amount of food just been added to the freezer? 

• Adding a large amount of food warms the freezer. The motor normally will run longer to cool the freezer back down. Add no more unfrozen food at one time than will freeze in 24 hours, approximately 2 to 3 lbs (0.9 to 1.4 kg) per cubic foot of freezer space.

Is the door opened often? 

• The motor will run longer when this occurs. Conserve energy by getting all items out at one time, keeping food organized, and closing the door as soon as possible.

Is the control set correctly for the surrounding conditions? 

• See: Control use for upright freezer.

Is the door or not closed completely? 

• Push the door firmly shut. If it will not shut all the way, rearrange containers so that they take up less space and put shelves and baskets back into their correct positions.

Are the condenser coils dirty (on some models)? 

• This prevents air transfer and makes the motor work harder. Clean the condenser coils.

Is the door gasket sealed all the way around? 

• Contact a qualified person or a technician.

 

Why won't my ice maker operate?

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Is the power cord plugged in?

• Plug into a grounded 3 prong outlet.

Is the control set to "on?" 

• Make sure that the control is set to "on."

Has a household fuse blown, or has a circuit breaker tripped? 

• Replace the fuse or reset the circuit breaker. If the problem continues, call an electrician.

Is the room temperature cooler than normal? 

• Room temperature must be above 55°F (13°C), otherwise the bin thermostat may sense the cold room temperature and shut off even though the bin is not full of ice. Also, the unit may not restart once it does shut off.

Does the red light come on when the "clean" button is pushed? 

• The ice maker is receiving power but may need to be cleaned.

Does the ice maker have a drain pump? 

• If there was a large amount of water added to the ice maker, wait a few minutes for the drain pump to clear. If there is still water in the bin, check to see if the drain hose is kinked.

 

What can cause my ice maker to run and produce only a little ice?

 

Is the room temperature hotter than normal?

• Room temperatures of more than 90°F (32°C) will reduce ice production.

Is the condenser dirty? 

• Dirt or lint may be blocking the airflow through the condenser and may need to be cleaned.

Is there scale buildup in the ice maker? 

• If there is white scale buildup in the ice maker's water or freezing system, you should clean the ice maker.

Is the drain cap securely in place? 

• If the drain cap is loose, water will empty from the water pan, which will result in either thin ice or no ice. Tighten the drain cap if it is loose.

 

My ice cubes smell bad or taste bad

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• Food can transfer odors and tastes to ice. Even food in the refrigerator compartment can transfer an odor or taste to the freezer causing bad tasting ice.

• Your refrigerator does not contain any mechanical parts that will produce and odor or cause a bad taste in your food or ice cubes.

There are four (4) conditions that can cause an odor or taste in your ice: 

1. Open food containers, or spilled foods

2. Low ice usage. Old or stale ice will absorb food odors.

3. Bad water supply. Sulfur, algae, minerals, salt, etc. in the water supply can cause bad tasting water which results in bad tasting ice.

4. Old water filter. If you have a water filtration system, the filter should be replaced every 6 months or as recommended by the manufacturer.

 

My ice cubes are clumping

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Make sure the freezer light is going off when the door is closed. 
Low Use:

• When the ice bin is full, the pressure from the weight of the cubes can cause the bottom cubes to fuse and clump.

• To prevent this from happening, discard the clumped ice and check the bin periodically to ensure the ice is not building up. If you do not use a large amount of ice, turn the icemaker off and stop ice production.

Make sure the freezer is 3/4 full of food. 

• If necessary, add plastic jugs filled 2/3 full of water.

• The less empty space there is in the freezer, the more efficiently it will cool. This is because the items in the freezer absorb the cold and help the freezer maintain a steady temperature.

Check for a large quantity of ice in the bin and empty it when it is not needed. 

• The pressure created by a large amount of ice can cause the ice to clump. This is especially a problem if large amounts of ice are not used or the ice dispenser is used infrequently.

The ice is allowed to stay in the bin for a long time: 

• The ice will begin to evaporate and cause clumping. Remove the old ice from the bin.

• If large amounts of ice are not needed, turn the icemaker to the off position. Raise the metal feeler arm up or turn the switch off.