Chest freezer technicians - help! Mine might be dying

[passedpawn]

It's been at 35F for the last month. I adjusted the external controller to 65, but the freezer went right to 70F. The controller is keeping the freezer on 24/7 (I can see the light on indicating it's powered all the time). Temp is hovering around 70F.

Funny thing is, there's ice just under the lid on the front wall. Otherwise, the whole thing is 70F. I chipped the ice off yesterday, but today it's back.

I checked the seals and they all look fine. It's sorta like the only lines inside the walls that are getting cold is just that one line near the top. Very odd.

Ideas?

 

[TX_Brewing]

Sounds like it is dying, very similar to what mine did. Interestingly mine had steel refrigerant lines and they got moisture buildup, rusting a pinhole through the line.

 

[k1ngl1ves]

Sounds like a refrigerant leak to me.







Also, you shouldn't chip ice away on refrigerated equipment. You should just shut it off, open the lid, and let it defrost.

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

mine did the same thing too, sorry sounds like a dead freezer

 

[woo_pig]

RIP freezer

 

[passedpawn]

Thanks for the comments.

I'm fine with it actually. I'm looking forward to getting a new one. This one's getting painted with rustoleum before it goes into service. This is a garage freezer, tough duty in FL.

 

[k1ngl1ves]

Thanks for the comments.

I'm fine with it actually. I'm looking forward to getting a new one. This one's getting painted with rustoleum before it goes into service. This is a garage freezer, tough duty in FL.

How about an upright freezer, or a "freezer on bottom" fridge? They're both easier on the back then leaning over a chest freezer...



Sometimes bad luck can be good fortune!

 

[passedpawn]

How about an upright freezer, or a "freezer on bottom" fridge? They're both easier on the back then leaning over a chest freezer...

Sometimes bad luck can be good fortune!

I like to be able to get 6 carboys in at a time, so it has to be a chest freezer. This is actually the second 15 cu.ft. I've killed.

 

[passedpawn]

Well, it's working again.

I budged my freezer to get something I dropped behind it, an bam the temperature has dropped from the 60's, where it sat for the last two weeks, down to the 40's in the last day. Temp is set to 35. I think it normally would have gotten down there pretty quickly, so it's probably still not fully working, but interesting development. I'll probably still replace it again, but I'm not in a big hurry now.

 

[woo_pig]

Fingers crossed

 

[passedpawn]

Totally dead. Garbage guys just drove off with it. Hello, craigslist. Might just buy a new one this time. Home Depot has a 16 cuft for $398.

 

[woo_pig]

The big challenge is to fill it .

 

[passedpawn]

The big challenge is to fill it .

That's like saying the hard part of raising kids is making them. That's the fun part!

I usually fill those chest freezers in a morning of brewing.

 

[woo_pig]

But I have never turned down a challenge