John Lewis JLFZW 1806 Freezer not freezing

WLM21

We have a freezer, bought just over 5 years ago sitting in the garage.

Over the past few days the temperature seems to have been dropping, causing the alarm to sound. We've tried the quick freeze function in the hope it would cool down ... but no luck

We hear the motor running, but the temperature is barely under zero (food going in bin, next bin-day)

This is an auto defrost freezer, but there seems quite a lot of ice on the top shelf .. certainly more than I have ever seen before.

Freezer now turned off, waiting to defrost and clear out.

The garage has a door to a rear sun-lounge, which gets quite hot. Although the door is usually open during the day, this has been the case since the freezer was bought, so I don't think this can have had any effect.

Is there anything I can do myself ?

No doubt a repairman will charge a fortune, but I suppose it would be cheaper than a new freezer. I think this was £499 when we bought it.

Thank you for any advice given

greyteam1959

Turn the freezer off & unplug.
Then have a look at the motor / fan area.
I think you might find it is full of dust & fluff.
Give it a good brushing out & a vacuuming if you can.
This is one of the most common things to cause a fridge or freezer to malfunction.
Its also one of the cheapest ways to fix a freezer.
Worth a try & no special skills needed !!!

Browntoa

build up of ice is probably a sign of the drain pipe clogging, frost free freezer I take it ??

once the pipe has thawed and cleared it should work fine

WLM21

Thank you for the replies.

Freezer is turned off now and defrosting. Will clean it all out tomorrow and chuck food in the bin

Will let you know the outcome

thanks again !!

WLM21

Update

I know it has been a while, but we have managed to survive, with a small chest freezer, which we have had for ages.

After the JF freezer was defrosted, I cleaned it all out, including the rear as suggested, with the vacuum. We then just left it, with the door taped shut, with a block of wood to let air inside.

On Thursday last week, we decided to try it. Everything seemed to be OK, the two test cups of water on different levels were turned into ice. Friday was fine, temperature at -24 degrees, most of the day. Yesterday also OK, but today the temperature has been rising, with it now showing as -11. the alarm is sounding too.

It must be kn--k--ed.

Being slightly over the 5 year period, it's probably time to bite the bullet and buy a new one.

Is it worth trying to get it fixed. I'll ask JL, but they will probably say no (couldn't really expect anything else really) What would a repairman charge to come out, have a look and fix it... I don't really want to be paying £50-£60 to be told it needs replacing.

Myser

Have you checked and cleared the drain hole inside the fridge?

Does the door, seal fully or does it seem loose/broken anywhere?

This website may help with identifying what might be the problem:

http://www.whitegoodshelp.co.uk/frost-free-fridge-freezers-automatic-defrosting-fridges-how-do-they-work/

anotherbaldrick

How hot is it in your garage ? check the air temperature, it may be too hot for the condenser to perform its heat to air transfer. Try more ventilation around it.