5 Steps to Reset A Freezer and Fix Common Issues

Is your freezer having a lot of problems and issues, and you’re looking for a way to reset it? If so, you might think that this is a difficult process. Even though there are a few steps you need to follow, it is important for you to reset your freezer to try to fix a few common issues. Doing this can reset processor chips, malfunctioning relays, and gets the appliance back to a default state, which can be very effective.

There are a lot of potential problems you might be having with your freezer. Perhaps the temperature is not correct. Maybe there is a lot of frost inside your freezer. Regardless, you might be able to fix a lot of these problems by resetting your freezer. How can you do this quickly? 

We have done a significant amount of research, and we have found that the vast majority of freezers follow the same few steps. If you take a look at the information below, you will learn how to reset your freezer quickly. That way, you may be able to address a few common issues. Read the information below, and see if they can help you fix your freezer! 

What You Will Need To Reset Your Freezer

If you are thinking about resetting your freezer, the good news is that you will not need a lot to do this. The most important thing is that you need to have access to your freezer and the control panel. Depending on the brand, the location of this panel will vary. Here are the most common places to look for:

You may also need to have access to your circuit breaker, depending on what happens after you unplug your freezer and refrigerator. Finally, you may also want to have a few towels. You never know if water is going to leak out of the refrigerator or freezer after you turn it off.

If you plan to have the refrigerator unplugged for a long time, find a place to relocate the ice bin frozen food to keep them from melting/spoiling. Once you have everything you need, it is time to go through the process of resetting your freezer. 

5 Steps To Reset Your Freezer and Fix Common Issues

There are a few key steps you need to follow if you would like to reset your freezer and fix a few common issues. They include: 

Step #1 Unplug the Refrigerator and Freezer

If you are looking for a way to reset your freezer and refrigerator, the first thing you need to do is unplug the appliances. Completely disconnect the refrigerator and freezer from the power source by removing the power cord from the wall.

After you remove the cord from the outlet, you may hear a loud whooshing, gurgling or hissing noise. This is normal. Even though your refrigerator and freezer are going to turn off immediately, you need to leave them unplugged for a little while. Otherwise, the entire reset process that you are performing is not going to work.

Step #2 Turn Off the Appliances Using the Touch Panel

Before going into the appliance, please make sure to unplug it from the wall and wait a few minutes. A lot of people make the grave mistake of thinking that simply turning off their appliance cuts off the electrical supply, but this is not the case. If you just unplug the unit, you’re still at risk of shock.

You should shut off the appliances using the control panel. There are a few ways you can do this. First, you might want to turn the controls all the way to zero. Or, there might be an option for you to switch them off entirely.

The goal is to make sure you have completely turned off your refrigerator and freezer. That way, they will completely reset themselves, potentially fixing a few common issues. If you have questions about where the control panel for your refrigerator and freezer are located, you may want to take a look at the manual. That way, you can find it quickly and shut it off. 

Step #3 Plug the Appliances Back In Again

After a few minutes, you should plug the appliances back in once again. Remember that the power cord is probably going to be behind the refrigerator and freezer. Make sure the cord has not dropped into any puddles of water to avoid being shocked. If you see any puddles on the ground, remember to clean them up. After this, plug the cord back into the wall.

Remember that there are some refrigerators and freezers that might have multiple power cords. Make sure you plug them all into a working outlet to get the appliances to turn on again. 

Step #4 Reset Your Freezer and Refrigerator’s Temperature Settings

Now that the refrigerator and freezer are turning on again, you need to reset the temperature settings. The controls of your freezer and refrigerator are going to vary depending on the make and model you have. If you are unsure of where you want the temperature of your refrigerator and freezer to be, you should take a look at the manual. 

Typically, the recommended temperatures will be 0 degrees Fahrenheit (ca. -18 °C) for the freezer, and 37-38 for the refrigerator.

In general, there are two ways the control panel might be laid out. It is possible that you may have to enter the exact temperature of your refrigerator and freezer into the control panel’s digital display. Or, there may be a power dial that you have to turn.

You need to make sure you understand what number on the dial corresponds to what temperature. Also, make sure you know if your refrigerator is reading Fahrenheit or Celsius. Most modern appliances have the option to toggle between both temperature systems, but this means that there’s also the risk that you’ve switched between them by accident, which can cause a lot of issues. 

You need to make sure you get the temperature setting correct. Otherwise, you are going to have a difficult time taking care of your food. Consider reading the manual to figure out how cold you need to make the refrigerator and freezer. Keep in mind that it may take a few minutes or a few hours for your refrigerator or freezer to reach this temperature. 

It should also be noted that some units have what is known as Sabbath mode, which basically prompts the appliance to turn off on a schedule. Now, activating/deactivating this is complicated, as it requires a series of key presses and holding several buttons for long periods, so the chances of this having been enabled by accident are slim.

Step #5 Wait for the Temperature to Stabilize

Ultimately, you now have to wait for the temperature to stabilize. If your refrigerator and freezer did not warm up that much, then they may reach the temperature quickly. On the other hand, if your refrigerator or freezer warmed up entirely, then it could take as long as 24 hours for the temperature of your refrigerator or freezer to stabilize. Therefore, you should not rush this process.

Please resist the urge to continually open the doors to check the temperature, as this will add up to the waiting time.

As the appliances are adjusting to the new temperature, you should pay close attention to them to make sure they are working properly. Make sure they are not making any abnormal noises, and make sure you do not hear any beeping alarms coming from your appliances. If your refrigerator and freezer are able to reach the new target temperature without any issues, then you have completed your reset and fix whatever problem was there in the first place.

It should be noted that some refrigerators have a “high temperature” alarm that will periodically alert you of this until the target temperature has been reached. In some models, you can turn this alarm off if you so wish.

These are the steps you need to follow if you would like to reset your refrigerator or freezer. Even though this is not going to fix every problem, it may be able to fix a lot of minor issues. That way, you may not have to worry about calling a repair person or getting a new refrigerator or freezer.

Why Do I Need To Protect My Floors During the Reset?

As you go through the process of resetting your refrigerator or freezer, you must make sure you protect the floors. There is a lot of frost inside your freezer, the ice bins, and probably inside your refrigerator as well. This is going to start to melt when you unplug your appliance. Therefore, it is possible you could get a lot of water on the floor. This has the potential to damage your floors, so you need to protect them accordingly.

For example, you may want to get a bunch of towels and spread them out on the floor. That way, they can soak up a lot of moisture. You can also try turning off the water supply to the appliance to ensure that, if something goes wrong, you won’t end up moping puddles all afternoon. If you have questions or concerns about this process, you may want to reach out to a professional. 

What Types of Issues Can This Fix?

There are a lot of potential problems that this may be able to fix. For example, if you find that your refrigerator and freezer are not getting to the right temperature, you may need to reset them and reprogram the temperature. This is a good way to address that problem.

This might also be able to fix a potential error code on the control panel. If you are seeing an error code and you are convinced that your refrigerator and freezer are working properly, you may be able to clear that code by resetting your refrigerator or freezer.

Finally, if your refrigerator or freezer continues to beep at you, you may be able to get rid of this beeping by resetting the appliance. Of course, you have to make sure there is not a significant issue causing the beeping noise.

Resetting Your Freezer Might Fix Common Issues

Ultimately, these are a few of the most common issues that you may be able to fix by resetting and reprogramming your refrigerator or freezer. It does not take that long for you to reset your refrigerator or freezer, but you do have to make sure you give the refrigerator and freezer time to arrive at the new temperature. Otherwise, your food could be placed at risk.

Keep in mind that this process is not going to be able to fix every issue. There are some situations where you may need to investigate the error code. There are also some situations where you might need to reach out to a professional who can help you figure out what is wrong with your refrigerator or freezer. As long as you take care of these appliances, they should last for many years, helping you save a lot of money.