Can I trust this freezer?

Frigidaire upright Freezer model LFFH2067DW2

Found the freezer running at something over 32F a couple days ago. Was last opened about 24 hours prior to that. Made sure the door was closed and left it to get cold again but after 4-5 hours it was still over 32F. We moved all the food to another freezer and turned this one off for 8 hours. Turned it back on later and it was keeping a temp of about 1F empty for at least 24 hours. I put in a couple large pots of tap water to give it something to do. The pots are frozen now and the temp is about 9F.

Should I trust this freezer and move the food back in or give a little more "burn-in" time before declaring it good?

- Peter

 

You're probably OK, but I would adjust the temp to another setting and test it out again.

 

So how old is this freezer?

Something happened causing the temp to get that warm, is it worth loosing an entire freezer worth of food on the hope that it's not going to happen again?

 

Do not trust it.
Find out what the problem was.

Was the compressor running?
If yes then it could be that you have a defrost problem. Unplugging it let the evaporator defrost so it will run OK until the evaporator gets clogged again with ice/frost.

Below is how to troubleshoot a defrost problem but you will have to wait a while for the coils to clog up.
Remove the cover at the back so you can see the evaporator coil.
Manually force a defrost cycle by turning the defrost timer cam till the fans and compressor turns off.
There is usually a hole in the cover to let you do this without taking anything apart.
Now check the defrost heater to see if it is on.
Be careful you do not want to burn your fingers.
If the heater is on then the timer needs replacing, re: it is probably stalling during it's rotation so is never getting into a defrost cycle.

If not on.
Unplug the unit check the defrost element and the defrost thermostat with a meter.

if the compressor was off then it could be that the control thermostat is sticking open.