Open chest freezer with wire baskets full of frozen food

Generic photo: Tiefkuehlfan · CC BY-SA 3.0

Field pattern: chest freezer 'hot on the sides' or 'sweating' (normal skin condenser vs a real gasket problem)

Chest freezers reject heat through condenser tubing bonded to the outer skin, so warm to hot sides while running are normal. Light sweating in a humid garage or basement is also normal. The faults to find are a leaking lid gasket (moisture and frost in one spot), no clearance around the cabinet, and a cabinet that stays at room temperature while the compressor runs (sealed system).

Cross-checked ~25 min easyBrands: All

Before you start

Sealed system is refer-only (EPA 608)
Unplug before removing the rear access cover

Diagnostic steps

Unlock all 6 steps with expected values

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