How to Adjust the Thermostat Range on a Freezer

If your freezer is leaking or the food items inside feel soft or are covered in frost, you may need to adjust the freezer’s thermostat. The ideal freezer temperature is 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Much colder or warmer temperatures can be damaging to the contents of the freezer. Since most freezers do not allow the user to set the exact temperature, it may take a bit of adjustment to get the freezer’s thermostat in the right range. The process will take time but is simple to do.

Thermometer
Cooking oil
Pyrex glass

Instructions

- 1
  Place a thermometer in a Pyrex glass filled with cooking oil. Put the glass in the freezer and leave it there for a minimum of two hours. Remove the glass and check the thermometer. This shows the actual temperature of the freezer.
- 2
  Locate the freezer’s thermostat, typically in the refrigerator compartment on the back or side wall panel.
- 3
  Turn the freezer’s thermostat knob. The ideal freezer temperature is roughly 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on the temperature noted in Step 1, you will need to increase or decrease the thermostat range on the knob. The thermostat most likely lists temperature settings on a scale of 1 to 5 or 1 to 10 -- versus actual temperatures. Lower or raise the thermostat one digit at a time.
- 4
  Wait 24 hours for the temperature to adjust to the new setting. Re-test the internal temperature by following the process in Step 1. Continue to adjust the thermostat settings, as needed, until 0 degrees Fahrenheit is reached.

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