Freezer frost and ice · Ottawa · Gatineau
Freezer frost or ice buildup in Ottawa
Why frost and ice keep growing inside a freezer, what you can check safely, and when the defrost system or door seal needs a technician.
Diagnostic$89+ tax
Residential diagnostic visit. The repair is quoted in writing before any work.Residential. Sealed-system diagnostic (refrigerant, compressor): $159 + tax.
Online requests are confirmed by call or text.
- TSSA-certified gas work
- In business since 1995
- Factory-authorized repairs
- 5.0 on Google · 59 reviews (Oct 2026)
OttawaONGatineauQC
Written diagnostic report
- Fault
- Explained on site
- Quote
- Approved first
- Warranty
- 3 months
- Service areaOttawa
- Diagnostic$89 + tax residential
- LanguageEnglish & French
- Warranty3 months on repairs
Short answer
Heavy frost buildup or ice in a frost-free freezer almost always means the automatic defrost system has failed (heater, defrost thermostat, or timer or control) or the door is not sealing and humid air is getting in. Both are common, fixable faults. Check the door seal and how the freezer is loaded first; if the frost returns within days of a manual defrost, the defrost system needs a diagnosis.
01Before you book
Safe checks first
Five minutes that sometimes save a visit, and always make it faster. Skip anything you are not comfortable doing.
- Manual or frost-free?Most chest freezers and some uprights are manual-defrost. Frost is normal on them; defrost once it reaches about 6 mm (¼ in).
- Door sealClose the door on a strip of paper at several points. If it pulls out freely anywhere, moist air is leaking in and freezing on the walls.
- Where the ice isFrost on the back panel points to the defrost system; a sheet of ice on the compartment floor points to a blocked defrost drain.
- Safe manual defrostEmpty it, unplug it and leave the door open with towels underneath. Never chip ice with a knife or screwdriver.
Stop using it if you notice
- Hissing after ice was chipped or scraped (a punctured line)
- Burning smell from behind the back panel
- Meltwater running near the plug, cord or outlet
- The breaker trips when the freezer starts
Unplug it if you can do so safely, move food to a cooler and book a visit; don’t remove the inner panel or try to repair refrigerant tubing yourself. Then call 613-301-0016.
02Why frost forms
Common causes of frost or ice buildup in a freezer
Failed defrost heater
A frost-free freezer runs a heater on the evaporator coil at regular intervals to melt frost. When the heater quits, frost thickens each cycle until it blocks the airflow.
Faulty defrost thermostat or timer
The timer or control board starts each defrost cycle, and the defrost thermostat lets the heater run only while the coil is cold. If either fails, the heater never comes on.
Worn door gasket or long door openings
A torn or flattened gasket, or a door opened often in humid summer weather, lets moist air in, and it freezes onto the walls and packages.
Clogged defrost drain
Meltwater that cannot reach the drain refreezes at the bottom of the compartment. If it ends up on the floor instead, see freezer leaking water.
03The repair
How we fix a freezer that keeps icing up
We test the complete defrost system (heater, thermostat, and timer or control) and check the door seal and drain, then replace the failed part and clear the ice so the freezer stays frost-free. Defrost parts are common, so many of these repairs are finished in one visit, with a written quote first.
B&M has repaired freezers in Ottawa and Gatineau since 1995, provides factory-authorized repairs and is TSSA-certified for gas work in Ontario. If the frost has also cut cooling, see freezer not freezing.
04Repair cost
What a freezer frost repair costs
The diagnostic visit is $89 + tax ($129 + tax for commercial freezers). The repair is quoted in writing before any work begins, and repairs carry a 3-month warranty on parts and labour.
05Rate card
Clear diagnostic pricing
One fee to find the fault. The repair itself is quoted in writing, and nothing proceeds until you approve it.
- You approve a written quote before any repair work.
- Repairs carry a 3-month warranty — ask for the written terms.
- Travel charges may apply more than 30 km from downtown Ottawa.
Residential diagnostic
Visit and diagnosis; written quote before any repair
Sealed-system diagnostic
Refrigerant, compressor
Commercial refrigeration
Reach-ins, walk-ins
After-hours visit
Between 9 PM – 7 AM
- Diagnostic visit$89 + tax, residential. The technician finds the fault.
- Written quoteYou see the repair price and approve it first.
- RepairNothing is repaired until you approve the quote. Repairs carry a 3-month warranty.
06Dispatch, step by step
How a visit works
Four stages, and you always know which one you’re in.
Request sent · not yet booked
Request
Book online or call. Tell us the appliance, brand and what it’s doing.
Next: we call or text you
- Appointment starts here
Booking confirmed
Confirm
We call or text to confirm a time window. Your booking is confirmed only then.
Your confirmed time window
Fault found
Diagnose
The technician tests the appliance and explains the fault. $89 + tax residential.
Written diagnostic report
Quote approved
Repair
You approve the written quote first. Repairs carry a 3-month warranty.
3-month repair warranty
A request is not an appointment. Your visit is booked once we confirm a time window with you by call or text.
08Coverage
Freezer repair on both sides of the river
Two primary markets, one dispatch: Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec.
Also serving
Why does frost keep building up in my freezer?
The most common cause is a failed defrost heater or thermostat, so the frost that normally melts each cycle stays and accumulates. A worn door gasket is the other big cause.
Will I have to defrost it manually forever?
No. Once the defrost system is repaired, a frost-free freezer manages frost on its own again. Manual defrosting is only a temporary workaround.
Is it worth fixing?
Usually, yes: a defrost heater or thermostat costs far less than a new freezer. See the freezer repair cost guide.
10Ready when you are
Get your freezer defrosting again.
Ottawa and Gatineau. $89 + tax residential diagnostic; the repair is quoted in writing before any work. We call or text to confirm your time window.