Freezer 253.26442100 Not cooling well

[Tollerowner]

Our 15 year old freezer isn't cooling properly.  It only goes to 17F.  It was fine until I got a freezer alarm and found it was cooling to 5F.  So I turned it up a notch.  It then cooled to -1F for a couple days, but now can't do better than 17F.

Obviously I don't want to put money into a 15 year old freezer, but if it is something simple...

If it isn't, do you know how big it is?  I want to shop for one the same size, but can't figure out how big this one is.  

Thanks.

 

[16345Ed]

Tape measure helps…

 

How are you measuring temperature?

During defrost it may be normal to be 17 degrees. 

[Tollerowner]

I neglected to measure the door.  When I do that, it is a 13cf, which seems about right for the exterior measurement compared to new ones.

It was 17F for a day then went up to 24F, at which point I panicked and moved what I could into our refrigerator and the rest into a neighbor's freezer.  I left it plugged in and it went up to 40F.

I unplugged it for a day and plugged it back in.  It is now 5F.

 

Any insight into this would be great.  I don't think I can trust it, but maybe it is worth keeping for an emergency.

 

[Vance R]

Check the louver at the bottom of the back panel for ice build up and the back panel for frost. Could just be a defrost issue.

[16345Ed]

5 hours ago, Vance R said:

Check the louver at the bottom of the back panel for ice build up and the back panel for frost.

Vance is referring to back panel inside freezer section. Just FYI. 

[Tollerowner]

14 hours ago, Vance R said:

Check the louver at the bottom of the back panel for ice build up and the back panel for frost. Could just be a defrost issue.

It is too late to check because it had plenty of time to thaw.  Attached are photos of the freezer; what am I looking for should it happen again? However there was an expected amount of water on the floor, despite being completely empty.  Could that be evidence of ice build up?

I ran it for 24 hours on the lowest setting and it got to -10F.  I moved it up a notch and it is now 0F.

We have a new freezer on order for 10/12.  I don't mind buying a new one as this is 15 years old and can't last too much longer; so as long as we have been though the hassle of moving stuff to a neighbor, it might be time to just do it.  BUT....  the only store with any stock has a $70 delivery charge.  Lowes says 11/2 for the same price but no delivery charge.  I am really tempted to cancel and get from Lowes.  My wife thinks I am crazy; they won't get it in (or the old one will break on 10/13) and then what will we do.  Any opinions?

 

[Vance R]

Louver is behind the floor rack in top picture.

[Tollerowner]

2 hours ago, Vance R said:

Louver is behind the floor rack in top picture.

Okay, there is a narrow opening there.

 

[Tollerowner]

Freezer has been running fine for 4 days now.  Must have been ice.