WHY IS MY WINE CELLAR COOLING SYSTEM FREEZING UP?

A frozen evaporator coil is one of the most common wine cellar cooling complaints. When the coil ices over, airflow stops and your cellar temperature rises — the opposite of what you need. The root causes include: (1) Low refrigerant charge due to a leak — refrigerant doesn't get "used up," so low levels always indicate a leak; (2) Restricted airflow from a dirty coil or blocked return; (3) Defrost cycle failure; (4) Thermostat malfunction causing continuous operation. The fix starts with defrosting the unit (turn it off and let ice melt completely) before diagnosing the underlying cause. Never chip ice off the coil — you'll puncture it. Call a professional for refrigerant issues; improper handling is both illegal and dangerous.