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What causes defrost problem in a refrigerator?

Defrost problem in refrigerator

The most common symptom of defrost problem in your refrigerator is a complete and uniformly frosted evaporator coil. Frost may also be seen on the panel covering the evaporator or cooling coil. During the refrigeration cycle of a refrigerator, moisture in the air freezes and sticks to the evaporator coils as frost The refrigerator has to go through a defrost cycle to melt this ice that continues to build up on the evaporator coils from the moisture in the air. If the refrigerator has a defrost problem the frost collected on the coils will not melt. Sometimes frost builds up to the point that it blocks airflow and the refrigerator stops cooling completely.

Refrigerator defrost problem is difficult to fix and most of the time require a refrigerator repair expert to identify the root of the problem.

Following are 3 reasons behind refrigerator defrost problem

1. Faulty defrost timer

In any frost free refrigerator there is a defrost system which controls the cooling and defrost cycle. The components of the defrost system are: a defrost timer and a defrost heater. A defrost timer switches the refrigerator between the cooling and defrost mode. If it goes bad and stops at cooling mode, it causes excessive frost to build up on the evaporator coils which reduces the air flow. Or when it stops at the defrost mode it melts all the frost and does not go back to the cooling cycle. A broken defrost times prevents the refrigerator from cooling efficiently.

Our Pick

Some more recommended defrost timers for refrigerators:

  1. Supco EDT11 Timer Defrost
  2. Ultra Durable W10822278 Refrigerator Defrost Timer by Blue Stars – Exact Fit for Whirlpool KitchenAid Kenmore Refrigerators/Freezers – Replaces PS11723171 945514 482493 R0950217 2188372

2. Defective defrost heater

A defrost heater melts the frost developed over the evaporator coil. But if it goes bad frost does not melt and excessive frost accumulates on coils reducing the cool air flow inside the refrigerator.
So when either of the 2 components i.e. defrost timer or defrost heater go faulty, the fridge does not understand when to cool and when to defrost.

Our Pick

Our other recommendations:

  1. WR51X10055 Refrigerator Defrost Heater Replacements WR55X10025 Refrigerator Temperature Sensor WR50X10068 Defrost Thermostat Compatible with general Electric Hotpoint Refrigerators Replaces WR51X10030
  2. [NEW UPGRADED] WR51X10055 Defrost Heater Enhanced Durability with METAL SHIELD Replacement Part by Blue Stars – Exact Fit For GE & Kenmore Refrigerators – Replaces AP3183311 914088 AH303781 EA303781

3. Defective thermostat

If the refrigerator does not defrost, the defrost thermostat might be defective. In a defrost system, the defrost heater turns on several times in a day to melt away the frost developed on the evaporator coil. This defrost heater is connected to a defrost thermostat. The defrost thermostat senses the temperature of cooling coils. When the cooling coils become cold enough, thermostat sends signal to defrost heater to turn on. If the thermostat is defective it may not be able to sense the temperature of coils and then won’t turn on the defrost heater. If the defrost heater doesn’t turn on, the refrigerator will never start the defrost cycle and will eventually stop cooling.

Our Pick

Our other recommendations:

  1. AquaMonica Universal fridge freezer Refrigerator Thermostat WPF-22 Temperature Control 220-250V/5(4) A 1PCS
  2. 2198202 Refrigerator Cold Control Thermostat – Exact Fit for Whirlpool,Kenmore,Sears. Replaces Part Numbers 2161284,2198201,AP3037004,WP2198202,AP6006166,PS11739232

The above are some common reasons behind refrigerator not defrosting , problem please leave your comment below if you have come across some other reasons for not defrosting, so we can update this list!

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