E7
Westinghouse Defrost Heater Circuit Fault

Error E7 on display; freezer may not defrost and frost builds up on the evaporator.

Advertisements

Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

Advertisements

Possible Causes

Open defrost heater element, Burnt wiring to heater, Failed defrost relay on control board, High resistance heater connections

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety: Unplug the freezer. The defrost heater operates at mains voltage and can be very hot during operation.

Steps:

  • Access evaporator and heater: Remove baskets and inner rear panel to expose the evaporator coil. The defrost heater is usually a metal or glass-encased element at the bottom or woven through the coil.
  • Visual inspection: Look for breaks in the heater, burn marks, or disconnected wires.
  • Test heater continuity: Disconnect heater leads and measure resistance. A typical heater will show low resistance (10–150 Ω). If it reads open (OL), replace the heater.
  • Check wiring and connectors: Inspect for burnt spade terminals or brittle insulation. Repair or replace as needed.
  • Control board check: If the heater tests good, the defrost relay or triac on the control board may have failed. Inspect the board for burnt spots and replace if necessary.
  • Reassemble and test: After replacing parts, reassemble panels, restore power, and monitor for proper defrosting over the next 24–48 hours.
Advertisements

Repair Difficulty

Hard 4/5

Required Part

Defrost Heater
Check Price on Amazon

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Advertisements