GE Appliances
Defrost System Failure
Ice or frost buildup on the back wall of the freezer.
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
Burned-out defrost heater, Failed defrost thermostat/bi-metal, Faulty evaporator thermistor, Main control board not initiating defrost
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Unplug the refrigerator before removing the freezer rear panel. Avoid prying ice with sharp tools.
- Manual defrost: As a temporary fix, unplug the unit and leave doors open for 24 hours to melt ice. Place towels to catch water.
- Access components: Remove the freezer rear panel to expose the evaporator coil, defrost heater, thermostat, and thermistor.
- Test heater: Disconnect the defrost heater and check continuity with a multimeter. Replace if open.
- Check thermostat: At freezing temperatures, the defrost thermostat should show continuity. Replace if open when cold.
- Evaluate thermistor: Measure resistance and compare to GE specs. Replace if out of range.
- Control board: If all defrost components test good, the main control board may not be initiating defrost and should be replaced.
Advertisements
Repair Difficulty
Hard
4/5
Required Part
Defrost Thermostat
Check Price on Amazon
We may earn a commission from links on this page.
Advertisements