Ikea Air Duct Frosting / Damper or Fan Issue

Ice buildup on the back wall of the refrigerator compartment (not just freezer).

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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.

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Possible Causes

Faulty air damper stuck open, Evaporator fan not circulating air properly, Warm moist air entering due to bad door seal, Blocked return air vents

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety: Unplug the refrigerator before removing interior panels or working near the fan.

Steps:

  • 1. Check vents: Ensure that air vents in the fridge are not blocked by food containers.
  • 2. Inspect door gasket: Verify that the fresh food door gasket seals properly (see gasket test above).
  • 3. Access damper: Remove the cover over the air damper (usually at the top rear of the fridge compartment). Check if the damper door moves freely when temperature is adjusted. Replace if stuck or broken.
  • 4. Fan operation: Confirm that the evaporator fan runs when doors are closed. If not, see evaporator fan fault.
  • 5. Defrost: Manually defrost the affected area and reassemble. Monitor to ensure the issue does not return.

Note: Persistent ice buildup indicates an underlying airflow or sealing problem that must be corrected.

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Repair Difficulty

Medium 3/5

Required Part

Air Damper Assembly
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