Kenmore
Evaporator Frosted Over Due to Defrost System Failure
Freezer cold but refrigerator warm, ice buildup on rear panel of freezer or fresh food section.
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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
Failed defrost heater, Defective defrost thermostat, Faulty defrost thermistor, Main control board not initiating defrost
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Unplug the refrigerator and be careful of sharp metal fins and edges.
Steps:
- 1. Confirm symptom: Check that the freezer is freezing but the refrigerator is warm. Look for frost or ice on the rear interior panel.
- 2. Manually defrost: Remove food from the affected compartment. Take off the rear interior panel and use a hair dryer on low to melt all ice from the evaporator coil. Place towels to catch water.
- 3. Test defrost heater: With power off, disconnect heater leads and check continuity with a multimeter. Replace if open.
- 4. Test defrost thermostat: When cold, it should show continuity. Replace if it remains open below freezing.
- 5. Test defrost thermistor: Measure resistance at known temperatures and compare to spec. Replace if out of range.
- 6. If components are good: The main control board may not be initiating defrost cycles and may need replacement.
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Repair Difficulty
Hard
4/5
Required Part
Defrost Heater
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