Excessive frost or ice buildup on the evaporator and back wall

Safety first: Unplug the unit and protect the floor with towels. Do not use sharp tools to remove ice.

Steps:

• Manual defrost: Open the door and allow the unit to defrost completely (this may take several hours). Use a fan to speed up the process.
• Inspect defrost components: After ice melts, remove the inner rear panel and locate the defrost heater (usually a tube or wire element under or around the evaporator) and defrost thermostat/sensor.
• Continuity tests: With the unit unplugged, test the heater and thermostat for continuity using a multimeter. An open heater or thermostat indicates failure.

Repair: Replace a failed defrost heater or thermostat with the correct Cavin parts. If these components test good, the main control board may not be initiating defrost and will likely need replacement.