Refrigerator Defrosting Problems Explained

In a modern frost-free refrigerator, you shouldn't have to manually scrape ice from the freezer. If you notice a thick layer of frost building up on the freezer walls and the lower fresh food compartment getting warm, your auto-defrost system is malfunctioning. Here is how the system works and what goes wrong: The auto-defrost system consists of three main parts: 1. The Defrost Timer (or control board): It runs the compressor for about 8 to 10 hours, then switches power to the heater for 20 minutes to melt any frost. 2. The Defrost Heater: A glass or metal tube element located behind the freezer back panel that heats up to melt the ice. 3. The Bimetal Thermostat: A sensor that detects when the coil temperature drops below freezing, allowing the heater to turn on. Common failures: - If the heater burns out, the ice accumulates on the cooling coils, eventually blocking the evaporator fan from blowing cold air down. - If the bimetal thermostat fails, it won't complete the electrical circuit to power the heater. - A faulty defrost timer can get stuck in cooling mode, never initiating the defrost cycle. If your fridge is freezing up, contact our local experts. Book a same-day Refrigerator Repair in Ayyampettai or visit our Fridge Service page.