If your fridge is not defrosting, related issues might include: fridge defrost drain problems, fridge leaking water, unpleasant odors from the fridge, a broken door seal, a malfunctioning defrost thermostat, or improper defrosting of the refrigerator. Read below about issues you can address on your own and those that require professional appliance repair. Our technicians usually have the essential parts on hand, enabling them to finish repairs on the same day in 90% of situations, often within one to two hours. Discover more about our refrigerator repair services.
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Main Issues When Fridge Is Not Defrosting
Description and Troubleshooting of Problems
Defrost thermostat and temperature sensor are not working
The defrost thermostat is responsible for defrosting the refrigerator. It reads the temperature on the coil, and when it drops too low, it initiates the defrost process. If the defrost thermostat is not working or is malfunctioning, the control board receives incorrect information and does not start the defrost cycle. Defrosting problems can also occur when the temperature sensor is not working or is malfunctioning. In this case, the refrigerator tries to cool to the set temperature but cannot do so because the temperature sensor, for example, shows the wrong temperature. As a result, the coil freezes up, ice forms on the coil, and this leads to the refrigerator malfunctioning. You can check yourself; often when the defrost system is not working correctly, you can see snow, ice, or blocked air circulation vents on the back wall of your freezer. In this case, all components of the defrosting system need to be checked and faulty ones replaced. It is essential to defrost the system, wipe everything so that the inside of the refrigerator and freezer is dry. Our technicians have over 90% of all parts in stock and perform repairs immediately after diagnosis on the same day.
Heating element is not working
Most refrigerators have a heating element installed at the bottom of the coil, which turns on to defrost the refrigerator. It heats up and defrosts the coil, allowing air to circulate throughout the coil. In some models of refrigerators, such as those from Samsung, GE Profile, KitchenAid, Sub-Zero, Thermador, LG, and Whirlpool, there are two coils in the refrigerator and freezer. In this case, both defrosting systems need to be checked. If the heating element is not working, it must be replaced, the system defrosted, the drain checked, and the system restarted. In most cases, when the heating element is not working, the drain line freezes, and it needs to be defrosted and cleaned.
Clogged drain line
When the defrosting system in your refrigerator activates, it starts to defrost, and water drips into the drain located under the coil. The water flows into a special container installed near the compressor at the back, where it evaporates due to the high temperature, and the process repeats. A common issue can be dirt or buildup inside the tube that eventually clogs it. With this problem, you might see ice forming at the bottom of the freezer and eventually water dripping onto the floor. This is a common issue for refrigerators of all brands. When this problem occurs, the cause of the clogged or frozen drain needs to be checked. It might be due to buildup or dirt, in which case the system needs to be defrosted, and the drain line cleaned. Alternatively, it might be due to a malfunctioning defrosting system, in which case the system needs to be defrosted, the faulty component found, and replaced.
Faulty fan motor
The fan in the refrigerator serves the function of circulating cold air inside the fridge. It ensures the proper operation of the defrost system. When the fan stops working, the coil freezes, and the defrost system can only partially defrost it, leading to an increasing buildup of ice and snow inside the freezer on the back wall. With this issue, the refrigerator still cools, but the temperature is significantly higher than what you set. Often, before the fan completely stops working, it starts making a squeaking noise from time to time, which is the first signal that it will soon fail. To fix this problem, the fan motor needs to be replaced, and the refrigerator defrosted. If the fan problem has been present for a while and it is not functioning correctly, the fan may be running but stopping or spinning very slowly, which can lead to additional faulty parts that can only be identified during diagnostics.
The refrigerator is overloaded with food
When the freezer or refrigerator is overloaded with food, even if everything seems to be working normally, it can lead to improper functioning of the defrost system. In this case, the cold air cannot circulate properly within the system, causing frost to build up on the coil, blocking the drain line, and stopping the fan from working. There should be space in the freezer and refrigerator; it should not be loaded from floor to ceiling. You can solve this problem yourself. You need to unload the refrigerator, defrost it (simply turning off the refrigerator requires 48-72 hours for defrosting), dry everything thoroughly, and restart it without overloading.
Repair Cost
| Replacing faulty components in the defrosting system | $280 – $375 |
| Replacing the heating element | $265 – $380 |
| Cleaning and defrosting the drain line | $260 – $390 |
| Replacing the fan motor | $325 – $430 |
The cost of repair can vary depending on the brand and model of the refrigerator, along with the severity of the problem.
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6 Comments
Hello! Thank you for this information. I have the additional question about overloading. How much space should I leave in my fridge and freezer to prevent defrosting issues?
Hi Amelia! To prevent defrosting issues in your fridge and freezer, it’s important to leave enough space for proper airflow. In your fridge, aim for at least 1 to 2 inches of space around the items. For your freezer, it’s a good idea to leave a few inches of space between the items and the walls.
Can’t find where to leave a formal review, so I’m posting it here. I’ve been using this company for a few appliance issues, and their team has always been fantastic. This time, my fridge stopped defrosting, and technian was quick to identify the issue with temperature sensor. He replaced the part and had my fridge working like new in no time. I am happy and fully satisfied, thank you!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We’re thrilled to hear that our team was able to quickly resolve the issue with your fridge and get it back to working like new!
What is the safest way to manually defrost a refrigerator?
The safest way to defrost a refrigerator is to turn it off for 48 hours and let the ice melt naturally. This method prevents damage to the refrigerator’s components. If you need to speed up the defrosting process, the best option is to leave the doors open and place bowls of warm (not hot) water inside to help melt the ice safely.