A frost-free refrigerator utilizes a heater to melt the frost that can accumulate on the coils inside the freezer walls during the cooling cycle. A preset timer typically turns on the heater after six to 12 hours regardless if frost has accumulated. When ice begins to form on your freezer walls, or the freezer feels too warm, the defrost heater many have failed, requiring your to install a new one.
1.Reach behind your refrigerator to unplug the power supply cord and disconnect the electricity to the refrigerator and freezer. Transfer the freezer contents into a cooler. Dump the contents from your ice bucket into the cooler to ensure your items remain frozen and avoid having the ice cubes melt together.
2.Remove the shelves from the freezer. Cover the drain hole in the bottom of the freezer with a piece of tape, so screws do not accidentally fall into the drain.
3.Pull the plastic light bulb cover and light bulb from the back of the freezer to expose the screws holding the back panel over the freezer coils and defrost heater if applicable. Some refrigerators do not require the removal of the light bulb or lens cover to access the screws on the back panel.
4.Remove the screws from the panel. Pull the panel from the freezer to expose the freezer coils and the defrost heater. Allow the ice buildup to melt from the coils before disconnecting the defrost heater.
5.Release the defrost heater from the freezer coils. Depending on the manufacturer and model of your refrigerator, the defrost heater installs with screws or wire clips to the coils. Having the replacement defrost heater ready to install helps identify the location of the heater by matching the appearance of the new one with the one currently installed. Remove the screws from the heater or use needle-nose pliers to pull the wire clips from the coils holding the heater.
6.Pull the wiring harness from the defrost heater or from the back wall of your freezer. Some defrost heaters have wires that connect to each side while others have a wire attached to the end of the heater that travels up the side of the coil. Remove and discard the old heater.
7.Attach the wires to the side of the new defrost heater or plug the wires into the freezer wall. Place the heater in the freezer and secure it with the clips or screws you removed from the original.
8.Insert the back panel back into your freezer. Secure it with the panel screws. Replace the light bulb and lens cover if applicable.
9.Replace the freezer shelves and transfer the items from the cooler back onto the shelves. Plug the power supply cord back into the wall outlet.
Post time: Mar-25-2024