freezer too warm during defrost cycle

Most timers will activate a defrost cycle every 8-10 hours of compressor run time. How to test a refrigerator defrost … The condenser fan motor is usually on the bottom of the fridge near the back, conveniently close to the compressor. So if the fridge is not getting properly cold, verify that power is being supplied to the compressor from the control board. If the fan is defective then temperatures in the freezer section will rise slowly and temperatures in the fresh food section will rise more rapidly and the compressor will run longer and more frequently than normal.

That means there’s a problem with defrosting. Verify that the capillary tube or sensing bulb is not damaged or out of position and that the wire terminals are not loose or corroded. $price$ Then locate the heater tube(s) and perform a multi-meter test for continuity.If your fridge is a newer frost-free model, it will likely have a condenser coil that’s kept cool with a fan. There may be more than one heater depending on the shape of the evaporator. Defrosting is normal part of the heating operation and is not a fault with the product. You can check the thermostat for continuity with a multi-meter if you are satisfied that the temperature is below 15°Fahrenheit. The defrost timer will normally terminate the defrost cycle after 20 to 30 minutes and the compressor and fans will start again. Does it seem like the fridge is always cycling on or stays on longer than before? Start your inspection by unplugging the fridge and taking off the access panel at the back. Don’t try this on your own, though, since live voltage is dangerous. Use a multi-meter to check the motor for continuity.

A freezer at 10 degrees will get warmer than a freezer at 0 degrees. This normally located near the compressor at the bottom rear of the refrigerator. Remove power from the appliance to perform this inspection.The evaporator fan motor is located in the freezer compartment behind the evaporator cover and is used to circulate the cold air throughout the refrigerator when the compressor is running. Is the fan clogged up with frost or ice? To access the heater or heaters, you will need to remove the evaporator cover. If you placed an order on ApplianceHelp.com the order is still valid and you can check on its status and make changes here on PartSelect.com. $inventory$ If your owner’s manual or manufacturer website has a wiring diagram, locate the terminals on the defrost timer upon which to perform continuity checks for the motor or the switch.

If the refrigerator is warmer than normal and the compressor is running almost continuously, then you may have a problem with the condenser fan motor. If the compressor and fans are operating normally but not running often enough or long enough to maintain the correct temperatures in the fresh food and freezer sections, then the cold control may be defective or out of calibration.

It is supposed to turn on when the compressor does, and you ought to be able to hear the fan in the freezer compartment, and feel the air moving in there. Is your freezer not as cold and your fridge getting warmer? The wiring diagram for the refrigerator will indicate the correct terminals on the timer to check for switch or motor continuity, and will also identify the harness leads to the heater. And use your multi-meter to make sure the control itself has continuity. This makes home repair trickier, because the control board determines so much, plus an electronic control board is costly and complicated. It’s a good habit to vacuum the area on a regular basis. Electronic controls are complex and expensive and usually reliable, so you should first verify that all of the other components such as the compressor, fans and sensors are operating properly before condemning the control. You can use this information to troubleshoot your own refrigerator and then enter your model number into the search box to find the right part that will fit your fridge. This could be due to a malfunction of the defrost termination thermostat. When your fridge won’t start and even the fans are not running, it could be due to a problem in the cold control, a switch to send electricity to the fans and compressor that is triggered by temperature change. So if the defrost timer is malfunctioning, the frost will build up on your fridge, or indeed the compressor may not be started up again at the end of that defrost cycle. If your fridge and freezer is too warm, don’t give up – we can help.

Also check for wear on the motor or blades, or signs the motor has seized and must be replaced. Not Canadian? The defrost timer can usually be found near the bottom of the refrigerator behind the kick plate, in the control panel in the fresh food section, or in the back of some side-by-side units. If the thermostat is defective and remains open circuit, then the defrost heater will not be energized and no defrost will take place. The heater can then be tested with a multi-meter for continuity.Most modern frost-free refrigerators will have a fan cooled condenser coil.

If a sensor becomes damaged or defective it may incorrectly signal the control board to turn off the compressor and fans and result in warmer than normal fresh food and freezer temperatures. - Customers rate this repair as Really Easy

If the fan motor is not turning at all the condenser will not be able to expel the excess heat and the compressor will run almost continuously. The defrost timer can usually be found near the bottom of the refrigerator behind the kick plate, in the control panel in the fresh food section, or in the back of some side-by-side units. This is the component in charge of turning off the defrost heater at the end of the defrost cycle, when the evaporator gets up to 38 to 47 degrees F. It can normally be found on the evaporator tubing. This normally occurs about once every day or two. The sensor is a small capsule like device that is protected by a plastic shield and will vary in resistance depending on the temperature. If the cause of the noise still isn’t obvious, have a service technician in so that the power can be reconnected to isolate whether electricity is being fed to the motor. - Customers rate this repair as Easy Power should be removed to perform these tests and live voltage checks should only be performed by qualified persons.The defrost thermostat is a safety thermostat in series with the defrost heater and is used to terminate the defrost cycle when the evaporator reaches a specific temperature, usually rated at 38° to 47° Fahrenheit.