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Refrigerator not defrosting

01 - Door left open
If the freezer or refrigerator door was left open for an extended period of time (e.g. more than 4 hours), frost may have accumulated on the evaporator coil and evaporator cover. The frost should go away after the door is closed and the refrigerator goes through a defrost cycle.
02 - Refrigerator Defrost Control Board
The defrost control board determines how often to run the defrost cycle. If the board fails, the refrigerator will not go into the defrost cycle. Before replacing the defrost control board, first test the defrost heater and defrost thermostat. If the defrost heater and defrost thermostat are working properly, the defrost control board is likely defective.
Required Part
Refrigerator Defrost Control Board
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Most Common Solution
03 - Refrigerator Defrost Timer
The defrost timer turns on the defrost heater several times throughout the day to melt any frost that may have accumulated on the evaporator coils. If the defrost timer is defective, it may not advance into the defrost cycle, or it may not send power to the defrost heater during the defrost cycle. To determine if the defrost timer is defective, slowly advance the dial into the defrost cycle. The compressor should turn off and the heater should turn on. If the timer does not send power to the def...rost components or advance out of the defrost cycle within 30 minutes, this indicates that the defrost timer is not advancing. If the defrost timer is not advancing, replace it.
Required Part
Refrigerator Defrost Timer
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Most Common Solution
04 - Refrigerator Defrost Heater Assembly
The defrost heater assembly turns on several times throughout the day to melt away any frost that may have accumulated on the evaporator coils. If the defrost heater assembly is defective, the defrost system will not work, and frost will continue to accumulate on the evaporator coils. To determine if the defrost heater is defective, use a multimeter to test it for continuity. If the defrost heater does not have continuity, replace it.
Required Part
Refrigerator Defrost Heater Assembly
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Common Solution
05 - Refrigerator Defrost Thermostat
The defrost thermostat monitors the temperature of the evaporator coils. When the coils drop below a set temperature, the thermostat contacts close to allow power to flow to the defrost heater during the defrost cycle. In the defrost cycle, the defrost heater melts away any frost that may have accumulated on the evaporator coils. If the defrost thermostat is defective, the thermostat contacts will not close. As a result, the thermostat won’t provide power to the defrost heater. To determine if t...he defrost thermostat is defective, use a multimeter to test it for continuity. If the defrost thermostat does not have continuity when it reaches the low temperature of its operating range, replace it.
Required Part
Refrigerator Defrost Thermostat
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Common Solution
06 - Refrigerator Thermistor
A thermistor monitors the temperature of the evaporator coils. If the coils are below a set temperature, the thermistor will alert the defrost control to allow power to flow to the defrost heater during the defrost cycle. In the defrost cycle, the defrost heater melts away any frost that may have accumulated on the evaporator coils. If the thermistor is defective, the defrost control will not be alerted to allow voltage to be sent to the defrost heater.
Required Part
Refrigerator Thermistor
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Common Solution