Defrosting Problems with the Freezer
A fully frosted evaporator coil is the most common sign of a defrost problem in your freezer. Frost accumulation can also be seen on the evaporator or cooling coil panel. During a refrigerator’s cooling cycle, moisture in the air condenses and adheres to the evaporator coils as frost. The freezer needs to go through a defrosting cycle in order to melt the continuous ice that builds up on the evaporator coils from the moisture in the air. The evaporator coils in a freezer are coated with moisture from the air during the cooling process, which freezes and clings to them as frost. If a freezer has a defrost problem, the frost accumulation on the coils will not melt. Frost may build up to the point that it obstructs airflow and the freezer stops cooling completely. Defrost problems are a complicated repair and require a professional to come take care of it before the whole appliance is damaged.
Investigate the Cause of the Problem
There are 3 common issues as to why you may be experiencing a defrosting issue with your freezer. A faulty defrost timer, a defective defrost heater and a defective thermostat. Any frost-free refrigerator has a defrost system that controls the cooling and defrost cycle. The defrost system consists of a defrost timer as well as a defrost heater. A defrost timer switches the refrigerator between cooling and defrost modes. If it breaks down and stays in the cooling mode, it builds up excessive frost on the evaporator coils, reducing air flow. When this happens, the freezer does not return to its cooling cycle. The defrosting process is then interrupted. The defrost heater melts the frost that has formed on the evaporator coil. However, if it fails to do so, frost does not melt and more frost accumulates on the coils, reducing the amount of cool air that enters the refrigerator. When either of the two components, such as a defrost timer or defrost heater, fails, the refrigerator does not know when to cool and when to defrost. If the refrigerator does not defrost, it’s possible that the defrost thermostat is faulty. The defrost heater activates several times a day to melt away the frost that forms on the evaporator coil in a defrost system. The defrost thermostat, which is located in the refrigerator’s door and controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU), senses the temperature of the cooling coils. When the cooling coils are cold enough, the thermostat sends a signal to the defrost heater so that it turns on. If the thermostat is broken, it will be unable to detect the temperature of the coils and will therefore fail to turn on the defrost heater. The defrost heater won’t turn on if the refrigerator’s defrost cycle doesn’t begin.
Comprehensive Diagnosis Is Necessary
When there is a defrosting issue with your freezer, this can be very stressful. This might be happening for a variety of reasons, which is why it’s critical that a specialist takes a look. Only an experienced technician with all of the required equipment and hands-on expertise can properly diagnose the appliance and discover the actual problem.
At Capital Appliance Repair we service all of Ottawa and offer same day freezer repairs! One phone call and our team will come to your location to assess the issue and repair the fridge on site. We like to make the process convenient for our clients, there is no need to take the appliance away and bring it back again, we provide diagnostics and repair at your location.
Our team of highly experienced technicians can repair and troubleshoot all freezer brands. From water leaks to strange noises, you can trust us to get your appliance back up and running again in no time!
