Fridge isn't cooling and has ice build-up. How do I fix it?
Hi,
We have a GE Monogram Refrigerator model ZFSB25DTG SS. Not sure how old it is, it came with the house and we moved in a few weeks ago.
The fridge initially wasn't getting below 45 degrees (set to 37) and the freezer was at about 5 (set to 0). After a few days I did some poking around and discovered a lot of ice completely clogging what I think are the evaporator coils at the bottom of the fridge (behind the fresh food drawers). There was also a small amount of ice built up on the back of the freezer, but I didn't dismantle anything in the freezer.
After unplugging the fridge and letting it defrost overnight the temperature was perfect (freezer and fridge) for nearly two weeks, but then jumped back up again, and of course the ice had returned. Defrosted it again (with a hair dryer this time) and it OK for now, but I obviously need a more permanent fix.
From what I've read it sounds like it's probably a problem with the defrost system, but I can't find any specific information for this model of fridge, so I'm not exactly sure how to proceed. Can anyone give me some direction?
Thanks,
Rob Wilson.
Edit:
Top freezer, bottom fridge (can't remove styrofoam due to ice, so can only see bottom two coils).
Fridge seems to be a lot more iced up than freezer if you can see all the white behind the two coils.
Is this a good question?
11 Comments
Updates:
I have removed the defrost heater and measured the impedance at 20 ohms.
I have checked the thermistors and heater in diagnostic mode and they all passed.
I have followed the instructions in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrSQz-5F...
to check
1. the defrost heater and defrost thermostat (checked OK ~20 ohms).
2. the evaporator thermistor (checked OK ~ 12kOhms)
Note I'm using an analog MM not a DMM, so my measurements aren't very precise, but I'm clearly not getting an open circuit.
At this point it seems I should probably replace the main board. Is there anything else I can check before I do that?
by Robert Wilson
I have similar issues and most of the blogs I've read state the first thing to do is make sure dust and pet hair aren't thickly covering the condenser coils at the back bottom of refrigerator. I have yet to purchase a condenser coil brush to do that, but you might want to read up on that solution. Sounded as if the questioner hadn't tried that. Defrosting worked for me, also for about 2 weeks.
by ThatsMRdouchbag
I have a Jenn-air Refrigerator in side the fringe is warm but the top is cold and ice build up on the back freezer
by Robert Wilson
Is the defrost timer working. Does it go in to defrost on it's own?
by hvacjack
all the components ckeckout o.k.still theevaporator freezes in a short time.not cooling enough
by Hugo Madrigal
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