Refrigerator not cooling

[yz9890]

Both fans and the compressor seem to be working. Found the coil pretty iced over so there might not have been much air circulating through it. I assume there's an issue with the auto defrost. I unplugged it and let it melt and dry. Should I replace the thermostat before I put it back together? The door seals look good so I don't know why it froze up.

It's a whirlpool side by side.

[Great-Kazoo]

you clean the fan and other items under neath it? The biggest issue with a frige is dust on the coils.

[yz9890]

Yeah I hit it with a soft coiled brush and the vacuum.

[Wulf202]

Youve found the issue. Its not defrosting. Either trace down why or maual defrosting is required.

[yz9890]

I picked up a defrost thermostat on the way home and swapped them out just to cover the base. It's cold now. I guess I'll know if the thermostat was the problem if it freezes over again.


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[Wulf202]

Do you mean Defrost timer?

[bryjcom]

A lot of times its a defrost termination switch that goes bad. Basically its a thermal switch that shuts off the defrost heater when it gets too hot. A lot of times they go bad and prevent the heater from coming on. It will be located in your evaporator.

[yz9890]

This thing. I've heard it referred to as a defrost limit switch and a defrost thermostat. Cost me $25.

[bryjcom]

In the commercial refrigeration world, we call those defrost termination switches

This thing. I've heard it referred to as a defrost limit switch and a defrost thermostat. Cost me $25.

[yz9890]

A lot of times they go bad and prevent the heater from coming on.

That's exactly what I'm hoping my problem was. The evaporator was a block of ice and the old switch was buried in it. Hopefully that's all it was. I just bought this 32yr old house and it's turning out to be a bit of a money pit. It would be great to walk away from the refrigerator only spending $25.