Frosts up at front then food starts to defrost

Hi Dale Dibb, thank you for your inquiry!

I understand that the food inside of your Frigidaire freezer is getting frost on the inside of the packages. I would recommend turning the temperature up inside of your freezer. Additionally moisture inside of the package would cause frost to develop on the inside of the food packages.

Please assure that all possible moisture has been removed out of the food packages prior to placing the items inside of the freezer. If there is anything else that I can help you with, please feel free to reconnect! -Matt

We had the same problem with our refrigerator just yesterday. Defrosting (even tho frost-free) cleared up the airflow problem-- If it's frost-free, when it defrosts enough to allow air flow, the automatic defrost can take over. Cause was stored food blocking the vent between the freezer and lower part of fridge.

Since you didn't give a model number, I don't know if it is frost free or not. If it is, then you have a problem with you defrost system: defrost heater, thermostat or defrost timer.

It also sounds like your door seal is not making solid contact and most air is leaking into the freezer.

If your unit is a frost free, then water should drain down and out.

It sounds like you have a defrost problem.

All the cooling for both sections takes place in the freezer behind the back wall. A fan back there distributes the cold air throughout the freezer and fresh food section. Every 8 - 10 hours a heater comes on for about 20 minutes to eliminate the frost from the evaporator coils back there. If this defrost cycle fails the frost will build up to a point of no air flow so the fresh food side and most of the freezer start to warm up.

The best way to take care of this is to turn it off and unload the freezer, take the shelves out and the screws holding the back panel inside the freezer out. Remove the back panel from the freezer. Use hot water and a hair dryer to unthaw the ice and frost, you will need lots of towels as the melting will bring lots of water on to the floor. Once the frost is gone you will need to install this part WR51X443. The picture below shows it. The kit contains new heaters and thermostat.

Check rear wall of freezer by feel for frost. Heavy, even frost indicates likely problem in the defrost system. Unplug unit. Defrost heater (in freezer behind rear wall panel), defrost thermostat (same area-must be checked at freezer temperature) or Defrost timer-located lower back outside of unit. Near compressor. Do continuity test on heater and defrost thermostat and if they show continuity (good), replace defrost timer. If not, replace the one that tests bad.

Defrost coils fully. Reassemble.

Please let me know if I have helped with comments and rating.

Refrigerator will work about 7-10 days after being defrosted until thick frost builds up again cutting off air flow to both compartments

Hi, Are you seeing ice or frost? Is frost building up on the freezer back wall? I can help you, just need to be clear.
Thanks
Vic

have you checked the door seals on the freezer. sounds like its getting air into the compartment and causing the problem.

If the door was left ajar for any extended period frost has built up on the cooling coils. A complete defrost of the freezer should take care of the problem. Normally a frost free system will clear the ice from the cooling coil when the defrost time cycle happens. However frost may have built up in areas where the heaters can not readily remove it in a normal defrost cycle and shutting the unit down with the door open for about 24 hours should clear it out.

Probably a clogged drain. Use a pipe cleaner to unclog, then a turkey baster with hot water to clean out anything else. Then when the drain is clear, pour a weak bleach solution down the drain to kill the mold that probably caused the blockage If possible remove all food and let it sit unplugged for a day or two. This will clear some defrost problems.

IS IT ICE OR FROST? IF IT IS ICE, THE DOOR MAY HAVE BEEN LEFT CRACKED OPEN.
IF IT IS FROST, IS THIS A FROST FREE FREEZER?
IF YES, IS THE FROST ON THE BACK WALL?
IF YES, THERE IS A DEFROST FAILURE AND YOU WILL NEED TO TROUBLESHOOT THE DEFROST CIRCUIT.
IF THE FROST IS ON THE FOOD OR AROUND THE DOOR OPENING, A SEAL LEAK HAS ALLOWED WARM MOIST AIR INTO THE FREEZER AND CREATED THE FROST. CHECK THE DOOR SEAL FOR A GAP WHEN CLOSED.