HOLE IN FROST FREE FREEZER COMPARTMENT

Hi,

Check out these tips...they can help you figure out what is going wrong with your refrigerator and why it is not cooling

Refrigerator not Cooling or Fridge not Cooling

How to Defrost Refrigerator Defrost Timer Problem

Water Running in refrigerator from Freezer

Refrigerator or Freezer not Cooling or Getting Cold

heatman101

Hi,
Here is a tip that I wrote about how to fix your freezer so that the drain hole does not keep freezing up.

Water Running in Refrigerator from Freezer

heatman101

i take it the unit is frost free you need to replace the defrost element in the freezer whats happening is your freezer sends cold air through small holes to the fridge compartment but when the freezer cant self defrost those holes freeze over thus no cold air into the fridge compartment get a tech in to check the element shoulnt cost more than $ 80.00

I think the good thing about this is your model has a defrost timer inside the fresh food compartment and behind the control panel. Look for a hole or plastic plug covering a hole about the size of a pencil and place a small flathead screwdriver in hole and slowly turn clockwise until the compressor and fans stop. This should begin the defrost cycle and remain off for about 25 minutes. Open freezer door and listen for crackling or noise of water melting and sizzling. If after 25 minutes the refrigerator does not restart slowly turn the timer clockwise again until it starts. Tell me what you find, Sea Breeze

Your refrigerator is likely a frost free model. There is a heating element that runs around the freezer compartment. It is probably the heating element that is causing the original damage to progress.

Most fridges have a way to turn off the frost free part, usually via the timer or or easy as pulling the fuse for the circuit. Pull the fridge out, climb behind it, unplug fridge, and remove access cover, if equipped. Look for a wiring diagram. It will tell you where you need to disable the frost free at.

If you can't disable the frost free, then replace fridge now. the acrid smoke you smell is toxic, and is detrimental to food, as well as to human life. Stop using the fridge, or disable frost free.

Check seals around door....you need to reduce the amount of moisture entering the freezer compartment.
The frost will build up on anything in there.

This can be caused by the drain hole below freezer coil being blocked by ice. You MUST remove all ice in drain under freezer coil. Use turkey baster to squirt hot water into hole and use hairdryer to defrost. Possible defrost thermostat is defective. Unit never goes into defrost, ice forms on coil and in floor of freezer. After defrosting may work OK for a week or two but gradually gets warmer because ice is blocking ports where cool air gets to refrig. May also have water in refrig box. Can also be caused by defective defrost timer.

you must close the hole otherwise you will always see the frost.Humid air comes from outside and creates the frost.Change the door gasket.Be sure it seals good.

Right hand side wall in the freezer - take a look- any frozen water or moisture? Need check a drain line, usually defrost heater inside the freezer wall getting bad and draining water just freezing inside of it.

IS THE BACK OF THE FREEZER CLEAR ICE OR WHITE FROST?
IF IT IS WHITE FROST, THERE IS A FAILURE OF THE DEFROST CYCLE. THREE COMPONENTS NEED TO BE CHECKED. THERE IS A DEFROST TIMER, HEATER AND BI-METAL. THE HEATER AND BI-METAL ARE LOCATED BEHIND THE BACK WALL OF THE FREEZER WHERE THE FROST IS BUILDING UP. IF IT IS A WHIRLPOOL, THE TIMER IS LOCATED IN THE FRESH FOOD COMPARTMENT WITH THE COLD CONTROL. LOOK FOR A HOLE THE SIZE OF A DIME IN THE CONTROL HOUSING. THERE IS A SMALL DIAL IN THERE THAT CAN BE ADVANCED WITH A SCREWDRIVER.
ADVANCE IT UNTIL YOU HEAR A STRONG CLICK AND THE
REFRIGERATOR SHUTS OFF. THAT WILL BE IN THE DEFROST CYCLE. WAIT ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND LISTEN FOR SIZZLING IN THE FREEZER COMPARTMENT. ALSO LOOK FOR A RED/ORANGE GLOW IN THE FREEZER. IF THAT HAPPENS, THE HEATER AND BI-METAL ARE O.K.
REPLACE THE TIMER. IF NOT, TAKE THE BACK PANEL OFF THE FREEZER AND CHECK THE HEATER AND BI-METAL WITH A VOLT-OHM METER. REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART.
ON G.E. REFRIGERATORS, SOME HAVE THE TIMER LOCATED BEHIND THE TOE PLATE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE REFRIGERATOR. ON OTHER REFRIGERATORS, IT IS LOCATED INSIDE THE COMPRESSOR COMPARTMENT TUCKED BACK IN A CORNER.