My Amana SMD25TW Freezer Doesn't Defrost

Defrost Problem Symptoms

• If the Amana freezer is not defrosting, there may be a large amount of ice that builds up inside the freezer. In addition, the temperature inside the freezer may not seem accurate and food may be getting too cold or even frozen. Before you proceed with testing the refrigerator for defrost problems, make sure the door gasket on the freezer is clean and is not split or brittle, which can allow excess warm air to enter the freezer, causing a temperature imbalance and creating frost.

Temperature Testing

• Check the “Deepfreeze” freezer temperature control, which is on the upper back wall in the refrigerator section of the Amana refrigerator. Set a food thermometer between food packages in the freezer and leave the thermometer there for five to eight hours. Check the thermometer after the time has passed and turn the temperature control down if the temperature is not below zero and 2 degrees Fahrenheit. Wait several hours once the temperature is set correctly to see if additional frost develops or if the freezer temperature was set too low, causing the frost.

Testing the Defrost Timer

• If the freezer temperature is in the zero to 2 degree Fahrenheit range but ice is building up, try advancing the defrost timer. You can access this by disconnecting the power to the Amana refrigerator and remove the panel behind the temperature controls in the refrigerator section. Behind the panel is a red knob with a slot located on the ceiling. Insert a flat-edge screwdriver into the slot on the red knob and slowly rotate the knob until the defrost system starts to run. If rotating the knob does not start the defrost system, contact Amana to have the defrost timer replaced.

Defrost Thermometer

• Another part of the overall defrost system is the defrost thermostat, which may have failed. If this is the problem, advancing the defrost timer may start the defrost process, but the system will not be able to defrost adequately because the defrost thermometer is not accurately monitoring the internal temperature. If testing the freezer temperature and advancing the defrost timer does not get the freezer defrosting properly again, contact Amana to have the defrost thermometer inspected and possibly replaced.