What Causes a Kenmore Fridge to Freeze at the Back Panel & to Cut Off at Times?

Self-Defrost System

• Most refrigerators go through a cycle of cooling and warming. This was not always the case. Early refrigerators were not self-defrosting: Ice and frost built up over time, filling the inside of the freezer until you had to chip, scrape or melt it off. Today, refrigerators are designed to defrost themselves periodically. They have a self-defrost system that consists of a heating unit, a timer and a thermostat.

Cutting Off

• During normal operation, the compressor pumps refrigerant through the fridge. At one point, it enters the evaporator coils, where it is changed to gas. This process causes the coils to become very cold. As time goes on, the coils begin to become covered with frost and ice. The defrost system prevents this from becoming a problem. At a predetermined time -- usually about every six to eight hours -- the timer triggers the compressor to shut down. This is when you hear the refrigerator cutting off. Cooling stops, and the defrost heaters -- which are near the evaporator coils -- heat up, melting the frost and ice. When the temperature rises to a certain point, the defrost thermostat will trigger the compressor to turn back on.

Ice and Frost

• Ice and frost may sometimes accumulate on the back panel, behind which lie the evaporator coils. This is a sign that too much ice is building up on the evaporator coils, which in turn usually indicates a problem with either the defrost heater, the timer or the thermostat. Unfortunately, it can be tricky to diagnose the exact problem. If your Kenmore fridge is freezing at the back panel, call a professional to repair it. In the meantime, you can defrost it yourself by emptying the fridge and freezer of all food, unplugging it and letting it sit with the doors open for 48 hours. Then, plug it back in and let it cool before replacing the food. This will buy you some time if the refrigerator cannot be repaired right away, as it will take another week or so for frost to build up again.

Repair Considerations

• Kenmore refrigerators are made by several manufacturers and sold exclusively by Sears. If you decide to have a professional repair your fridge, call your local Sears repair department first to see if it will give you a discount, and to verify whether or not your refrigerator is still under warranty.