How to Check the Defrost on a Kenmore Heater

Kenmore refrigerators have an automatic defrost system, which is designed to remove ice and frost from the evaporator coils. The defrost heater is installed on the coils themselves, which are located behind the rear panel of the freezer. If the defrost system fails, it will not remove the ice and frost from the coils, which prevents air from flowing throughout the refrigerator, leading to a rise in temperature. If the defrost system has failed, the first thing to check is the defrost heater.

Phillips screwdriver
Multimeter

Instructions

- 1
  Unplug the refrigerator's power cord from the wall outlet.
- 2
  Remove all of the contents from the freezer compartment, including the shelves, drawers and drawer rails. The drawer rails are secured using standard screws.
- 3
  Remove the screws securing the rear panel of the freezer, and then remove the panel.
- 4
  Locate the two heater wire connectors, which are located on the left and right sides of the top of the evaporator coils. Disconnect the wire connectors by depressing the tab on each connector, and then separating it from the refrigerator's wire connector.
- 5
  Follow the owner's manual in your multimeter to set it to the lowest setting for Ohms of resistance, and then calibrate the meter.
- 6
  Insert one of the multimeter probes into one of the wire connectors and hold it there. Insert the other multimeter probe into the other wire connector.
- 7
  Look at the display on the multimeter to determine if the defrost heater has continuity. If the meter shows a resistance between 0 and 50 Ohms, then the defrost heater is properly functioning. Any other reading indicates a failure of the heater, at which point you must replace it.

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