My Refrigerator Freezes & Thaws

Normal Refrigerator Operation

• Freezing and thawing cycles are part of the normal operation of a modern refrigerator. According to the website for AAA-Appliance Parts, frost accumulating inside a refrigerator is unavoidable. That's why refrigerators now come with standard automatic defrost functions to thaw the ice buildup and keep it from inhibiting performance. This defrost cycle runs on the refrigerator's internal clock on a continual basis. When the clocks signals a defrost cycle, the system turns off the cooling fans and turns on the defrost heater. It's completely normal during a defrost cycle for the refrigerator and freezer unit to feel slightly warm or at room temperature during the defrost and for a few minutes thereafter.

Malfunctioning Defrost System

• The most common sign of a malfunctioning defrost system is complete and uniform frost buildup on the refrigerator's evaporator coil located at the rear of the freezer section of the appliance. A failing thermostat can communicate the wrong temperature to the refrigerator's electronic defrost sensor, resulting in longer cooling periods. This will cause frost to build up on the coil. Excessive frost can damage the evaporator coil and limit the system's ability to deliver consistently cold air to the rest of the refrigerator.

Freezer Burn on Food

• A failing defrost sensor or cooling timer can sometimes engage both the defrost heater and the cooling fans at the same time. When this occurs, the rapid thawing and cooling inside the refrigerator's freezer section can cause freezer burn on any food products stored in the unit. This can ruin items stored in the freezer section without any protective covering. Cleaning out the freezer section of the appliance may be necessary until a licensed technician can diagnose and repair the problem.

Partial Evaporator Coil Frosting

• Partial frosting of the evaporator coil in a refrigerator is not the result of a defective defrost system. According to Appliance 411, a home appliance information and repair website, partial frosting or a ball of ice on the refrigerator's evaporator coil is a symptom of a malfunctioning refrigeration system component. A licensed refrigeration repair technician must examine the appliance to determine the exact cause of the uneven frosting or ice accumulation. Attempting to repair this issue without the help of a trained professional could result in significant damage to the refrigerator's internal components.