I defrost the evaporator in a GE domestic refrigerator and replace the defrost heater.
HVAC Refrigerator repair
February 14th, 2010 
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Posted in Videos 
Tags: defrost, DrZarkloff, evaporator, Ge Refrigerator, heater, HVAC, Hvac Repair, refrigerator, Refrigerator Repair, repair, Starkloff
Great video. I have a question about the defrost coil though. If I fully defrost the coil but have a broken heater how long would you say the coil will go before it freezes up again? Thanks!!
You might get a couple of days out of it.
Great Video. My Fridge is a Kenmore with top and bottom doors. Two weeks ago the fridge started to not be as cold and the freezer actually started to defrost, but it didn’t completely. I tossed in a pound or two of dry ice into the fridge and freezer to keep my food good and cold. Freezer stays cold now, but the fridge isn’t very cold. Could this be a defrost heater? Do I figure that out with all the frost on the evaporation system? Thanks again!
You’ll have to defrost the evaporator and ohm the heater. If you get OL then it’s bad. If you get a reading then it’s good. Check to be sure that the evaporator fan runs, too. If the heater and the fan checks out to be good then you might have a bad defrost thermostat. It’s usually a small thing with two wires that’s clamped on the refrigerant line.
Hi Dr Zarkloff, i enjoyed watching your videos and i have a question…. i am having problems with my GE Profile refrig unit… both sides of the unit isnt getting cold enough- the ice is melting and the milk is spoiling
could this still be the defrost heater or a combination of the heater and the control board? please help- and where can i buy the parts and repair myself, any suggestions?
Thanks!
I’d check the defrost heater first. Then I’d check the defrost thermostat and board.
Wow! I’m gonna give it a try! You just may have helped me to save a lot of money that I don’t have! Thank you, thank, thank you!
Thank you for watching.
My kenmore has same problem. but I dont have the same part. there is however, a small type of sensor connected to the copper coil. Is that the defrost heating element on mine? hope you can help. Thanx
Great video! My freezer looks identicle to this one, and has the same frost accumulation… But the heater element doesn’t appear damaged. Can you give any advice on replacing/locating the heater element timer?
great job ,even I can do that now….
There is a control board that does the defrost cycle. It’s located on the back side of the refrigerator cabinet. It’s covered by a steel cover that can easily be removed with a screw driver.
Great video Doc, I had the same refrigerator with the same problem too, also nice time lapse with the heat gun
-Robert
thank you very much.i have the same refrigerator with same problem. i can not wait to repair it myself. you saved me 365$. thanx again.
Cool.
i plug the drain,and use hot water and a shop vac to defrost the coil,that heat gun can ruin the bi-metal and thermister.and the water is faster.
ge has also replace that single element heater with a dual element heater now,it lasts longer and works better,they have a kit for that refrigerator,it comes with directions.
Do you know how long a defrost heater lasts? I’ve had to change mine twice in 5 years, which seems excessive.
I’d say that twice in 5 years is a bit excessive. It all depends on the luck of the draw. Sometimes you get them with factory problems.
I’ll have to check out the dual elements next time. Thanks.
have you worked on any of the lg’s or samsungs yet?
i just had mine relaced today…the technician charged me $161.12….i’ll do my repairs next time…thaks for the video very helpful indeed
No I haven’t.
hi, could you help? I reversed the refrigerator door as instructed but the weatherstripping has been crushed with the original format. How do I expand the crushed side?
The weather stripping is called a door gasket. You’ll need to buy a new one if it has a problem.