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HomeRepair HelpJenn Air Refrigerator RepairJenn Air Refrigerator has frost or ice buildup Repair
Jenn Air Refrigerator has frost or ice buildup
Frost or ice building up inside your Jenn Air fridge usually means the defrost system is failing or the drain is freezing up. Start with the defrost control board and defrost timer since a board or timer that will not start the defrost cycle is the most common cause; before replacing the board, test the defrost heater and thermostat. Next most likely is an ice maker or water inlet valve problem—low water pressure or a valve stuck open can overflow the ice maker and freeze in the drain. A seized or noisy evaporator fan motor can also let cold air migrate to the defrost drain and create ice, and missing drain hardware like a drain strap can leave lower sections more prone to freeze. Finally, a defrost drain clogged with ice or debris will back up meltwater and refreeze into buildup. If you need parts, enter your model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact replacement part for your specific refrigerator and get the right fan, timer, control board, inlet valve, or drain components.
01 - Jenn Air Refrigerator Defrost Control Board
The defrost control board determines how often to run the defrost cycle. If the board fails, the refrigerator will not go into the defrost cycle. Before replacing the defrost control board, first test the defrost heater and defrost thermostat. If the defrost heater and defrost thermostat are working properly, the defrost control board is likely defective.
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02 - Jenn Air Refrigerator Defrost Timer
The defrost timer turns on the defrost heater several times throughout the day to melt any frost that may have accumulated on the evaporator coils. If the defrost timer is defective, it may not advance into the defrost cycle, or it may not send power to the defrost heater during the defrost cycle. To determine if the defrost timer is defective, slowly advance the dial into the defrost cycle. The compressor should turn off and the heater should turn on. If the timer does not send power to the defrost components or advance out of the defrost cycle within 30 minutes, this indicates that the defrost timer is not advancing. If ...
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03 - Jenn Air Refrigerator Water Inlet Valve
The water inlet valve requires a minimum of 20 psi to shut off properly. If the water pressure is too low, the valve may not close fully once the power is shut off. As a result, the valve will leak water into the ice maker and cause the ice maker to overflow. Check the water pressure to determine if it is at least 20 psi. If the water pressure is sufficient, the water inlet valve is likely defective. The valve may not shut off all the way or may be stuck open, causing water to leak through the valve. If the water pressure is sufficient, but the ice maker is still overflowing, replace the water inlet valve.
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04 - Jenn Air Refrigerator Fan Motor
If the refrigerator's defrost drain is clogged, it's possible the evaporator fan motor is not working. If the evaporator fan is not running, cold air from the evaporator can migrate to the defrost drain causing ice buildup in the drain. To determine if the evaporator fan motor is defective, try turning the fan blade by hand. If the fan blade does not turn freely, replace the fan motor. Additionally, if the motor is unusually noisy, replace it. Finally, if the motor does not run at all, use a multimeter to test the motor windings for continuity. If the windings do not have continuity, replace the evaporator fan motor.
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05 - Jenn Air Refrigerator Drain Strap
Some defrost drains are outfitted with a drain strap. The drain strap is a small piece of copper or aluminum that attaches to the defrost heater and extends partway into the defrost drain. When the defrost heater turns on, heat is conducted through the drain strap to melt away any ice that may have accumulated further down in the defrost drain. If the drain strap is not in place, the defrost drain may be more likely to freeze over.
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06 - Jenn Air Refrigerator Evaporator Fan Motor
If the refrigerator's defrost drain is clogged, it's possible the evaporator fan motor is not working. If the evaporator fan is not running, cold air from the evaporator can migrate to the defrost drain causing ice buildup in the drain. To determine if the evaporator fan motor is defective, try turning the fan blade by hand. If the fan blade does not turn freely, replace the fan motor. Additionally, if the motor is unusually noisy, replace it. Finally, if the motor does not run at all, use a multimeter to test the motor windings for continuity. If the windings do not have continuity, replace the evaporator fan motor.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the freezer cold but the refrigerator section warm?
How can I tell if the defrost drain is clogged and how do I clear it?
My refrigerator has frost or ice buildup. Should I replace the defrost control board or the defrost timer?
Why is the ice maker overflowing with water?
How do I enter my model number on RepairClinic.com to find the correct replacement part?
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