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HomeRepair HelpDanby Refrigerator RepairDanby Refrigerator has frost or ice buildup Repair
Danby Refrigerator has frost or ice buildup
Frost or ice building up inside your Danby refrigerator is usually a sign the defrost system is failing or a drain is freezing over. The most likely causes, in order, are a bad defrost control board that never starts the defrost cycle, a defective defrost timer that will not advance or send power to the heater, and issues with defrost components such as the heater or defrost thermostat so test those first. Next check the evaporator fan motor and drain hardware, since a stuck or noisy fan can let cold air migrate and freeze the defrost drain, and a missing drain strap or a defrost drain clogged farther down can leave water to refreeze. If the ice is centered around the ice maker, low water pressure or a faulty water inlet valve can cause the ice maker to overflow and add to the buildup. You can enter your model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact replacement parts for your Danby refrigerator and step through the specific tests and parts you’ll need.
01 - Danby 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 - Danby 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 - Danby 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 - Danby 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 - Danby 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 - Danby 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
My refrigerator is not defrosting and has frost or ice buildup. What should I check first?
Freezer cold but fridge warm: could a bad evaporator fan or clogged defrost drain be the problem?
My ice maker is overflowing with water. Which part usually causes that?
How can I tell if the defrost timer or defrost control board is bad?
How do I enter my model number or part number on RepairClinic.com to find the correct replacement part?
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