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HomeRepair HelpModern Maid Refrigerator RepairModern Maid Refrigerator has frost or ice buildup Repair
Modern Maid Refrigerator has frost or ice buildup
If your Modern Maid refrigerator has frost or ice buildup, the most likely causes are problems in the defrost system starting with a bad defrost control board, followed by a defective defrost timer, then issues that let water or cold air accumulate like a faulty water inlet valve or a stalled evaporator fan, and finally a missing drain strap or a clogged defrost drain. Start by testing the defrost heater and defrost thermostat before blaming the control board. If those are good, advance the defrost timer into the defrost cycle and watch for the compressor to stop and the heater to energize; failure to advance or to send power indicates the timer is bad. If the ice is from the ice maker overflowing, check that inlet valve water pressure is at least 20 psi and replace the valve if it will not shut off. If the evaporator fan blade is hard to turn, noisy, or has no winding continuity, replace the fan motor. A missing drain strap or a frozen defrost drain will allow ice to build up too. Enter your model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact replacement part for your refrigerator.
01 - Modern Maid 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 - Modern Maid 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 - Modern Maid 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 - Modern Maid 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 - Modern Maid 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 - Modern Maid 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 does my refrigerator have frost or ice buildup on the coils?
My freezer is cold but the fridge section is warm, could ice buildup be the problem?
How do I test the defrost heater and defrost thermostat?
Could a clogged defrost drain cause ice buildup and how do I clear it?
How do I enter my model or part number on RepairClinic.com to buy the correct replacement?
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