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HomeRepair HelpJenn Air Refrigerator RepairJenn Air Refrigerator not defrosting Repair
Jenn Air Refrigerator not defrosting
If your Jenn Air refrigerator is not defrosting, you’re most likely looking at frost or ice buildup from a door left open, but failed defrost electronics and components are the next usual suspects. Start by checking for obvious ice around the door, evaporator coil or fan; if the door was left ajar for hours, closing it and letting the unit run or unplugging it to melt heavy ice usually clears the problem. If ice returns, test the defrost heater and defrost thermostat first, then the defrost control board and defrost timer if the heater and thermostat check out—the control board determines how often the defrost cycle runs and the timer should advance into defrost when you turn it slowly. A damaged door gasket can also keep the door from sealing and cause repeated frosting. If tests point to a failed heater, thermostat, timer or control board, RepairClinic carries the parts and step-by-step guidance you need. Enter your model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact replacement part for your refrigerator and get parts that fit.
01 - Door left open
If the freezer or refrigerator door was left open for an extended period of time (more than 4 hours), frost or ice may have accumulated on the food, evaporator coil and evaporator fan motor, or around the door opening. Frost should go away after the door is closed and the refrigerator goes through a defrost cycle. More significant ice buildup may require the refrigerator to be unplugged for a day to allow the ice to melt, or a hair dryer may be able to be used to assist in melting the ice.
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02 - 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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03 - 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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04 - Jenn Air Refrigerator Door Gasket
A twisted or worn gasket can keep the door from closing properly. Inspect the door gasket for kinks or twists. You can use a hair dryer to try smoothing out the kinks. If the door gasket is damaged it will need to be replaced.
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05 - Jenn Air Refrigerator Defrost Heater Assembly
The defrost heater assembly turns on several times throughout the day to melt away any frost that may have accumulated on the evaporator coils. If the defrost heater assembly is defective, the defrost system will not work, and frost will continue to accumulate on the evaporator coils. To determine if the defrost heater is defective, use a multimeter to test it for continuity. If the defrost heater does not have continuity, replace it.
Common
06 - Jenn Air Refrigerator Defrost Thermostat
The defrost thermostat monitors the temperature of the evaporator coils. When the coils drop below a set temperature, the thermostat contacts close to allow power to flow to the defrost heater during the defrost cycle. In the defrost cycle, the defrost heater melts away any frost that may have accumulated on the evaporator coils. If the defrost thermostat is defective, the thermostat contacts will not close. As a result, the thermostat won’t provide power to the defrost heater. To determine if the defrost thermostat is defective, use a multimeter to test it for continuity. If the defrost thermostat does not have continuity...
Common
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my refrigerator not defrosting?
Fridge not cooling but freezer works: could a defrost problem cause this?
If my refrigerator is not defrosting, how do I test the defrost heater and defrost thermostat?
Refrigerator not defrosting: how do I know if the defrost control board or defrost timer is bad?
How do I enter my model number to find the right replacement part on RepairClinic.com when my refrigerator is not defrosting?
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