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HomeRepair HelpDanby Refrigerator RepairDanby Refrigerator not defrosting Repair
Danby Refrigerator not defrosting
If your Danby refrigerator is not defrosting you’ll usually notice frost or ice on the evaporator coils, in the freezer or around the door, and the fridge may stop cooling properly. The most common cause is a door left open long enough for ice to build up; close the door and let the unit run a defrost cycle or unplug it for a day and carefully melt heavy ice with warm air. If that does not fix it, the defrost control board is a frequent culprit, but test the defrost heater and defrost thermostat first with a multimeter—if those parts check out, the control board likely needs replacing. A stuck or failed defrost timer can also prevent defrost cycles from starting, and a worn or twisted door gasket can let warm air in and speed ice buildup. Faulty defrost heater assemblies and defrost thermostats are common hardware failures as well. Enter your model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact replacement defrost timer, control board, heater, gasket or thermostat that fits your refrigerator and get step-by-step repair guidance.
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 - 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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03 - 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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04 - Danby 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 - Danby 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 - Danby 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
Refrigerator not defrosting: what usually causes frost and ice buildup?
Fridge not cooling but freezer works: can a defrost failure cause that?
How do I test the defrost heater and defrost thermostat?
How can I tell if the defrost timer or defrost control board is defective?
How do I find and buy the correct defrost part for my model on RepairClinic.com?
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