The defrost timer is an essential component in a fridge and has to be running optimally for the temperature to remain stable inside the appliance.
If the defrost timer doesn’t work as required, this can ruin the appliance and also anything that’s inside it.
This is why it’s essential to know all of the bad defrost timer symptoms to look out for and what to do about them.
Bad defrost timer symptoms can include excessive frost buildup on the coils, irregular temperature control in the fridge, and/or an overflowing drip pan. To fix the issue, turn the advance screw clockwise to reset defrost system, remove the frost buildup, and clean the drip pan.
If the fridge is old or has been through a power outage, it’s possible the defrost timer was damaged.
In this case, you will have to repair or replace the defrost system. If not, the timer will continue to break down and create serious issues with the temperature control in your refrigerator.
This guide will explain all of the bad defrost timer symptoms and what to do about them as soon as they pop up.
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Steps To Fix Bad Defrost Timer Symptoms
1. Excessive Frost On The Coils
Frost build-up is a common symptom of a bad defrost timer.
This is why it’s important to learn how to test a defrost timer once it starts going bad. Otherwise, these symptoms will pile up and you won’t know what the root cause is.
In general, when the defrost timer goes bad, it is going to lead to excessive frost buildup on the coils.
When you look at the evaporator coils, you will notice frost everywhere.
This is a sign that the cooling is being overdone and that is causing the airflow to get restricted.
In this case, it’s important to remove the frost buildup, check the coils, and use the advance screw to reset the defrost system. You can do this by turning it clockwise to move on to the next mode.
2. Overflowing Refrigerator Drip Pan
When you look at the refrigerator drip pan, you are only supposed to see small amounts of water collected inside.
If there is too much water in the drip pan, this is a sign that something is wrong with the defrost system.
When the defrost timer is out of sync, you will start to notice oddities in the fridge. This can include the drip pan beginning to fill with too much water.
In the worst-case scenario, your drip pan will begin to overflow.
To fix the issue, remove the drip pan, clean it, and then use test the defrost timer. If it is stuck on one mode, use the advance screw by turning it clockwise.
3. Irregular Temperature
Is the temperature inside the fridge all over the place?
A defrost timer is supposed to regulate when the defrosting occurs. This is based on the thermostat and the information that is being passed to the defrost system.
If one of the components goes haywire, you end up in a situation where the fridge’s temperature is all over the place.
This is the last thing you are going to want with food and/or drinks inside.
Make sure to test the thermostat and take temperature readings to see if there are serious fluctuations. If there are, you will need to test each component including the defrost timer.
4. Advance Screw Is Out Of Sync
This is the simplest solution unless the defrost system is completely ruined.
In this case, you are going to find the advance screw on the defrost timer. This is specifically designed to regulate when defrosting occurs.
In most cases, the defrost timer works on its own. This means it knows when to switch modes.
When it is not working properly, the mode won’t switch.
This is when you are going to need to go in and manually change the advance screw to the next mode. This will begin the defrosting process and ensure the process resets.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to bad defrost timer symptoms, it’s important to pinpoint the root cause of the issue and fix it immediately.
Bad defrost timer symptoms can include an overflowing drip pan, excessive frost on the coils, and/or irregular temperature readings in the fridge. To fix the issue, inspect the defrost timer, clean the drip pan, remove the frost buildup, and then turn the advance screw clockwise to reset the timer.
This is the best way to make sure the defrost timer begins to work the way it is supposed to.
Otherwise, the frost will continue to be an issue.
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