Whirlpool Side-by-Side Refrigerator Defrost Is Not Stopping
Automatic defrost systems on refrigerators are convenient features that make it unnecessary to defrost your freezer compartment manually. Your Whirlpool side-by-side is likely to have this feature in which the temperature inside the freezer is regulated to prevent icing of the condenser coils and the subsequent frost build-up on the walls of the compartment. When the defrost system turns on and will not turn off it can cause problems for the safety of your food and indicates a malfunction within the defrost system components.
Symptoms
It's easy to tell if your side-by-side refrigerator is stuck in self-defrosting mode. First of all, the compressor will never come on. The humming sound you occasionally hear while the refrigerator is working is the compressor turning on and compressing the refrigerant gas prior to the expansion for the gas that creates the cold conditions.
If the compressor is not coming on then the compressor is either not working or the defrost system or thermostat is not signaling the compressor to do its job. When the defrost doesn't stop it can also affect the cooling ability of your refrigerator. Since the defrost heats up the freezer compartment it can continue warming the interior of the unit and stop the cold air production entirely.
Defrost Timer Stuck
The first thing you'll need to check when the freezer on your side-by-side is in a constant defrost mode is the defrost timer. The defrost timer regulates the frequency and duration of the defrost heater's operation. If the timer is stuck it may not tell the heater to turn off at all. And if it malfunctions during a non-defrost cycle, then it may cause frost build-up. If you have the manual type defrost timer you can turn it and the refrigerator will kick on if this is the problem. This means the timer simply needs to be replaced. If your refrigerator has an electronic timer then you won't be able to manually check it, but it could still be the problem and will still require replacement. The timer is generally in the fresh food compartment or behind the kick plate at the bottom of the refrigerator.
Malfunctioning Heater
The defrost heater is the key component in the system that melts away the frozen condensation from the coils. When this component malfunctions, the defrost will either not work at all or will stay on permanently. Burned out heaters will result in no defrosting, while the heater remaining on constantly indicates a problem in the wiring or another component. Have an appliance repair person check out this component if other troubleshooting comes up empty.
Bad Thermostat
Another part that could prevent the defrost cycle from stopping is the defrost thermostat. The defrost thermostat, or bi-metal switch, measures the temperature in the freezer compartment to determine when the temperature is too low and needs to be defrosted. If this component is not working correctly it could misread the actual temperature and send a signal for the defrost heater to turn on when it shouldn't.
References
Writer Bio
Lee Morgan is a fiction writer and journalist. His writing has appeared for more than 15 years in many news publications including the "Tennesseean," the "Tampa Tribune," "West Hawaii Today," the "Honolulu Star Bulletin" and the "Dickson Herald," where he was sports editor. He holds a Bachelor of Science in mass communications from Middle Tennessee State University.
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