Fridge Warm? Defrost Thermostat Testing, Troubleshooting

[@TheRepairGuru]

You can also manually close the defrost thermostat by using a can of compressed air dust cleaner. Hold the can upside down and carefully spray the thermostat to instantly super cool it.

[@repairclinic]

TheRepairGuru Indeed.

[@jgstargazer]

I had a defrost problem in my refrigerator, the condenser was packed with ice. Your videos were helpful in testing all parts responsible. Found the defrost thermostat bad and now the frige works fine, thanks!

[@repairclinic]

I apologize, you are correct! When the thermostat is warm the reading should be infinity. If it produces a reading of zero when warm, this is an indication of a bad thermostat.

[@AgapeYah]

Of all the other related videos out there your video was the most straight forward and very informative. I especially like the idea of removing the defrost thermostat and placing it in a glass of ice water. So much simpler than me having to bring the freezer back down to temperature. Well done!! Thanks.

[@AgapeYah]

I just read some of the other comments and apparently the ice glass method is not valid. I will just turn the freezer back on for several hours and then test for continuity. I am curious how many people commenting on this have ever had the defrost thermostat be the bad part - or was it the heating element that went bad. Just curious.

[@garylove2836]

I have a refrigerator with the ice buildup problem too.i thought it was the defrost timer I bought a new one same problem the freezer fan does not want to spin.maybe I have to let the thermostat get to a colder temp to work.but if it doesn’t I’m going to throw that refrigerator in the trash and buy a new one I fed up already.

[@AgapeYah]

@@garylove2836 I would recommend staying away from too many bells and whistles (touch screen, etc) or they are ridiculously expensive to fix when they inevitably fail.

[@garylove2836]

@@AgapeYah yes but my fridge is a simple one,it don’t have all those amenities.just found what I think is the problem the thermostat is not good and the evaporator heating element.but I don’t know if I would buy because the door gasket to the bottom of refrigerator door is worn out.and just for that gasket they want $171 dollars.

[@mattmartinez7255]

My thermostat has continuity whether hot or freezing cold. Is that a sign of a bad t-stat? Ice build up in fridge and freezer. It's a tri fridge with two condensers.

[@terrymoore4240]

I tested two brand new thermostats with this method and they showed NO conductivity. However, I discovered that much of the time these will not open up until they get below freezing temperature. So I put the new thermostat in the freezer for about 10 minutes or so and then tested it and it showed conductivity. Bottom line, the ice water method is not a safe bet for testing conductivity for an ice-maker.

[@russelljackson4954]

This is a great video on exactly how NOT test a bi-metal aka (defrost thermostat). Ice water is likely not cold enough. The best way to test a defrost thermostat is to get it below freezing.

[@deanwichert4771]

Correct. Many change state @ far less than 32F.

[@Kippykip]

I'm guessing samsung ones are different, as other videos and mentions say to put them on 20k and have a different resistance chart. Makes it difficult to test or splice a spare thermostat onto if that's true

[@repairclinic]

That's great! I'm glad you were able to figure out what was wrong. Enjoy your working refrigerator!

[@farmerjohn8770]

Like so many have said - this would only work on a thermostat that switches at the ice water temp or higher. To actually test it is necessary to determine the switching temp for your specific thermostat and take it below that temp.

[@gf88888]

do they make electronic only (ntc sensor ?) fridge thermostats ? (i.e. without the capillary and bellows mechanical system)

[@repairclinic]

@ZombiedustXXX The most common symptom is the cooling is poor in the refrigerator. But it could either be the cause of the defrost thermostat, defrost timer, or the defrost heater. The parts would have to be tested to determine which is at fault.

[@MagicGuitara]

Thanks for the explanation. there are two Thermostat in my fridge (Amanna)' one is L55-35F and L90-45F. why two?

[@unknownname8110]

Thanks for the video. Could you please help me with checking the defrost heater? I did the continuity test and it was positive. Then I checked the resistance and found that it is ZERO. Does this mean my heating element is bad?

[@jenko701]

I think your videos are good , but I this case it would have been nice to have a good explanation of how the part works exactly so the viewer that's watching can decide if there is good or bad. Don't get me wrong I love your videos .

[@tripjet999]

Nice to hear someone pronounce "de-FROST" properly, with the accent on the second syllable. Most of these repair videos pronounce it incorreectly.

[@EOliver13]

Helpful and high-quality video. Clear explanations with appropriate examples.

[@PlayDohMagic]

thanks for the video... i bought a new sensor but it does not beep when i test it with a digital multi meter with the sensor in iced water... is the sensor defective? or is there another setting to test the sensor... tnx

[@lexusfan100]

What is freezer is warm and fridge is ok or warm too..would it be ok to change the thermostat then?

[@muhammadzidan6679]

Excellent, simple and brief explanation...👍👍👍

[@repairclinic]

I would recommend using the repair help section of our website. If you enter your model number there you'll have access to model, part, and symptom specific repair help.

[@EvendimataE]

what will happen if a different closing temp is used.....like i have a spare frigidaire defrost thermostat and i plan to install it in my hotpoint fridge?

[@PKEsu]

the fridge would start normally it starts to cool but would stop after about 5min then the compressor would be off for a long time but when comes back on it only last about a miniute then stops again for along time. it continues like this and there is no cooling. any help

[@jeffreydeutsch7336]

According to another site, thermostats have the range marked on them in a certain format. For example, mine is L42-30F The 42 is the temp that it opens at. The 30 is not when it closes. Subtracting the 30 from 42 is when it closes. 42-30=12 degrees F. As my freezer is supposed to be around 4 degrees F, this makes sense. The trouble is you need a good freezer to test the thermostat. The best you can get out of a glass of ice water is 32 degrees F. Maybe the suggested inverted air duster will do it. In my fridge, that I am now trying to fix, I have to cut the wires to try a new thermostat and it will probably end up being the expensive control board. I just checked heater continuity and it was around 29 ohms, which is probably correct.

[@Fucknuts4u]

Whoever told you that convoluted load of crap should be hung.

[@shahzaibkhan68]

does window ac thermostat works the same way?i checked the thermostat after pulling it out of the unit but i dint put it in water i just checked it as it is theres continuity if i rotate dial to low temp side but after certain high temp theres no contnuity how can i make sure that my thermostat is okay or not?

[@eliezeralves1303]

Tenho uma geladeira whirlpool side by side Ed5PhAXSQ01 eletronic e nao esta fazendo degelo,onde fica o time

[@Theyoman11]

after putting mine in a working freezer it gave me a reading of 01.2 so is that good or bad?

[@richardriley3173]

Maytag # MSD2660KGB The freezer and refrigerator is working but not cooling. And it have a digital timer and each time i set it will not stay to its original settings. Do you think the problem is in the timer?

[@gerodiageendale3823]

can you use a universal defrost thermostat it has orange and pink wires and my old one is dark and light blue if so what 2 colors do i wire together

[@repairclinic]

gerodia geendale We only recommend using the proper replacement parts for your model appliance.

[@somap8380]

Thank you so much. This was the problem my fridge had.

[@jasonvorhees7688]

Shouldn't it only have continuity when it is cold enough for the switch to be closed?

[@afifbaz2947]

I have a kenmore side by side. The freezer dial must be set above 58 for the freezer to work. Any setting below that causes the contents to thaw out. Also, the fridge side is warm even if I set it at the highest setting. Any suggestions ?

[@repairclinic]

+Afif Baz It sounds like the unit is not cooling properly. www.repairclinic.com/RepairHelp/How-To-Fix-A-Refrigerator/51---/Refrigerator-not-cooling?TLSID=1773

[@MrFboyle]

RepairClinic.com y

[@vhromero]

Is there any way to use for a temporal time the refrigerator without thermostat?

[@repairclinic]

Victor Romero We do not recommend bypassing the defrost thermostat.

[@tonysantamaria19]

What if I have continuity through the thermostat, and heater but the heater never gets hot? Could the thermostat be stuck closed?

[@beastmode5467]

62T-bird Man Also has a defrost timer

[@ivanvelasquez8558]

I have a Kenmore elite refrigerator and the top freezer is not cooling enough, can someone please help me to figure out what can be the problem ?

[@filipinofighter1]

@RepairClinic I thought when your thermostat is cold, it should produce a reading of zero ohms on multitester. If it is warm ( anywhere from forty to ninety degrees fahrenheit ), then the test reading should produce a reading of infinity. If i'm not mistaken it is the same principle of testing the thermistor. My question is why my thermostat has zero ohms reading even though it is warm. I think i should get zero ohms reading if i immerse to ice cold water in 5-10 minutes. I think it is shorted

[@bryanjones6291]

I'm having an issue with LG bottom freezer single evaporator unit. evaporator fan starts for a few seconds and turns off and repeats cycle a few times . no cooling in fridge, but freezer works. tested defrost sensor, ohmed out fine, evap fan, condenser fan and condenser all run, and coils clean. notice iced up top of coil but not bottom due to heater working, any ideas

[@armandoalanis8633]

replace defrost thermostat

[@scooter12368]

I'm seeing "close" and "opened" in words written. What should i look for on the continuity meter (i have numbers, no audio sound meter) to determine if the thermostat is closed and or opened? thank you.

[@khalidsaleem6726]

i have a proline no frost freezer but its drian hole collged with ice where as heater is working.pl advice

[@repairclinic]

Correct. That is why you put it in ice water.

[@bubbasmith3219]

I replaced the cold control on a whirlpool s×s. Even with it turned down past 1, it freezes the fridge. What to do ?

[@williammchugh4361]

If you have a certain GE refrigerator that uses a Thermostat that says something like 140-30 , the video information is incorrect. This is a high limit thermostat. It will be closed at room temperature and have continuity, it will obviously also have continuity in ice water. The way you test this high limit thermostat is to place it in a pot of hot water. When the water reaches 140, you will hear an audible click and then continuity will be lost until it cools. This must have something to do with detecting the heat on a defrosting coil. *********************** If you test the thermostat like this and it is ok, next look at the temperature sensor, that white plastic capsule with wires around the area where the thermostat was at. the sensor should read ohms test around 14K at around 32 degrees. I left my cut sensor in the running freezer with a multimeter attached to the wires. Later, freezer read 0 degrees, the sensor read 8.4K (oops- Houston we have a problem). You wouldn't think a temp sensor would go bad, I wouldn't since it has no moving parts. I found out older GE refrigerators had some faulty temp sensors from the factory! These temp sensors usually had a rounded front and Black on the bottom near the wiring. I started learning fridges yesterday, but I'm a fast learner.

[@rajkumarchoudhary2314]

My refrigerator thermostat works on higher voltage but when given 20volt less doesn't work. What would be the reason ?

[@alchemy1]

But why you didn't explain the thermostat that shows continuity at room temperature? And better yet, mine shows continuity at room temperature or ice cold and I the evaporator is icing up. And by heavens what is the difference between this thermostat and the so called temperature sensor? What does temperature sensor do, the one that sits on the coil above this thing on the evaporator coil?

[@Theyoman11]

My reader is giving me a 01.0 reading (i tested it in a cup and also clipped on). So what does this mean??

[@GotchaplumberGotchahvac]

Thank u for the good info.

[@repairclinic]

You're welcome! We are always happy to help. If you would like to give us a review on Google, we would much appreciate it: g.page/r/CcVUrahZNozMEBM/review We hope that you have a great day!

[@Bo1o12]

Mine shows NC at room temp.. I restarted the fridge without it.. so cct is open now.. problem I have def cycle not working.. I tested heater cct.. its closed cct.. even bought new controller, nope.. service manual doesn't tell how circuit makes its decision when to run.. I'm guessing its still a timer.. Samsung RS2630

[@c000159]

My fridge is getting warm - freezer is normal. Took the panel off and the coils were all frozen. I removed the heater and checked it - it read 24 ohms. I checked the thermostat and it read around 1 ohms. So both appear to be OK. What else could be bad?

[@armandoalanis8633]

defrost thermostat can only be checked if you put in a freezer around 1 hr

[@jonnydoe85]

My thermostat doesn't have plugs to disconnect it. Would I have to cut the wires and remove it just to check it?

[@repairclinic]

jonnydoe85 If you cannot find where the defrost thermostat wires disconnect, you can unplug the unit and stick a pin in each wire and check for continuity . The freezer temp will need to be around 15 to 20 degrees before the thermostat will close. Putting the thermostat in ice water will not always get the thermostat cold enough to close. You can cut the wires to check it and use wire nuts to reconnect the wires. Make sure in either case to use silicone sealant to cover the wire nut or wire.

[@jonnydoe85]

Got it. Thanks!

[@williammarcum2109]

pour some salt on the ice it causes a reaction and makes water colder this worked for me my thermostat was bad.

[@repairclinic]

william marcum Thanks for the tip!

[@baynoli1]

I have the same problem, however I don't see any fan in my freezer compartment, it looks like everything is sealed.

[@repairclinic]

This video applies to a number of different defrost thermostats so we can't provide specific specs. The specs of the thermostat should be on the thermostat itself. We also list the specs of the thermostat on the specific part pages on our website when we can.

[@repairclinic]

You're welcome.

[@ajoy2w]

I had to put mine in the freezer to get the temp low enough to get a reading.

[@repairclinic]

Sorry it didn't work for you!

[@aayogorkhalinepalijaynepal7325]

hi i ask for there have water that cold and worms i mean hot wich tip water tell me

[@MrUsaer]

worms would not be a good sign

[@repairclinic]

If your thermostat gets a reading of 0 ohms of resistance, the thermostat has continuity.

[@TroyG1990]

What if it reads 20+ ohms hot or cold?

[@pinkbiddybud]

THE CUP OF ICE WATER TEST IS NOT ALWAYS RELIABLE. I tested my suspect thermostat using this method and it showed no continuity, so I ordered a new one. When it arrived I decided to test it before installing, and it showed no continuity. Assuming it to be defective, I asked for a replacement. I decided to test the replacement, and it also showed no continuity. I thought it was strange that both were defective, even testing at 3 minutes, 10 min. and 15 min. in ice water with 2 different multi-testers. Then I put them both in a working freezer overnight. The next day they both showed continuity, meaning they both were working correctly. It seems the cup of ice water test is not the best test. Try using a working freezer instead.

[@dencon1]

Hi same thing happened to me this test is not reliable .I am no expert.I am glad that you guys post these how to videos.But please do them properly you have to remember we are all not journeymen refrigeration mechanics and don't want to be . we are just average tinkerers trying to save a buck.After buying the $30.00 dollar part from my local appliance store and getting the evil eye then having to slink back and say it tests the same as my old one.then him saying oh no it is good never had a bad one in 30 years puts it in the freezer for 10 mins and it tests good so I say well then guess my old one is probably good and it was , him saying sorry no refunds on electrical.Then getting the speech about how I should have called the experts so they could come and charge me $50 bucks to tell me that is not the problem.Then him basicly saying us dummys shouldn't be fooling with such a complicated thing as a fridge as it takes a bunch of special expensive tools and a pile of knowledge.So sometimes I wonder why do you proes accualy post these very informative videos .Then when we try to go to the local shop to ask for parts or info we get treated like idiots for messing with this stuff.

[@armandoalanis8633]

you would need to put the defrost thermostat inside a freezer for around an hour then test. was told in Refrigeration school

[@cloudoftime]

Wish I would have read this comment. I did the same thing. Tested the original thermostat in ice water​ for 20 min. Nothing. Waited for the new one to ship, and tested that. Nothing. Sent that back thinking just my luck. Waited for the next one to arrive, and same thing. I knew it wasn't my multimeter, so I put it in the freezer for 8 hours. Sure enough it worked. Sure enough, the original had continuity the whole time as well. I wasted a week and a half, and the cost of a new part on this bad information. I even checked 2 different sources aside from this video. This really needs to be addressed.

[@BlakSand]

I can work with some. For example if there is an indexation L50-32F, here it means it will open at 50, and it will close not at 32, but at 50-32 which is 18. Thus, in a glass of icy water it will not close. But for some models it will work, it depends.

[@angellizarraga4669]

it's true what you say...thks

[@terjekolbeinsen]

What could cause the fridge to work "in reverse" It seem that the exchenger is cold, where the heat from the fridge is suppose to go.

[@repairclinic]

Terje Kolbeinsen Over or under charging a refrigeration system can cause some odd results with regard to operation. If you suspect a refrigeration system problem you will need a licensed technician to come check out the unit.

[@jenko701]

One more thing , this thing should be called a limit switch not a thermostat . Thermostats cause things to start and stop . This is a part that prevents over heating.

[@repairclinic]

This is a how-to video for a generic defrost thermostat. If you have a control board with a sensor on the evaporator, the sensor and control board regulate the temperature in the defrost cycle and the defrost thermostat or limit, if you prefer, will have a higher cut off rating and may show a closed circuit depending on the ambient temperature. If you are in a region with extremely warm temperatures (above 100 degrees F), the limit may be open. In that case, you would need to cool it down to make the contacts close. Refrigerators that do not have a control board, have defrost thermostats that open at much lower temperatures - typically anywhere from 45 to 75 degrees, depending on the model. These thermostats are more likely to have an open circuit when you test it out of the box. You would have to cool them down to below their rating to get them to close. They all work the same way but at different temperatures depending on the application.

[@SuperWatson63]

mine obviously was bad. it split open. so no testing required. ordered a new one. no more icy,icy.

[@repairclinic]

SuperWatson63 Glad you found the cause of the problem and the solution.

[@WakeRunSleep]

Mine doesn't change unless I put it in very hot water.

[@repairclinic]

shilohwillcome The component being tested is likely a thermal protector for the defrost heater not a defrost thermostat.

[@WakeRunSleep]

***** It seems that that is what mine is as well. It turns off the element when it gets too hot.

[@russpeaknuckel9525]

Is this why my ice cream is hard as a rock on lowest setting ?

[@TheRayMaynard]

The BIG problem with this is that many of these thermostats must be colder than 32F to close. Mine closes at 20F and opens at 40F. In order to test one of these you have to add a lot of salt to the ice water in order to drop the temperature to below the close point of the thermostat, otherwise you are going to be replacing a possibly good thermostat.

[@repairclinic]

+TheRayMaynard We agree. The best place to test it is on the frozen evaporator coil.

[@cloudoftime]

RepairClinic.com So you should say that. Put better suggestions in the video, at least at the end. The ice water method is not reliable.

[@moisesbadias6787]

I have a refrigerator and isn't coolin the bottom section .

[@repairclinic]

Moises Badias www.repairclinic.com/RepairHelp/Refrigerator-Repair-Help?TLSID=1773

[@1337rooster]

Cup of Ice water? Don't you realize my freezer is broken!!!! That's why I came here

[@1337rooster]

@S C All good, its winter so I could just get some ice from outside

[@ilokanongtagalogvlog]

Good day sir.. I tested my thermo disc.. I read only resistance 1.00 ohms But when i put it in continuity there is no have.. Is that ok sir

[@repairclinic]

It's likely there is either a restriction or, as you said, a leak in the sealed system. Unfortunately repairs to this system must be performed by a licensed technician. Sorry to give you bad news!

[@ImRunningOnMT]

See Rosemary Stevens' comment below! My experience was exactly the same as hers. The ice water test failed for me, but the freezer test worked.

[@repairclinic]

Mark Tyler Glad you found our video to be helpful.

[@bryanjones6291]

how am I going to get ice water, my fridge and freezer aren't working

[@repairclinic]

+Bryan Jones Typically, when the defrost thermostat fails the freezer section still cools, but your evaporator coils are iced over.

[@SavageNorthGarden]

30F is below freezing and a glass of ice water is only at freezing. I'm no expert, but I think this test might be finding a lot of thermostats that close at 30F bad when they are not. After pondering this I put mine in a working freezer to make sure it was well below 30F and I think others might want to try this. Just sayin'

[@repairclinic]

+SavageNorthGarden Agreed. We should have tested it on a frozen evaporator coil.

[@jenko701]

This video is very misleading . I bought a new part and tested it my self. The way this part reads right out of the pack is a closed circuit , it stays a closed until it is very hot ,then it will open. The way it works in the fridge is give a closed circuit to the defrost element . If something goes wrong and the element get stuck in the on spot this thermostat will get very hot and internally will open to prevent dangerous overheating. The way I tested my new part was , I took a new thermostat out of the pack read it with meter , it read closed circuit , making it cold did not open it . The I took a hair dryer and heated it and it opened. Then I put it in cold water and it went to a closed circuit . That's how this thing works.

[@repairclinic]

This is a how-to video for a generic defrost thermostat. If you have a control board with a sensor on the evaporator, the sensor and control board regulate the temperature in the defrost cycle and the defrost thermostat or limit, if you prefer, will have a higher cut off rating and may show a closed circuit depending on the ambient temperature. If you are in a region with extremely warm temperatures (above 100 degrees F), the limit may be open. In that case, you would need to cool it down to make the contacts close. Refrigerators that do not have a control board, have defrost thermostats that open at much lower temperatures - typically anywhere from 45 to 75 degrees, depending on the model. These thermostats are more likely to have an open circuit when you test it out of the box. You would have to cool them down to below their rating to get them to close. They all work the same way but at different temperatures depending on the application.

[@russelljackson4954]

You are right, this video does not provide good information.

[@berniebierschbach6015]

RepairClinic.com go

[@EvendimataE]

i had to put my thermostat in the freezer for it to have continuity.....water and ice not cold enough

[@karlh4313]

Repair Clinic PLEASE HELP ME :) I'm the exact opposite heres my issue i have a Gibson refrigerator GRT17DRBWO my issue was going on about a half a year ago where the bottom part the refrigerator part was not getting cold and ice was actually hitting the freezer fan. So i'd take the back panel off and melt it all with blow dryer i did this a couple times and ysully it would last a while where the refrigerator would work just fine, it was freezing good and refrigerator would stay cold and the unit would turn off and on all good but than last week it started doing it again. Freezing up the back area of the freezer,coils, and not cold in refrigerator. So i researched on here and found that my thermostat for the defrost, timer, or the heater element itself could be bad. Well i checked the defrost thermostat and it had no continuity so bad, checked the element it was good had 33ohms resistance, checked the timer between one and 3 no continuity so bad. I replaced the defrost thermostat and the timer and the refrigerator thermostat stat too. Well all is cold and no ice or frost on back or on coils and freezing down in refrigerator 30°s. But the problem is the refrigerator will not shut off at all except when the defrost timer gets to its area than off for a bit. But the rest of the time the compressor stays on running air blowing cold. So i put my old thermostat for refrigerator back on same thing, refrigerator runs all the time but cold. Please help me figure this out if you can you seem like yall are the masters Thank you!!!! :)

[@mrpriceisright]

karl hoff If your fridge is defrosting correctly, then the problem is not in the defrost components. In the summer fridges will run most of the time, the component you should check is the cooling thermostat (not the defrost thermostat).

[@repairclinic]

karl hoff If both the old thermostat and new thermostat (cold control not defrost) still cause the unit to run all the time then the unit is not cooling properly. This is most often caused by dirty condenser coils which are located up the back of your machine. Another cause which would go along with the excessive frost issue is a bad door seal. If too much warm enter enters the refrigerator or freezer the defrost system can't keep up and eventually you have frost everywhere.

[@karlh4313]

***** thanks for the reply, the coils in the back are clean. It was turning off and on though every time I'd defrost the coils in the freezer it would start working again shutting off and on so im weirded out on it, the defrost thermostat and timer fixed the frosted freezer which caused the refrigerator to not get cold but now thats good. But whole refrigerator is freezing cold and so is freezer it just blows all the time no matter how low i turn the refrigerator thermostat down it won't shut off till it goes to off position. It didn't used to do this so im stumped and seals are clean and line up perfectly. Ughhh im stumped its like i fixed one problem now have this compressor and freezing air runs all day i dont think it should am i right if the seals and coils in the back are clean it should shut off at some time. I used to be able to adjust the refrigerator thermostat and it would even cut the refrigerator off or on ughhh.

[@karlh4313]

+RepairClinic.com. yup no frost anywhere after the defrost thermostat and or timer but both were bad and frost was completely filling up the condensor coils and blocking the refrigerator from getting air it doesn't do that anymore the heater is now working its just running all the time and it just wont cut off even at warmest selection on refrigerator but its like 30 degrees in refrigerator and turn to warmest and nothing keeps running weird after id clean well melt condensor coils it would work and cycle correctly on/off but now change thermostat for defrost and timer and no frost but no cut off maybe refrigerator thermostat is defective???

[@karlh4313]

***** its actually freezing the food???? In the refrigerator part and freezer im guessing by looking at your symptoms list its the temperature control

[@repairclinic]

Thanks for the comment! Please refer to our help section on our website for further technical advice. There is a link towards the bottom of this video's description.

[@polgarattila5705]

My thermostat L15-21C What this charge type? thanks

[@repairclinic]

+Attila Polgár Normally in order for a defrost thermostat to close it must be clipped to a evaporator coil during operation as it will get to negative 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

[@polgarattila5705]

+RepairClinic.com Ok thanks what type recommends instead

[@doppler7788]

Yesterday I was in a bad mood when my new defrost thermostat (L55 - 35F) tested the same as my original one. It measured 56,000 ohms at room temperature AND after 10-20 minutes of ice water. Hitting the internet i found ablog that made total sense. My model of defrost thermostat has a high resistance rather than open to allow a low level of heat on the heater for the rest of the defrost cycle to prevent water drops freezing on the way to the drain trough. After I defrosted the freezer totally which allowed air passage through the previously frost filled coils thus freezing could then function again I placed BOTH new and old thermostat into the freezer for an hour. Presto bad mood gone......the original one still measured 56 k ohms (56,000 ohms) and the new one measured 0 ohms. Today the freezer will have the new one installed with issue fixed. I know it will be fixed because the defrost timer was replaced last month and the heater measures 30 ohms. Plus i had placed a wire jumper in place of the defrost thermostat then forced a defrost by slowly turning the defrost timer manual dial till the freezer fan stopped...once the ice cube placed against the heater started to melt fast,,,fix should be A OK once defrost thermostat is changed.

[@irmacolores4059]

Lego

[@estrelladelnorte1308]

This dind't work on my case, my thermostat closes at 25 degress and opens at 40 , so it was hard to determine if it was bad without being able to drop the thermostat to 25F , so i decided to test the rest of the components instead , I did a continuity test on the heating elements 22 ohms in my case the heater tested ok, then i advance the defrost timer till it clicked witch it turned the compressor off, then i checked for voltage and negative at the wires that feed the heaters and thermostat , that tested ok (in my case there was always 120v present on one side of the heaters at all times but the negative was being switched by the defrost timer, be careful working with live wires ) then i waited for the timer to kicked out of defrost mode and it did it , that left me with only one component untested but pretty sure was bad . ice water wont work on most defrost thermostats. don't by pass the thermostat it is possible and pretty simple to do it, but don't operate your fridge with it bypassed you could cause a fire ,NOT JOKING , you could let the ice melt of the evaporator and use the fridge again , it will freeze again of course, but this might give you some time to order your part without paying an arm and a leg for it , my local part supplier was selling the part three times more expensive than on line. use a hair dryer to melt the ice quick of the evaporator that worked really good for me.

[@repairclinic]

+estrelladelnorte1308 Thank you for sharing. The best way to test component this is to have it clipped directly on the evaporator while it is still cold.

[@shannonrasmussen4305]

Thank you!

[@jamesebola1250]

This has nothing to do with refrigerator being warm. If anything, freezer section in this case would be completely frozen solid...again, not warm.

[@s.mageshs.magesh9972]

very usefull

[@sourelghozlane1]

But electric current passes. When the refrigerator thermostat temperature rises and not when cooled

[@mrpriceisright]

sour elghozlane but this is the defrost thermostat, which shuts of current to the heating element if the temp rises (to prevent overheating). During defrosting, the heater raises the temp to just above freezing, just enough to melt the accumulated ice which drains away, but not high enough to spoil the food in the fridge.

[@rozikhan2744]

Test it when its warm first, if u get continuity then its no good

[@williammchugh4361]

Some have continuity when warm.

[@mdnirob5344]

Thank u

[@herculesskinny2030]

To make sure defrost thermostat is good or not, 1. Place thermostat in a cup of water with two wires not fully submerged in water. 2. Put whole experiment into a working freezer for at least 6 hours or more to make sure water with defrost thermostat is Frozen. 3. When cup of water with thermostat is Frozen, 4. Take out experiment from freezer, place it on a dry wooden table. 4. Time to test continuity while thermostat is still in frozen water. 5. If there is continuity, that means thermostat is good 6. If not, that means thermostat is bad and needs replacement.

[@saiyedabidali1870]

very nices ha

[@محمدبركات-و2ف]

كهراب

[@Nyck461]

Your test and your narration DOES NOT show if the last cup of water is cold or hot. Video like this IS NOT useful. Sorry

[@TheRepairGuru]

You can also manually close the defrost thermostat by using a can of compressed air dust cleaner. Hold the can upside down and carefully spray the thermostat to instantly super cool it.

[@Fucknuts4u]

Why do you post this every 2 years? And what if I don't have compressed air, then what?