Double door refrigerator repair

How a frost-free double door fridge works

There is one cooling coil, the evaporator, hidden behind the back panel of the freezer. A small fan pushes air over it and through ducts into the fridge part, and a damper controls how much goes there. Every few hours the compressor pauses and a heater warms the coil so the frost melts and drains out through a small pipe into a tray near the compressor.

When any part of that cycle fails, frost builds up until no air can pass. The fridge then warms up slowly over days, which is why many owners notice the problem late.

What you can safely check first

• Open the freezer and listen for the fan when the door switch is pressed in
• Look for a thick layer of ice on the back wall of the freezer, or water under the vegetable tray
• Make sure food is not pressed against the vents in either part
• Check that both doors shut fully and the gaskets are not torn
• Check the display or knobs for a changed setting

Faults we repair

• Defrost heater, timer, sensor or bimetal faults
• Freezer fan motor not running
• Damper stuck, so the fridge part gets too much or too little cold air
• Water collecting under the vegetable tray from a blocked defrost drain
• Main or inverter board faults
• Relay, overload protector or compressor faults
• Gas leaks and gas charging
• Door gaskets and door switches

What the technician does

The technician removes the freezer back panel to see the evaporator and the frost pattern. They test the heater, sensor and timer or board, check the fan, and clear the defrost drain. If the coil is heavily iced, they melt it before testing so the fault can be confirmed. You hear the price before any part is changed.