Amana Refrigerator Freezing Up [What To Do]

If you find that your Amana refrigerator keeps freezing up, read our article to learn how to fix the problem.

Amana Refrigerator Coils Frozen – What to Check

To find out why the coils of your Amana refrigerator are frozen, check the following:

Defrost Heater

The heater is responsible for melting frost off the evaporator coils. If the heater is defective, it won’t be able to defrost the frost so it will accumulate on the coils and freeze them.

Test the continuity of the defrost heater with a multimeter. If there is no continuity, the heater needs to be replaced so it can melt the frost from the coils.

Defrost Timer

While it is true the heater melts frost off the coils, it is the defrost timer’s duty to turn the heater on during the defrost cycle. So if the heater does not turn on, it could be that the timer is faulty. So rotate the defrost timer anti-clockwise until you hear a click. If you hear the click, the heater will turn on while the compressor and fans turn off.

And if the heater turns and works well, the timer is bad. Replace it. It is supposed to turn the heater on automatically.

Door Gasket

A door gasket that does not create a reliable seal will let air in and out of the refrigerator. If it lets air in or if the door is not closed properly, air will enter, pass over the coils, condense and freeze on them. And if this continues to happen, the coils will have ice on them too often.

Test the seal using a dollar bill. Close the door on the bill. Try and pull it out. If you can’t pull it out, the seal is effective but if you can pull it out, the seal is weak and should be changed.

Defrost Thermostat

The thermostat is the part that allows the defrost heater to turn on when it senses the coils are cold enough. If it is not working as it should, the heater will not turn on, even if the timer prompts it to turn on. Check the thermostat by testing its continuity using a multimeter. If it doesn’t have continuity, replace it.

Here is a video further explaining what we have talked about above…

Check out these other in-depth articles on refrigerator freezing up for other refrigerator brands…

Why Does My Amana Freezer Keep Freezing Up?

If your Amana freezer is always freezing up, check the following as they could be the cause:

Door Seal

Check the door seal by closing the door of the freezer on a dollar bill and trying to pull it out. If you successfully pull it out, the seal is broken and you should change it.

A poorly-working door seal will always let humid outside air into the freezer. When this air gets in, it condenses and refreezes in the freezer. This will lead to a constant freezing or frosting in the freezer.

Additionally, be sure the door of the freezer is not opened too frequently. This is another way moist air gets in, condenses and forms frost or ice in the freezer.

Food Content

Ensure you don’t put hot food in the freezer. Hot food will cause ice in the freezer to melt and refreeze. This causes unwanted frost that will build over time. Allow food to cool before putting it in the freezer.

Also, don’t put food that has a lot of water in the freezer. If you can, store it in the fridge section or allow it to drip water before storing. The water from it will form ice in the freezer, contributing to frost buildup.

Air Vents

Don’t overstuff the freezer so you don’t block the air vents. There should be a free flow of cold air but if this is not possible, some parts of the freezer will freeze up while other will not be cold enough.

Defrost Components

If your Amana freezer is the frost free type, check the defrost timer or the defrost thermostat. The timer is meant to advance into the defrost mode automatically so that the heater can melt frost off the coils. But if the freezer keeps freezing up despite the presence of the timer, it could be defective. Check it by turning it until it clicks. The heater should come on as the compressor and fans shut off. If this process goes this way, replace the timer because it is bad.

And the thermostat is meant to allow the heater turn on when it knows the coils are cold enough. This is to avoid a frost buildup on the coils. If the heater doesn’t turn on, the thermostat could be defective and unable to power the heater on. Test the continuity of the thermostat with a multimeter. If there is no continuity, replace it.

On the other hand, the defrost heater could be the problem. Test its continuity with a multimeter. If you find none, replace the defrost heater.

Amana Refrigerator Ice Maker Freezing Up – How to Fix

Here are a few things to check if your Amana refrigerator ice maker is freezing up:

Temperature of the Freezer

The setting of the temperature will affect how the ice maker works. If it is set too low, the ice maker will get cold too quickly and freeze up. Keep the temperature at 0 degrees Fahrenheit and nothing less. In the event the freezer remains too cold, you can increase the temperature but not by much.

Ice Maker

If the motor or circuit board that the ice maker works with is faulty, the ice maker can freeze up due to overperformance. Have a qualified technician take a look and advice you accordingly.

Ice Fill Chute

A frozen or improperly positioned ice fill chute will not let water pass through as it should. Instead, it will retain water that freezes as the freezer continues working. Check if the chute is tilted slightly forward so it doesn’t store water. Also, check if it is frozen. Thaw it with hot water so it can function well.

Water Inlet Valve

A leaking inlet valve will fill the ice cube area when it is not needed. This will freeze with time and freeze the ice maker as well. Check if the solenoid of the valve is working by testing the valve with a multimeter. If the solenoid is not working, replace the valve.

Water Supply Line

The line carries water to the ice maker from the inlet valve. If the line is frozen, the ice maker will not have water. The ice maker will keep working and freeze quickly because of insufficient water. You can use a hair dryer to defrost the water line or you defrost the refrigerator manually.

Water Pressure

Poor water pressure will make the ice maker freeze. If the pressure is too high or too low, it will affect how the ice maker works. Check the water pressure from time to time so it doesn’t damage the ice maker in your refrigerator.

Water Filter

An old or clogged water filter can negatively affect the pressure of the water that goes to the ice maker. This, in turn, can cause the ice maker to freeze when it should not. Change the water filter every 6 months and keep an eye on the filter indicator to know when it is due for a change.

Amana Refrigerator Keeps Freezing Up – Solutions

The following are parts that can make your Amana refrigerator freeze up if they are faulty:

Thermistor

Test the thermistor with a multimeter. As you test it, the resistance should change with the temperature of the refrigerator. If the resistance doesn’t change and there is no continuity, change the thermistor.

This part helps the control board regulate power to the evaporator fan motor and the compressor by sending air temperature readings to the board. If it doesn’t do this correctly, the fan and compressor will run too much and cause the refrigerator to freeze.

Damper Control

Take a look at the damper control to see if it is stuck in the open position or if it is broken. If it is broken or open, then it cannot control the flow of cold air into the refrigerator. This will cause the refrigerator to freeze. Replace the damper control.

Temperature Control Thermostat

Turn the temperature control thermostat to take it to the highest setting from the lowest setting. You should hear a click. If you don’t hear the click, go a step further and test it for continuity with a multimeter. If there is no continuity, replace the thermostat because it is defective.

A defective temperature control thermostat can cause the refrigerant to operate longer than is needed. This, in turn, can make the refrigerator too cold to the point of freezing.

In addition to the above, check the temperature control board if there is nothing wrong with the other parts. Once in a while, the cause of the freezing problem is the board. But if it is in working order, check the motherboard. It controls everything else.

Contact a professional repairer to look at these parts if it is a task you can’t do on your own. They are usually in a better position to diagnose accurately and proffer solutions if your Amana refrigerator is freezing up.

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