How To Defrost A Frigidaire Refrigerator [Detailed Guide]

Here’s our guide on how to defrost a Frigidaire refrigerator, along with where to find different defrost components…

Frigidaire EFR492, 4.6 cu ft Refrigerator, Stainless Steel Door, Platinum Series

Table of Contents

How to Clean Defrost Drain on Frigidaire Refrigerator

To clean the defrost drain on a Frigidaire refrigerator, start the defrost cycle by disconnecting the refrigerator from the power source. This will get the unit warm.

But if it is taking too long to defrost, then pour hot water into the drain tube or use a hairdryer on it.

When the ice has melted, clean the tube using one teaspoon of baking soda and two cups of hot water. Pour the mixture down the drain tube until you hear it pouring out into the drain pan. This alerts you to the fact that the tube is clear and clean.

Repeat this process every year to keep the drain tube from clogging again.

On another note, if the drain tube is frozen, then the drain heater is faulty. This is because if it is in proper working condition, it will keep the drain from getting frozen in the first place.

Watch this video as it explains how to clean out the drain plug of your refrigerator…

How Do You Manually Defrost a Frigidaire Refrigerator?

To manually defrost a Frigidaire refrigerator, open the door of the unit and press the fresh food light button or switch. Press it 5 times within 6 seconds, in quick succession. This activates the force defrost mode. To stop it, follow the same steps.

But for this to work, be sure the fresh food light button is functioning well.

Another method of manually defrosting the refrigerator is to turn off the power supply. Do this by unplugging the refrigerator’s power cord from the wall outlet or powering down the circuit breaker that controls it.

Open the refrigerator and freezer doors and clear out any perishable food items. Store them in an ice-packed cooler or in another refrigerator to preserve them. Leave the refrigerator doors open until the ice or frost melts. This may take as little as one hour or as much as eight hours, depending on the ice buildup level.

Afterward, clean the excess water and allow the refrigerator to dry before reconnecting it to the electricity supply. Then, allow it to run until it cools to food-safe levels before putting the food items back into it.

How to Defrost a Frigidaire Freezer

Defrosting a Frigidaire freezer is simple, whether an upright or chest freezer. Start by turning off the temperature control; move the knob to Off or 0. Next, disconnect the appliance from the electric power by unplugging its power cord from the wall outlet or turning off the circuit breaker.

Empty the freezer of foods and put them in a cooler with ice packs or another freezer if you have access to one. If our freezer has a drain plug, remove the cap so you can easily drain the defrost water instead of scooping or mopping it up.

Leave the door or lid open and allow the ice to defrost. You canpu bowls of hot water into the freezer to speed the process up. Remove large ice chunks when they loosen instead of waiting for them to melt completely. Allow the water to drain into a collecting container or mop it up as the ice melts.

Afterward, clean the freezer to remove excess water, allow it to air-dry, and reconnect it to the electric power. Allow it to cool considerably before putting the food back in it.

How to Replace the Defrost Heater on a Frigidaire Refrigerator

To replace the defrost heater on a Frigidaire refrigerator:

1. Unplug the Refrigerator

Unplug your refrigerator. Open the door of the freezer and remove the auger assembly and the ice bin. Then, remove the rest of the bins and shelves.

2. Open Back Panel

Remove the last 3 rails attached to the walls of the freezer with a ¼ nut driver. Then remove the screws which secure the panel to the back of the freezer with a Philips screwdriver. Once removed, you will see the heater surrounding the evaporator coils.

3. Detach Old Defrost Heater

With the nut driver, remove the screws attaching the evaporator coils to the back of the freezer. With pliers, pick up the bottom of the heat shield beneath the coils. Slowly but surely pull it forward till it can no longer move. Drop the pliers and carefully pick up the copper tubing located on top of the coils. Draw it forward a little. Drop it and take your pliers again and pull the heat shield forward again till it doesn’t move anymore.

Disconnect the wire harnesses found near the copper tubing. They will give way for you to continue pulling the heat shield towards you. Now, you will see the insulation between the sides of the coils and the walls. You can pull out the insulation or using a flathead screwdriver, move the foam pieces to go behind the defrost heater.

A retaining clip holds the bottom of the heater, which you will find at the bottom of the coils. Remove the clamp keeping the clip closed and detach the old heater from the coils.

4. Install New Defrost Heater

Place the new defrost heater at the bottom of the evaporator coils. Push it up until you are able to weave the wire terminal at the right side through the evaporator coil at the top. Once the base is flush with the bottom of the coils, secure it with the retaining clip that held the old heater. Connect its wire terminals to those above the coils.

5. Close Back Panel and Power Refrigerator

Retrace your steps from when you opened the back of the freezer to close it up. Plug the refrigerator in to be sure you got it right.

This video details a short and clear process of replacing a defrost heater…

How to Put a Frigidaire Refrigerator in Defrost Mode

To put a Frigidaire refrigerator in defrost mode:

Step 1: Open the refrigerator door and locate the control that sets the temperature of the freezer section

Step 2: Move the control to zero. This will cause the compressor to go off and stop the refrigerator from cooling.

Step 3: If your model has a control panel, press the on/off button and hold it for about 3 seconds. This turns off the cooling system and sets the unit into defrost mode.

How to Replace the Defrost Timer on a Frigidaire Refrigerator

To replace the defrost timer on a Frigidaire refrigerator:

1 Disconnect the Refrigerator

Be sure to disconnect the unit from any power source or wall socket to which it is connected before you do anything else.

2. Gain Access to the Timer

Take out the top shelf from the fridge section to be able to reach the ceiling.

3. Detach the Timer Assembly

Unscrew the 4 screws holding the defrost timer assembly in place. Then, disconnect the wire harness and pull out the assembly, away from the unit.

4. Detach the Defrost Timer

Turn the timer assembly over so that the bulb is facing up. Unscrew the 2 screws that holds the defrost timer to the assembly. Turn the assembly over again and remove the wire harness that is attached to the timer. Remove the timer and keep it aside.

5. Connect the New Defrost Timer

Take the new timer and attach the wire harness to it. Put it inside the assembly, turn it over and screw back the 2 screws that hold it in place.

6. Reattach the Timer Assembly

Put the timer assembly back in its place on the fridge’s ceiling.

Video: A step-by-step process of replacing a defrost timer…

How to Replace the Thermostat on a Frigidaire Refrigerator

To replace the thermostat on a Frigidaire refrigerator:

1. Power Off the Refrigerator

The very first thing to do is to turn off the refrigerator. It doesn’t only preserve the unit, it also keeps you from getting hurt.

2. Find the Thermostat

The location of the thermostat varies according to the model. It could be at the back of the freezer section or under the bottom of the fridge section. It is usually wired in with the heater. Remove the retaining clips or screws holding the back or bottom panel in place.

3. Remove the Old Thermostat

When you remove the screws or retaining clips holding the panel in place, you will see the thermostat. Two wires hold it in place and slip-on connectors attach them to terminals. You will need needle-nosed pliers to disconnect them. Then remove the thermostat as it could be held in place with a clip, screw or clamp.

4. Install the New Thermostat

Put the new thermostat where the old one used to be. Connect the wires again and screw the panel back in place. Then, turn on the refrigerator.

If the thermostat still isn’t working, it is time to call the professionals.

A visual representation of the replacement process…

What to Do if Frigidaire Refrigerator Is Stuck in Defrost Mode

If your unit is stuck in defrost mode, unplug it from the power source. You can also shut off the circuit breaker, if you can locate it, instead of unplugging it.

Leave it off for about 5 minutes before powering it on again. This resets the whole refrigerator, reverting the defrost mode it is stuck in.

Check out these other in-depth articles on defrosting other refrigerator brands…

How to Defrost a Frigidaire Refrigerator – Related FAQs

1. How Long Is the Defrost Cycle on a Frigidaire Refrigerator?

The defrost cycle on this unit is about 30 minutes. This is applicable to the automatic defrost cycle that a Frigidaire refrigerator, including Gallery model, activates two times every day.

2. How Long Is the Force Defrost Cycle on a Frigidaire Refrigerator?

The force defrost cycle on a Frigidaire refrigerator lasts for about 30 minutes.

3. Where Is the Defrost Drain on a Frigidaire Refrigerator?

The defrost drain on a Frigidaire refrigerator is located just underneath the evaporator coils. To get to it, you will have to open the back panel of the refrigerator.

4. Where Is the Defrost Button on a Frigidaire Mini Fridge?

The defrost button, or defrost push button, is on the user-friendly control panel. You will find it just where you have the temperature controls.

However, not all Frigidaire mini fridges have this defrost push button.

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5. How Often Does a Frigidaire Refrigerator Defrost?

A Frigidaire refrigerator defrosts once or two times every day, automatically.

6. Where Is the Defrost Timer on a Frigidaire Refrigerator?

The defrost timer on this unit is on the bottom of the unit or at the back of the unit, depending on the model you have.

7. Where Is the Location of a Frigidaire Refrigerator Defrost Thermostat?

Locate the defrost thermostat of a Frigidaire refrigerator beneath the floor of the unit or behind the back panel of the freezer section.

8. Where Is the Defrost Heater of a Frigidaire Refrigerator Located?

The defrost heater of this type of unit is located behind the lower back panel in the back of the freezer section. You will have to remove all the shelves and food in the freezer to access it.

9. Where Is the Defrost Timer on a Frigidaire Gallery Refrigerator?

The defrost timer on a Frigidaire Gallery refrigerator is found within the control housing. The control housing is found in the fridge section of the refrigerator.

10. Where Is the Defrost Thermostat on a Frigidaire Gallery Refrigerator?

The defrost thermostat of a Frigidaire Gallery refrigerator is found behind the rear panel of the freezer section of the refrigerator.

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