While defrosting is a simple process, sometimes it can become a problem. Let us look at how to defrost a Jenn-Air refrigerator.
Table of Contents
How to Defrost a Jenn-Air Refrigerator
To defrost a Jenn-Air refrigerator, take the following steps:
Step 1
Empty the refrigerator, including the freezer section of all food items. It is important to store the food in a cooler after wrapping it in papers. Those that could spoil quickly should be consumed.
However, if you have access to another freezer, put the food there to keep it frozen for the duration of the defrost process.
To make cleaning the unit easier, you may have to remove shelves, rack and bins if there is any. Doing this also makes defrosting the ice easier.
Step 2
Switch the refrigerator off. Go to the control panel, which you will find in front of the ice and water dispenser or behind the grill at the top. This depends on the model of Jenn-Air refrigerator you own.
On the control panel, you will see the On/Off keypad. Press and hold it for about 3 seconds. The display of the panel will be lit up, indicating that the refrigerator has gone off.
Step 3
Disconnect the power cord of the refrigerator from the wall socket. Open the door or doors of the refrigerator to allow warm air from outside into it. Leave the doors open for the duration of the defrost process. This way, the ice melts quickly. But it will still take some hours to fully defrost.
Place a shallow pan or tray at the base of the unit to collect dripping water. Surround the edge with thick rags or towels so that the floor of the room is not flooded with water from the melting ice.
If the floor of the room is made of wood or some other material that can be damaged by water, relocate the unit to another room with a different floor for the duration of the defrost process.
If you are inclined to, you can use hot water to melt the ice even faster. Place one or two bowls of hot or boiling water into the unit without closing the doors. As the ice chunks drop, lift them out of the unit so that they don’t increase the defrost time. The quicker they drop and you lift them out, the faster the process will be.
Step 4
When all the ice melts, clean both sections of the unit thoroughly. Use warm water and mild soap with a soft rag. Then, dry the interior with a dry towel until there is no moisture left. Don’t use an abrasive cleaner so that the unit is not damaged.
Step 5
Switch the refrigerator on. Press the On/Off keypad and the light on the display on the control panel will go off. This means that the refrigerator is on and cooling. Give it time to significantly cool before storing food in it again.
If your unit is a Jenn-Air deep or chest freezer, then the steps above apply to it. The only difference is that you will have to open the drain valve at the front bottom of the freezer to let water out.
Jenn-Air Refrigerator Defrost Problem – What to Do
If your Jenn-Air refrigerator has a problem defrosting, it is time to run tests on the defrost components of the defrost system.
The likeliest component to be defective is the defrost heater. So to check it, test it for continuity using a multimeter. If there is no continuity, replace the heater.
Without the heater, the evaporator or cooling coils will have an accumulation of frost or ice. Over time, the coils will stop working, causing further problems in the refrigerator.
If the heater is not defective, then test the defrost timer. To test it, turn it counterclockwise until you hear a click as the compressor goes off and the heater turns on. This is an indication that the timer needs to be replaced because it should advance in and out of the defrost mode automatically.
However, if the heater and the timer are not faulty, the problem could be with the defrost thermostat. You will find the thermostat on top of the evaporator coils, where it regulates when the defrost heater turns on and off.
You can also check the defrost control board. If it is damaged or burnt, it won’t be able to function and it will cause defrost problems.
In the event you cannot test these components yourself, then contact Jenn-Air to request service or chat with our refrigerator technicians. They are at hand to assist you, no matter the refrigerator problem you may have.
Quick Note
It is important to be sure that there is a fault with a defrost component before replacing it. And remember to switch the refrigerator off before repairing any part of it, in order to keep yourself safe from electrocution.
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How to Defrost a Jenn-Air Refrigerator – Related FAQs
Where Is the Defrost Drain Located on a Jenn-Air Refrigerator?
The defrost drain is located in the freezer section, at the center of the base of the back wall, right under the coils. This is because the freezer is the section that easily accumulates ice and needs defrosting. So for the water to easily drain, the defrost drain has to be in that section.
Where Is the Defrost Heater on a Jenn-Air Refrigerator?
The defrost heater on a Jenn-Air refrigerator is found behind the back wall of the freezer section, just under the evaporator coils. If your freezer is the type that has the coils under the freezer floor, then that is where the defrost heater is.
Wherever the evaporator coils are located, look at their base and you will find the heater attached. This is because the heater has the job of heating the coils once they have frost forming on them so they don’t freeze.
Where Is the Location of the Defrost Timer on a Jenn-Air Refrigerator?
The defrost timer on a Jenn-Air refrigerator is located behind the kick panel, on the front bottom of the refrigerator. Open the panel and you will see the timer.
However, this is for specific models. Some models have their defrost timer inside the console housing the temperature control on the roof inside the refrigerator. Other models have theirs behind the refrigerator.
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