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HomeRepair HelpGibson Refrigerator RepairGibson Refrigerator not defrosting Repair
Gibson Refrigerator not defrosting
If your Gibson refrigerator is not defrosting, start with the simplest cause: a door left open can let frost accumulate on the evaporator coil and fan, and often a closed door and a manual thaw will clear it. If frost keeps returning, the next likely culprits are the defrost control board or the defrost timer; test the defrost heater and defrost thermostat first, then slowly advance the timer into a defrost cycle — the compressor should stop and the heater should energize. A twisted or worn door gasket can also let moist air in and cause persistent frost, so check for kinks and damage and smooth or replace the gasket as needed. Finally, the defrost heater assembly or defrost thermostat may have failed; use a multimeter to check continuity and replace any part that is open. For exact replacement parts and step-by-step instructions, enter your refrigerator model number at RepairClinic.com to find the right parts and repair help for fridge not defrosting or other refrigerator defrost problems.
01 - Door left open
If the freezer or refrigerator door was left open for an extended period of time (more than 4 hours), frost or ice may have accumulated on the food, evaporator coil and evaporator fan motor, or around the door opening. Frost should go away after the door is closed and the refrigerator goes through a defrost cycle. More significant ice buildup may require the refrigerator to be unplugged for a day to allow the ice to melt, or a hair dryer may be able to be used to assist in melting the ice.
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02 - Gibson Refrigerator Defrost Timer
The defrost timer turns on the defrost heater several times throughout the day to melt any frost that may have accumulated on the evaporator coils. If the defrost timer is defective, it may not advance into the defrost cycle, or it may not send power to the defrost heater during the defrost cycle. To determine if the defrost timer is defective, slowly advance the dial into the defrost cycle. The compressor should turn off and the heater should turn on. If the timer does not send power to the defrost components or advance out of the defrost cycle within 30 minutes, this indicates that the defrost timer is not advancing. If ...
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03 - Gibson Refrigerator Defrost Control Board
The defrost control board determines how often to run the defrost cycle. If the board fails, the refrigerator will not go into the defrost cycle. Before replacing the defrost control board, first test the defrost heater and defrost thermostat. If the defrost heater and defrost thermostat are working properly, the defrost control board is likely defective.
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04 - Gibson Refrigerator Door Gasket
A twisted or worn gasket can keep the door from closing properly. Inspect the door gasket for kinks or twists. You can use a hair dryer to try smoothing out the kinks. If the door gasket is damaged it will need to be replaced.
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05 - Gibson Refrigerator Defrost Heater Assembly
The defrost heater assembly turns on several times throughout the day to melt away any frost that may have accumulated on the evaporator coils. If the defrost heater assembly is defective, the defrost system will not work, and frost will continue to accumulate on the evaporator coils. To determine if the defrost heater is defective, use a multimeter to test it for continuity. If the defrost heater does not have continuity, replace it.
Common
06 - Gibson Refrigerator Defrost Thermostat
The defrost thermostat monitors the temperature of the evaporator coils. When the coils drop below a set temperature, the thermostat contacts close to allow power to flow to the defrost heater during the defrost cycle. In the defrost cycle, the defrost heater melts away any frost that may have accumulated on the evaporator coils. If the defrost thermostat is defective, the thermostat contacts will not close. As a result, the thermostat won’t provide power to the defrost heater. To determine if the defrost thermostat is defective, use a multimeter to test it for continuity. If the defrost thermostat does not have continuity...
Common
07 - Gibson Refrigerator Thermistor
A thermistor monitors the temperature of the evaporator coils. If the coils are below a set temperature, the thermistor will alert the defrost control to allow power to flow to the defrost heater during the defrost cycle. In the defrost cycle, the defrost heater melts away any frost that may have accumulated on the evaporator coils. If the thermistor is defective, the defrost control will not be alerted to allow voltage to be sent to the defrost heater.
Common
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my refrigerator not defrosting?
Fridge not cooling but freezer works — could this be a defrost problem?
How do I know whether to replace the defrost control board, defrost timer, or defrost heater?
Refrigerator door not closing properly — can that cause defrost issues?
How do I enter my model number or part number on RepairClinic.com to find the right replacement part?