GE Fridge Auto Defrost too Warm or Long

[Markeau]

I have a 4yr old GE TFX25JPCE side by side which lately seems to be getting either too warm during its defrost cycle or it's defrosting too long. The ice is melting so when the temps go back down the cubes are no fused together, and the ice cream gets like warm butter during the defrost cycle.

I looked over the troubleshooting tips on various sites, but everything seems ok. It seems like it is defrosting right when I want ice cream, that being around 7pm ... is there some way to make it defrost at like 7am instead? Or otherwise shift the defrost cycle a few hours later??

[Stormin Mormon]

Sounds like you've got a bad defrost termination thermostat. This is something a refrigerator guy can replace. It means taking the stuff out of the freezer, and taking the back panel off, and replacing it.

Second, you can change the time of defrost by unplugging the fridge for an hour -- then it will defrost an hour later.

It's also possible to force the defrost timer forward a bit, but it's hard to explain over the net.

[Dan O.]

By what testing method?

You can read how a frost free refrigerator's defrost system works at the following link:

If the defrost termination thermostat (if used on your model) isn't opening at the right time, that could cause thawing in the freezer section. On electronically controlled models a problem in a thermister or the electronic control itself could cause it.

There's also the possibility that it isn't cooling properly to begin which and going into defrost just makes matters worse. The fridge compressor could also either be shutting off prematurely or not coming back on right away.

The whole functioning of the appliance will have to be evaluated.

The refrigerator should usually go into a defrost cycle several times a day. The link above describes that older refrigerator models used a defrost control with a set time period. Most newer models do not and the defrost periods will change depending on usage.

So the answer is no, you will not be able to set when that defrost period will happen.

Dan O.

- Appliance411.com

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[Markeau]

It was a bad thermostat. Only took the repairman ~1hr to fix.

during

[Stormin Mormonn]

Which screws did the techie use for the wires? Seems like you could coach a lot of home owners how to install their own thermostats.

Oh, you said refrigerator. Bummer.