LG Privilege GR-726R: ice buildup in freezer, suspect defrost heater or timer not working, but do see how to remove one piece freezer interior shell (no screws).

Hello Manuel Villegas,

I'm not getting any hits on our domestic (USA) Parts (spares)providers... So I am confident YOU WILL HAVE TO SEARCH...

lg+control+board+GRV212RL2.. or
lg+power+board+GRV212RL2

If you have your original owners info that should give you your absolute PART NUMBER...

You need to take a real close look at the defrost pan to see if water is being deposited into it... daily (maybe twice)...

- little water is GREAT...
- lot of water is air intrusion: poor seals or ice door stuck open.
- no water = defrost circuit failure

If it is dry... that's not a great sign... (BUT not bad).

Then check to see if you have ice/frost built up in the bottom of your freezer area (precisely... around the EVAPORATOR COIL...
(if WORKING you should be able to look INTO the air slots)...

If you have the VENTS SMOTHERED with freezer contents... MOVE them away from the vents... Your freezer will resume normal operation... ALTHOUGH A SERIOUS DEFROST is always recommended...

Use NO HEATERS... fans & room air should be more than adequate... (heat can easily damage the interior panels of your freezer). Do have a pile of shop towels... & your wet/dry vacuum ready...

Defrost pans are not designed for the end of the ICE AGE.

If it is clogged with frost/ice you are having a defrost circuit failure...
(there are only 3 basic parts to the DEFROST CIRCUIT)

- heater(s)... very unlikely
- defrost thermostat... unlikely
- clock/timer or control board... most likely (easiest)

You either have a CONTROL BOARD or a TIMER to control "DEFROSTING"...
The first thing you want to do (after removing power) is inspect the
timer or control board...
(take LOTS of pictures before REMOVING ANYTHING).

Timers are pretty easy to check... (but MUST be turned in ONLY ONE direction)... You can see the center shaft... and if you mark it with two dots (one on the body & one on the center shaft) ... you will then be able to watch the dot turn away from the other dot as the center shaft rotates.

More likely... Most of the USA (our domestic freezers) have control boards... (again) Before you remove anything take LOTS of USEABLE pictures. You will need to put every wire & screw exactly back from whence it came!!

Always ground your hands before touching any circuit board you VALUE (BETTER purchase an anti-static wrist band).

Look at the bottom of the board for any obvious solder issues...
Else.. order that spare board you always wanted (anyway).
Always get three estimates...

Prices may vary but the parts are ALL THE SAME.

Hope this helps... I like refrigerators... feel free to comment me back if I'm too far off... I also have extensive OMRON data on manufacturer discontinued relay replacements (twice as good as the originals (I'm just saying)).

The ice buildup in back of freezer is a sign that the auto defrost mechanism is not working. Check the defrost timer, and heater element, defrost thermostat to remedy issue.

Once resolved your freezer temps as well as those in refrigerator will return to normal.

Anytime you have ice buildup in back of freezer it indicates that the auto defrost mechanism is not working. Check the defrost timer, heater element, defrost thermostat for proper operation.

It's not clogged full of ice behind the cover plate? That happens often - the defrost timer dies, and the evaporator packs solid with ice.

If that's not the case, then... does the fan rotate when the power is turned on? If not, suspect the (defrost timer) controller board. If it does, look for obstructions to airflow.

It depends how long this has taken to happen. It might be a buildup over years of which a complete system defrost might put it back on the righ path. If its happened over months then it could well be the defrost timer or defrost heater. Either way, a complete system defrost is probably in order (clearing the drainage hole and any standing water in the frrezer) and then you can monitor it regularly to see if the ice buildup happens again.

Hi,
Check the temperature setting Assure that there is enough room for air flow in the freezer or freezer Check for air flow restrictions in vents Test the temperature control Clean the condensor coils Check the door seals Test the door switch Test defrost heater Test defrost timer Test evaporator fan Check for a clogged drain tube Check for refrigerant leak Freezer is too cold
Check the temperature setting Test the temperature control Freezer is noisy
Hissing and popping is normal, it is the defrost heater. Check that the freezer is level Check the drain pan Check the condensor fan Check the evaporator fan Inspect the compressor mounts Freezer runs continuously
Defrost the freezer Clean the condensor coils Check the door seals Freezer starts and stops frequently
Clean the condensor coils Check the outlet voltage Test the condensor fan Test the compressor relay Test the overload protector Test the compressor motor Freezer does not defrost automatically
Test the defrost timer Test the defrost heater Test the defrost thermostat Freezer has an unpleasant odor
Remove spoiled food Clean freezer interior with a solution of h Clean freezer interior with a solution of hot water and baking soda Clean the door seals Remove breaker strips and check for wet insulation Water on floor outside of freezer
Check the drain pan If you have an ice-maker, check the water supply hose going into and coming out of the water inlet valve Water inside the freezer
Check for a clogged drain tube If you have an ice-maker, check freezer and ice-maker for level


Hoping that this will help to solve the problem....

Most likely you are having a defros problem. Inspect back wall of freezer for frost build-up. Or better yet, remove freezer panel to check coils for excessive ice or frost buildup.
The problem could be with you heating element, defrost terminator, or defrost timer. Manually turn the timer slowly, very slowly, until it clicks. May take you several tries to get it on defrost cycle. Onece it clicks, stop. Now look at the heating element to seee if its getting hot, or listen for crackling sounds. If the heater turns on, then the pproblem is with the timer. If it doesnt come on, then the heater is bad. You can also inspect it and check for continuity. inspect the terminator, as well, it is clippe to the suction line on the evaporator. If its bulging or deformed, then its no good.
If the freezer is iced up, the problem will be with the timer or heater.
If freezer is not cooling and everything is melting problem is with terminator.

Hello, the interior coils of the Freezer is the evaporator. If there is a uniform layer of ice on those coils or heavy buildup of frost, your defrost circuitry is not working properly. Possible timer or bi-metal defrost thermostat. Or, if it's a GE, a possible bad defrost heater element. Need to call a tech and have this serviced. The evaporator cannot absorb heat when Ice is evident. If there is ice on the lower portion of evap coils then you may have an obstruction in the sealed system. Once again, service tech can diagnose this and repair - costly. As for the freezer light being on, don't know. Make sure the door switch is working propler. Hope this helps!

Sounds like the defrost system of your freezer is not working. It could be either the defrost timer, defrost thermostat or the heater has a problem. The defrost timer turns off the compressor periodically to sent power to the defrost heater via the thermostat. The defrost heater then powers up and heats the evaporator coil to melt the accumulated ice buildup on the cold coils. Most likely issues are that the timer motor is not advancing the timer or the heater itself has burned out.

You have a defrost problem. Common problem on most frost free refrigerators because the ice buildup does not allow efficient heat transfer to evaporator coil. You will need to remove the cover in the back of the freezer compartment (you know , where you scraped of the ice).When you remove panel you will see a buildup of ice on your evaporator coil. This will have to be thawed out by hairdryer or some other means before you move onto next step.Next you will see a heater element (black thingy ) or glass tubes with internal elements .These are your defrost heaters. They can usaully be visually inspected but best to use an ohmeter to check continuity.If you have good heaters you will want to put frig into defrost by manually turning the defrost timer clockwise untill you hear frig cut off. (Look for timer inside right frig compartment next to thermostat.) power will now be diverted to heaters and will get hot for duration of defrost cycle. If defrost thermostat is bad this could be the case of problem( round looking disk thingy clamped to coil and wired before heater) You can check by bypassing the defrost therm directly to heater and see if heater works while in defrost cycle.You will want to replace it as this is the device that turns off the heater so as not to overheat and melt plastic in freezer.Just reinstall everthing and you should be good to go.