Why Is My Freezer Full of Frost But My Fridge Isn't Staying Cold?

Posted on July 24nd, 2025

Here’s What Happened With This GE Appliance in the East Valley

When a customer called us out to look at their GE refrigerator, the symptoms were clear: the freezer was covered in frost, and the fridge section wasn't cooling well at all. This is a classic sign of a failed defrost system.

What you’re looking at in the photo is a fully frozen-over evaporator cover — the coils behind it are completely blocked by ice. That ice buildup stops cold air from circulating properly, leading to poor cooling performance in the fridge.

We advised the customer to unplug the unit and leave the freezer door open for 24 hours. That thaw helps avoid unnecessary damage when removing panels and makes the next repair step safer and smoother.

Here’s what we’re replacing on this unit:

• WR51X10055 – Defrost Heater
• WR50X10069 – Bimetal Thermostat
• WR55X10025 – Thermistor

These parts work together to sense when the coils are too cold, turn on the heater to melt ice, and maintain a consistent temperature. When any of them fail, frost builds up silently over time until your fridge starts failing.

The customer rescheduled for the next day after thawing, and we came back with the parts in hand to complete the repair.

Notice these signs?

• Freezer works but fridge is warm
• Thick frost behind the rear freezer wall
• Defrost cycles not happening automatically
• Fridge seems to "work again" for a week after defrosting

That’s your cue to call us.
We’re based in Gilbert and service the East Valley fast — including Mesa, Chandler, Queen Creek, Tempe, and beyond.

📞 (602) 429-9058
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