106.5460900 Kenmore Elite Side by Side Icing up problem

[DDT Doug]

Model Number

106.54609300

Brand

Sears Kenmore

Age

More than 10 years

Water coming out through bottom of freezer compartment. Took back off and found tray and coils full of ice. Thawed out and poured hot water down to make sure drain was clear. Worked fine for 3 or four days and then ice in bottom of freezer under bottom basket. Freezer and refer. cooling fine. Thought it was the Defrost timer and purchased one, and a thermostat. Cannot find the location of the timer. Have looked in back by compressor, in the front toe kick and up under the electronic control panel in the refer. I do not remember seeing in behind the freezer back panel, could it be there? When I ordered the part by the model number, it gave a part # W10822278. I am wondering if this Elite Model has a control board instead of the timer. Strange, that if that were so, it would not come up as an option when searching by model number. I could use some help finding location of the timer or determining if my model does not have a timer. Any other thoughts what the problem is if it is not the timer? Thank you, and this is my first post, so hope what I have asked is acceptable and complete enough.

 

[jeff1]

Hi,

106.5460900

I think this is missing a digit.
Please recheck.

jeff sr.

 

[DDT Doug]

Sorry, it is 106.54609300

 

[DDT Doug]

How do I change it on the posting? Thanks

 

[jeff1]

I changed it for you.

Took back off and found tray and coils full of ice.

Ice or frost?

Frost is more of an door or frost free issue.
Ice is more of a drain issue or -maybe- incomplete defrosting.

Thought it was the Defrost timer and purchased one, and a thermostat. Cannot find the location of the timer.

Doesn't have a timer.
It does have a defrost thermostat.

Worked fine for 3 or four days and then ice in bottom of freezer under bottom basket.

Still sounds like a restricted defrost drain. Doesn't have to be clogged, just has to slow down the defrost water enough so it freezes and causes issues.
Maybe an over night defrosting wit the doors open and then flush out the drain with a turkey baster filled with hot water might help.

jeff sr.

 

[DDT Doug]

Thanks. I have poured boiling water down the drain and it was clear and went into the pan under the freezer. Froze up again, so figured it has to be timer or thermostat. Looked in the three normal places, in tow kick, under control cover in refer. and in back by the compressor. Was wondering if since my control panel is digital, is the timer a circuit board. That is not the case according to the model number of the unit, so I am confused and wondering where the timer is?

 

[DDT Doug]

solid ice in the pan in freezer compartment and bottom of freezer. There was a defrost timer that is called out for this model, so you say there is none? That would explain why I cannot find one. How does it get into defrost mode then? It seems like a timer issue more than a thermostat, but I can change the stat and see if that works.

 

[jeff1]

How does it get into defrost mode then?

Timed in an electronic control board.....which is now NLA (No Longer Available).

It may be possible the defrost thermostat is shutting the heater off too soon...but we normally see some ice in the evaporator coils and not in the drip tray area.
May be able to add a heat sink to help and prevent the drain hole from icing over.

Defrost Drain Freezes | Appliance Aid

www.applianceaid.com

jeff sr.

 

[DDT Doug]

Thanks Jeff for the links and information. The pictures of the control panels are exactly what we have. We love our refrigerator and would hate to have to replace it. Could my symptoms be from a bad thermostat and not the control board? Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[jeff1]

It may be possible the defrost thermostat is shutting the heater off too soon...but we normally see some ice in the evaporator coils and not in the drip tray area.
May be able to add a heat sink to help and prevent the drain hole from icing over.

In a good try to keep this refrigerator going...do both! New thermostat, flush the drain out again and add a heat sink to help some of the warmth from the defrost heater to go down into the drain hole to help and prevent ice from forming up.

jeff sr.

 

[DDT Doug]

The coils were all iced up along with the tray that has the drain hole. I think when that fills up, then it comes into the bottom of the freezer and freezes and then onto the floor. I will try both. Thanks

 

[jeff1]

The coils were all iced up

Iced or frosted or a combination of both?

jeff sr.

 

[DDT Doug]

Iced or frosted or a combination of both?

jeff sr.

There was ice in the drain pain under the coils, and frost on the coils. There was also frost around the icemaker. About every two days we chip out about a 1/2 inch of ice under the bottom bin of the freezer. That way it does not leak out onto the kitchen floor.
I found online, a place that refurbishes the control board for about $150. I would do that if I can be sure it is the board and not something else. Thank you so much for your help!

 

[jeff1]

There was ice in the drain pain under the coils, and frost on the coils.

Ice in the evaporator/cooling coils can come up from underneath as it builds up higher and higher and engulfs the coils.
Ice inside the evaporator often comes from the frost starting to melt and the refrigerator comes back on and freezes the water into ice.
Frost on the evaporator is normal.

Board would be the last item that *I* would contemplate as the refrigerator is going into defrost ok, frost is melting but the water is not running away....for what ever reason.

jeff sr.

 

[DDT Doug]

It does go into defrost mode because there is water freezer in the bottom of the freezer compartment. Is it possible that the control timer goes into defrost mode, but does not stay in the defrost mode long enough to get all the frost melted.

Then when the timer goes back to regular, there is still frost melting, and then after a few cycles, the water is still draining out and freezes in the drain hole.

The unit has been working great for 20 years, and now this problem. So, I would like to fix the problem and not just put a band aid on it. I am just trying to understand the workings of the systems. Thanks again!

 

[jeff1]

Is it possible that the control timer goes into defrost mode, but does not stay in the defrost mode long enough to get all the frost melted.

Possible yes....but like mentioned the ice won't be all of the floor and filled up in the drip tray.
Doesn't sounds like your problem anyways.

So, I would like to fix the problem and not just put a band aid on it.

A band-aid may be the only option you have.....esp if over the 20 years a little water has been leaking into the insulation and is now frozen making your issue worse. A month of Sunday defrost and this insulation will not dry out and you have no access to it. We only figure this has happened AFTER we have exhausted all other tries.

jeff sr.