- Model Number
- ZISB480DRJ
- Brand
- GE
- Age
- More than 10 years
I recently had the evaporator coil replaced due to an apparent refrigerant leak that meant that neither the freezer nor refrigerator were cooling. That problem is now solved. But since then the freezer starts icing up after a few days. This looks like ice-streams down the sides and the evaporator fan first becoming noisy then freezing up entirely.
The evaporator deicing heater has been tested and is within limits.
The evaporator drain pan has been tested and is within limits. It was also replaced - didn’t help.
The evaporator thermistor has been tested and is within limits.
The main control board was replaced - didn‘t help.
(The one thing I haven’t tested is the defrost thermostat - not sure how to do this.)
The ice seems to be forming below the evaporator, in and around the drain pan. The drain pan becomes stuck to the evaporator in a solid block of ice. Initial thoughts were that the drain pan wasn’t working and was freezing up (hence the replacement which didn’t help). But on the last defrost cycle I could see water dripping from the freezer ceiling and running down the freezer wall. So it appears that the pan is not draining. I have checked the drain hose and it is clear (I used a turkey baster with hot water in case of any debris - I also blew down it and found no resistance). During the defrost cycle mentioned above the hose did not appear to be frozen when I squeezed it. The compressor pan is completely dry.
When I replaced the ceiling panel the last time I took the freezer apart to defrost it, I realized that the drain pan is sitting right up against the bottom of the evaporator. I actually had to push up with a decent amount of force to be able to get the screws in that hold up the ceiling panel. This made me wonder if the evaporator itself is restricting the flow of water from the drain pan. Should there be a gap between the evaporator and the pan? Is it possible that the new evaporator is not quite in place and is sitting too low?
Any and all help gratefully received as this problem is driving me crazy - and it’s now been 2 months since we’ve had a properly functioning unit.
___
The following threads were helpful but didn’t solve the problem (this list is mostly for my reference - but also anybody else who may have a similar problem):
www.applianceblog.com
www.applianceblog.com
www.applianceblog.com
www.applianceblog.com
The evaporator deicing heater has been tested and is within limits.
The evaporator drain pan has been tested and is within limits. It was also replaced - didn’t help.
The evaporator thermistor has been tested and is within limits.
The main control board was replaced - didn‘t help.
(The one thing I haven’t tested is the defrost thermostat - not sure how to do this.)
The ice seems to be forming below the evaporator, in and around the drain pan. The drain pan becomes stuck to the evaporator in a solid block of ice. Initial thoughts were that the drain pan wasn’t working and was freezing up (hence the replacement which didn’t help). But on the last defrost cycle I could see water dripping from the freezer ceiling and running down the freezer wall. So it appears that the pan is not draining. I have checked the drain hose and it is clear (I used a turkey baster with hot water in case of any debris - I also blew down it and found no resistance). During the defrost cycle mentioned above the hose did not appear to be frozen when I squeezed it. The compressor pan is completely dry.
When I replaced the ceiling panel the last time I took the freezer apart to defrost it, I realized that the drain pan is sitting right up against the bottom of the evaporator. I actually had to push up with a decent amount of force to be able to get the screws in that hold up the ceiling panel. This made me wonder if the evaporator itself is restricting the flow of water from the drain pan. Should there be a gap between the evaporator and the pan? Is it possible that the new evaporator is not quite in place and is sitting too low?
Any and all help gratefully received as this problem is driving me crazy - and it’s now been 2 months since we’ve had a properly functioning unit.
___
The following threads were helpful but didn’t solve the problem (this list is mostly for my reference - but also anybody else who may have a similar problem):
FIXED - ZISS420DRJSS GE Monogram side by side built-in doesn't hold temperature
I have a GE monogram built-in that was built in 2007. Recently it has begun not holding the temperature well. It started with the fridge side running about 46, and the freezer 8 - 10, when they were set at 36 and 0. It seems to run almost continuously in this state, and the temperature slowly...
www.applianceblog.com
GE Monogram
We have a GE Monogram s/s and the fan motor in the freezer keeps icing up and then will not run. What would be causing this?
www.applianceblog.com
ZIS42NYB GE Freezer Drip and Ice from top of Freezer Compartment
Problem now is leaking water from top of freezer compartment, left side, which is dripping and freezing over the Icemaker. Leak is also on right side of freezer compartment. History: After Capacitor was replaced (I'd like to know how that is done on this ZIS42NYB also as price seemed very high...
www.applianceblog.com
GE Refrigerator ZISS420DRAS Evaporator fan keeps icing over/freezing
I had a technician come to my house because my GE side-by-side freezer and fridge were warm. Freezer was set to zero and was running at 28 degrees and the fridge was set to 37 and was running at over 50 degrees. He determined my evaporator fan in the back of the freezer had iced over. He said...
www.applianceblog.com
