KitchenAid refrigerator repair and replacement parts

How to deal with frost buildup in the freezer of your KitchenAid refrigerator

If frost is building up in the freezer, check for a break in the door gasket that could be letting in warm, moist air. If the gasket seems sound, a malfunction somewhere in the automatic defrost system could be the culprit. A failed defrost timer or a bad electronic control board may not initiate the automatic defrost cycle, causing excessive frost buildup on the back wall inside the freezer. A faulty defrost sensor can prevent the defrost heater from turning on the defrost cycle. See how to check the defrost sensor and other components in the defrost system in our refrigerator won't cool troubleshooting video.

Common parts that need replacing in KitchenAid refrigerators

• Compressor. A KitchenAid refrigerator compressor is often sold as part of a compressor motor kit. The compressor is a positive displacement pump rotated by an electric motor. The compressor receives low-pressure refrigerant gas from the evaporator and rotates to compress that refrigerant to a high-pressure gas that moves through the condenser. The refrigerant gets hot when compressed by the compressor pump. The condenser is a heat exchanger that removes heat from the refrigerant gas and condenses it into a high-pressure liquid refrigerant. The high-pressure liquid refrigerant flows through the expansion device and into the evaporator that's at low pressure. The high-pressure refrigerant expands and evaporates. It absorbs the latent heat of vaporization as it changes from a liquid to a gas, which causes the cooling action in the evaporator. The refrigerant flows through the evaporator and back to the compressor where the cycles starts over.
• Condenser fan. The condenser fan is located in the machine compartment of the refrigerator next to the compressor. It moves air across the condenser coils to help cool the hot refrigerant coming out of the compressor. The refrigerant is cooled before it moves through the expansion device and into the evaporator.
• Defrost bi-metal thermostat. The defrost bi-metal thermostat is a safety device attached to the evaporator coil. The defrost bi-metal thermostat shuts off the refrigerator defrost heater if the heater gets hot enough to damage the evaporator.
• Electronic control board. The refrigerator electronic control board controls the major electro-mechanical components in the refrigerator. When the electronic control board senses the compressor needs to run to cool the refrigerator, it sends voltage to the compressor and fans. It then receives input from temperature sensors to monitor the temperatures inside the refrigerator and freezer sections. With this information, the electronic control board controls cooling and the defrost cycle.

Where to order your KitchenAid refrigerator parts

Sears PartsDirect is an easy choice for all your KitchenAid refrigerator parts needs. Sears PartsDirect sells KitchenAid replacement parts.