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Judy Stocker Jones Posted on Nov 12, 2016

Tonight behind the vents in my hotpoint freezer, I noticed a red hot tube or wire or coil or something. Never noticed it before....is this normal?

5 Related Answers

douglas smith

  • 1462 Answers
  • Posted on Jul 13, 2007

SOURCE: Falling water hits something hot in freezer and causes sizzle sound

the sizzling noise is water hitting the defrost elememt and this is normal - shows the defrost system is working. if water comes on the floor of the freezer, this may be the drain for the defrost water is blocked. remove the freexer back panel and the drain is in the tray where the defrost water is caught. if it is blocked - usually with ice - clear it with hot water and make sure the water drains freely. takes some patience and maybe several attempts

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Anonymous

  • 413 Answers
  • Posted on May 29, 2008

SOURCE: Glowing Red in Dryer

The element will glow brightly with the door open because there will be no airflow through the dryer. DO NOT operate the dryer this way for long periods or the element will overheat and fail. If the element glows brightly (as seen from the rear of the unit) with the door closed, it may be an indication of restricted airflow in the exhaust system.

Healeyman

mike kirschbaum

  • 1198 Answers
  • Posted on Apr 27, 2009

SOURCE: Sizziling red hot coil in rear bottom of freezer (side by side)

That's the defrost heater. The defrost sensor has failed. The freezer has to be taken apart to find the sensor. It is usually round, with a couple of wires going to it.

woodchuck789

Charles T Nevin

  • 4070 Answers
  • Posted on Oct 12, 2009

SOURCE: My coils are red hot through the freezer vent. Is

It may cut off by it's self. Your defrost timer is part 13 on this diagram. http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/getSubComp.pd?diagramPageId=00002&documentId=M0310055&modelNumber=MSD2454GRQ&productCategoryId=0165000&brandId=3048&modelName=&blt=11 I would turn the timer till the compressor started running again. This should cut the defrost heater off. The timer should stay in defrost mode for only about 20 minutes. The timer may be the problem. Here's an explanation of the defrost. The evaporator coil behind the cover on the back wall inside the freezer will ice up under normal conditions. Every 8 to 10 hours for around 20 minutes the defrost timer (or in most newer models the electronic adaptive defrost control) will turn the defrost heater on to melt the built up ice. There is a defrost thermostat which prevents the heater from overheating the freezer by breaking the heater circuit when the temp reaches close to 32 degrees F. The entire cooling system shuts off during the defrost cycle and starts back when the timer advances through the cycle.

If this ice is not melted it will continue to build up until the air can’t flow over the coil to circulate the cold air through the freezer and into the fridge. The temperature change in the fridge is usually noticed first followed by the freezer.

If the defrost thermostat is bad it can prevent the heater from coming on OR it won’t turn the heater off when it gets too warm. It is clamped to the evaporator coil at the top to sense the temp. If it appears to be misshapen it is bad.
With an ohm meter it should show continuity when cold and none when warm.
You can also bypass the thermostat to see if the heater comes on then. If it does then you know the thermostat is bad and needs replaced.

The defrost heater is located on the evaporator. It is in a tube which is at the bottom and can also go up the sides of the evaporator. On some types you can see a burnt spot if it’s bad. With an ohm meter it should show continuity from end to end when disconnected from the wiring in the freezer. You can also test the wiring for voltage when it’s in the defrost mode.

If you have a defrost timer you can test it. It can be located under the fridge behind the kick panel on the front. Some are in the fridge with the controls at the top. You can turn the defrost timer till it clicks and everything shuts down. The heater should now come on. If it does, replace the timer because that means the timer is not running. If it doesn't, check the heater and defrost thermostat. Turn the timer again till everything starts back up to end the defrost cycle.


If you have an adaptive defrost control instead of a timer, replace it if the heater and thermostat test good. It is located in the fridge with the controls in some models and on the back in others.

Anonymous

  • 2605 Answers
  • Posted on Mar 02, 2010

SOURCE: pipe behind freezer look red hot

Hi, yes you bet they do, at least modern day "frost free" firdges do. As the saying goes though, "out of site out of mind". Not to worry, this is the way the fridge keeps from frost/ice building up on the evaporator. It defrost's by way of a heater which does heat to a point to melt the frost, be it only briefly though ( usually 10-20 min. depending on the frost accumulated and the bi-metal thermostat tolerance...the part which insures it shut's off ). Anyway, I hope that re-assure's you this is normal and perfectly fine. If you however, think you want a pro to come and look at it, than that is what you should do. Hope this has addressed your concern or inquiry. Thanks for visiting "fixya" for assitance today, please take a moment to rate the info provided to you, whether helpful etc. Thanks again. Macmarkus :)

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Water dripping into fridge from freezer. noticed red hot element in back of freezer behind vent inside freezer

Heater glow behind frz back wall is normal during auto defrost cycle. This happens about 2 or 3 times a day for approximately 30 to 45 minutes. The water migrating into the fresh food section could be from a blocked drain tube which should be be in the area directly under the red glow you noticed. Should be a hole going through the floor into the drain pan under the refrigerator. Force hot water down hole until it flows freely.
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We have water leaking from the bottom of the freezer side of the refrigerator

Clean the drain pan and drain line in the back of the freezer section behind the back cover and underneath the evaporator coil. (hint: use turkey baster with hot water) Make sure water drains when you pour it in. If it doesn't - also clean drain tube on the back of the unit behind the cover. When done - make sure to put the tube exactly where it was.
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In the freezer, bottom of the rear panel there are two vents. Behind those vents I noticed a red "glowing". The fridge is brand new. Is this normal?? Please help. Thank you in advance.

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I see a red light like something is red hot behind the back panel in the freezer. I removed the panel and I see a coil with 2 clear tubes that have some type of spiral metal inside. There is 1 midways of...

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Your drain tube may be stopped up with ice at the upper end because it drains too slow because it's stopped up at the lower end in the evaporator pan under the unit at the floor. It can get dust and mold in it. Once you get the ice out at the top a little pressure with a turkey baster will usually clear it out. Flushing it out with hot water and clorox may help.
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Falling water hits something hot in freezer and causes sizzle sound

the sizzling noise is water hitting the defrost elememt and this is normal - shows the defrost system is working. if water comes on the floor of the freezer, this may be the drain for the defrost water is blocked. remove the freexer back panel and the drain is in the tray where the defrost water is caught. if it is blocked - usually with ice - clear it with hot water and make sure the water drains freely. takes some patience and maybe several attempts
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