Ice on Back Wall of Refrigerator
CAUSE:
- Faulty door gasket
- Air leaking into the unit
- Air circulation issue
- Sealed system issue
CORE ISSUE:
- Why is ice forming on the back wall or floor of the refrigerator?
- Why has ice formed at the back of the crisper shelf assembly?
- Why is there ice behind the refrigerator drawers?
STEPS TO VERIFY ISSUE:
- Open the refrigerator door and inspect the unit door gasket. If it is ripped, torn, or damaged, replace it using Door Gasket Replacement Instructions.
- Contact a Factory Certified Parts Distributor to order parts.
- Remove door obstructions that may prevent a proper seal. Verify the door closes all the way.
- Check the set temperatures are at or near 38°F in the refrigerator, 0°F in the freezer, or 4-6 if the unit has a dial control.
- Clean the Condenser if it has not been done in the last 6 months. It could take up to 24 hours for the unit to respond once the condenser is clean.
- For model 648PRO or PRO48, see 648PRO Refrigerator Evaporator Icing Up.
- Address error codes if any are present on the display.
- For heavy icing, turn off the unit and use a hair dryer on low to remove the ice.
- Remove the crisper drawer and crisper shelf assembly; if equipped, remove all lower storage drawers.
- If ice is in the crisper area, a drain issue is more likely than if the frost is in the shelf area.
- Food debris, standing water, or ice built up in the drain trough or drain tube located along the back wall may cause frost if the drain tube is clogged.
- The drain trough and drain tube will only be visible on a 200, 300, 500, or 600 Series. See 200 300 500 600 Series Refrigerator Drain Tube Cleaning.
- For 400 Wine Storage, 700 Series, 648PRO, and Built-In (BI) Series, refer to Drain Tube Cleaning (BI-700-400-648PRO Series.
ANSWER:
Ice or frost on the back wall of a refrigerator is often caused by warm air leaking into the unit or a clogged drain tube. If ice or frost returns after following the above steps, no further troubleshooting advice is available. Contact Factory Certified Service to schedule an appointment for repair.