Q&A for How to Stop a Fridge from Ice Build Up

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How do I get rid of built-up ice in my fridge?

Aaron Beth
Appliance Technician
Aaron Beth is the founder of Aaron’s Refrigeration Company in New York City and a factory certified installer (FCI) for Sub-Zero products. He specializes in the service and maintenance of built-in refrigerators, wine coolers and ice machines. With over 54 years of experience, Aaron is the recipient of numerous Super-Service awards from Angie’s Lists and 2019 Best-of-the City.

Aaron Beth

Appliance Technician

Expert Answer

I would recommend unplugging your fridge for a while and allowing the ice to melt naturally. You can also use hot water to help melt the ice.

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Question

Ice forms behind my fridge back panel, preventing the fan from operating why

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Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

As a general rule, cool air isn't able to hold onto as much moisture as warm air can. Because of this, water accumulates and freezes at the very coldest part of your refrigerator—the back, which is right where your evaporator fan is.

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Question

If I don't close the door properly, can it cause ice buildup?

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Staff Answer

Definitely! When you open your refrigerator door, humid air makes its way in. Humid air has moisture in it—it's this moisture that eventually freezes up and turns into pesky ice buildup.

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Question

What can I do about ice buildup under the top cover of fridge?

Community Answer

You could need a new defrost timer. But first, you should start with a thorough cleaning of the fridge's bottom and remove all the dust and debris from the grill and coils down there. This may fix the problem entirely, and should be performed at least once every 5 years anyway.

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Question

More ice blocks are forming in my freezer. How do I stop this?

Community Answer

It may be that the temperature in your freezer is too high; lower it and see what happens. If that doesn't work, maybe too much warm air is getting in.

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Question

My GE fridge builds up ice underneath the freezer. How do I fix that?

Community Answer

Call in an appliance repairer to see if you need a new defrost timer. Unplug the fridge the night before the appointment so all ice melts and is out of the repairer's way.

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Question

Ice forms on the shelves inside the fridge in one day. What's the reason?

Community Answer

You most likely opened the fridge more frequently than you really needed to. Refer to Step 4. If you haven't opened the door a lot and this is still happening, you might need to check the rubber seal on the door. When the rubber gets old, the door might not close as tightly anymore.

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Question

How do I stop ice build up in my fridge?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

There are a couple of things you can do to prevent ice from building up in your fridge. Keep your refrigerator set to a temperature of 37 to 40 °F (3 to 4 °C) and set your freezer to 0 °F (−18 °C). Make sure your fridge door is sealed closed and only open it whenever you plan to get something out of it so you don't increase the humidity levels in the fridge. You can also make sure that bulky food items are away from the cold air source so they don't block it and form ice.

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Question

Why is there ice in my fridge?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Ice and frost can form in your fridge if the humidity levels get too high or if the air isn't able to circulate around the whole fridge. Make sure the fridge doors are sealed and closed as much as possible to keep out excess humidity and don't store any large or bulky items near the cold air source so the air can move around.

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Question

Why do fridges get wet inside?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Refrigerators can get wet and build up condensation when the warm outside air mixes with the cold air in your refrigerator. If there's a leak in the door seal or if the door is opened constantly, the humidity of the outside air can cause the inside of the fridge to be wet. The wet air can also cause ice to form in the fridge.

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Why is my fridge running all the time?

Community Answer

The main reason is likely to be a faulty thermostat, which is not switching on or off. It is constantly in the "on" position.

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Question

Will food freeze correctly if a freezer is at 32 degrees fahrenheit? Will some types of food freeze better than others?

Community Answer

Water freezes at 32 degrees F. Other things may have a lower freezing point - for a very simple example, if you have a dish which is mainly water but has salt added, that will need a lower temperature to freeze properly. Lots of processed foods have additives like sugar, which will lower the freezing point of the food. To make sure everything in your freezer is covered, you need a much lower temperature, see item 1 above, where they suggest freezer temp of 0 degrees F (-18 ºC).

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Question

Why does water collect under the vegetable box in my fridge? There is no frost buildup in the fridge.

Community Answer

The drain hole at the back of the fridge is probably blocked. Gently poke something semi rigid down it to free the blockage.

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