How to Replace the Defrost Heater in a Refrigerator
- 1). Disconnect the refrigerator from the electrical system by unplugging it from the wall outlet.
- 2). Locate the defrost heater in your refrigerator's freezer section. Remove items from the freezer and look for a removable panel on the back wall or the floor of the freezer.
- 3). Unscrew the screws that hold on the access panel. In some models the panel is held on with clips that pry off with a screwdriver. Older refrigerators may have a plastic molding that must be removed to gain access to the screws or clips. The molding pries off, but be careful not to break it.
- 4). Unscrew the screws or pry off the clips that hold the defrost heater in place.
- 5). Pull off the two wires connected to the defrost heater with a pair of needle-nose pliers. The wires connect to the heater with clips that pull off when their sides are depressed.
- 6). Install the new defrost heater by connecting the wire clips and securing the defrost heater with the screws or clips from the old heater. Replace the access panel with the screws or clips and replace the molding if there is any. Plug in the refrigerator.
Source...