How to Replace Defrost Heater WR09X21107 On a GE Refrigerator

Is your GE refrigerator turning into an icy tundra, with frost choking the airflow? Fear not, because the culprit—a faulty defrost heater—can be easily replaced without a costly technician visit. Dive into our straightforward guide, complete with a step-by-step video, and get your fridge cooling efficiently once again!

Looking for the right part? Enter your appliance model number below to find the exact match and get your appliance running like new again!

Seeing a winter wonderland inside your GE fridge or freezer? Chances are the defrost heater—part WR09X21107—has gone bad. When it fails, frost builds up and airflow suffers. But good news—you don’t need to call a repair tech for this one. With a screwdriver, a bit of care, and this guide, you’ll have that heater swapped and your fridge back to chillin’ like it should. Let’s dive into how to do it!

Watch Here: How to replace defrost heater

The information in this article may not apply to your specific appliance model. We recommend consulting your manufacturer’s documentation or contact us with any questions.

What is the defrost heater?

The defrost heater is a crucial heating element located in the freezer section of your refrigerator. It serves one main purpose, to melt away any frost accumulation on the evaporator coils during the automatic defrost cycle.

Without properly working defrost heaters, ice will continuously build up on the evaporator coils over time. This blocks airflow and prevents your refrigerator from cooling properly.

Defrost heaters come on several times throughout the day. As they warm up, the ice melts into the defrost drain and gets pushed out of the sealed system.

Once the frost is cleared, the defrost heater shuts back off, and regular cooling resumes. This keeps the evaporator coils free of thick ice, maintaining efficient operation.

Symptoms of a failed defrost heater

• The refrigerator section runs at a higher-than-normal temperature
• The freezer section is warmer than it should be
• Heavy frost buildup on the rear panel inside the freezer
• Longer cooling cycles from compressor struggling

Materials and tools needed

• Flat blade screwdriver
• Quarter-inch nut driver
• Needle nose pliers
• Safety goggles
• Replacement defrost heater kit- Take your model number to AppliancePartsPros.com to locate the correct part.

Safety First

Safety comes first when working on any appliance. Here are some practical tips to help keep you safe:

• Always turn off the power by unplugging the appliance or switching off the circuit breaker before starting. This protects you from the risk of electric shock.
• Wear insulated gloves to protect your hands from sharp edges, pinching hazards, or debris.
• Take your time and work at a steady pace to avoid accidents or injuries.
• Make sure your workspace is well-lit so you can clearly see and access the parts you’re working on.
• Keep your area organized and free of clutter, and ensure children and pets are kept away from the workspace.
• Never handle internal parts with wet hands. Make sure both your hands and the work area are completely dry.
• Check your appliance’s user manual for specific instructions or safety guidelines related to your repair.
• Handle parts gently to prevent damaging the appliance or injuring yourself by using too much force.
• Wear safety glasses if you’re dealing with chemicals, dust, or large debris to protect your eyes.
• If the appliance was recently used, give it time to cool down before working on any heated components.
• Take photos or notes of wiring connections before disconnecting anything. This makes reassembly much easier.
• Avoid touching exposed wires or terminals. If you need to handle wires, use non-conductive tools or wear insulated gloves to reduce the risk of electrical shock.

Removal Steps

Make sure both power and water are off before beginning any repairs.

1. Open the freezer door completely to gain better working room and visibility.
2. Locate the slotted tabs on the rear end of the freezer shelf. You’ll need to slide these tabs upward and out from the retaining holes in the interior liner walls.
3. Once released, tilt up the front end of the shelf and carefully slide it forward to remove. Set aside to reinstall later.
4. Locate the pair of tabs on both side walls securing the tower laterally. Insert a flat blade screwdriver into the square gap behind each tab.
5. Pry gently on the handles to bow the tower outskirts slightly. This releases the sidewall tabs with ease.
6. Repeat the same prying motion on the two lower tabs anchoring the base of the tower.
7. Finally, the top clips can be detached by pulling forward on the tower base while easing the upper housing forward.
8. With all the mounting points freed up, you can now lift away the air tower in one piece.
9. Pay attention to the release order when taking apart refrigerator components. Reversing the steps makes reassembly much quicker after completing the repair.
10. Use a 1⁄4 inch nut driver to back out the two screws securing the panel from the top and bottom.
11. Grab the panel by the hand slots and pull it forward. Maneuver it outwards from the cabinet.
12. Set the removable panel aside without bending or creasing it.
13. Simply peel the insulation material away from the panel in one piece.
14. Try not to tear or warp the foam during removal. It slides off easily when handled gingerly.
15. Reach into the exposed machine compartment with needle nose pliers.
16. Feel for the two electric leads supplying power to the heating element.
17. Grip each terminal firmly with pliers and detach from heater element using a slight twisting pull.
18. Identify the three mounting brackets holding the defrost heater assembly to the evaporator housing.
19. Use needle nose pliers to bend back the locking flange on each bracket.
20. Once the flanges are loosened, slide the defrost heater forward to detach from all three.
21. You can now fully remove the old defrost heater by pulling it outward from the coils. 

Installation and Reassembly

1. Connect both lead wires to the appropriate terminals on the replacement heater using needle nose pliers. Make sure you have a tight, secure connection.
2. Position the assembly correctly into the coils, aligning it with all three mounting brackets.
3. Slide the ends of the defrost heater into the retaining slots on each bracket. Push the assembly rearward until flush with the brackets.
4. Use pliers to rebend the locking flanges back down over the heater, fastening it firmly in the evaporator housing.
5. Double-check that the wiring is tightened down and the heater assembly sits squarely in the retaining cutouts.
6. Place the sheet of foam insulation back onto the rear surface of the access panel. Make sure the adhesive side sticks tightly.
7. Slide the panel back into the opening in the freezer wall, aligning any fastener holes.
8. Drive both 1⁄4 inch screws back into the top and bottom mounting holes using a nut driver. Do not overtighten.
9. Set the air tower back into position against the freezer wall while feeding the wiring into the bottom channel.
10. Push firmly to reengage the locking tabs snapping the tower solidly into place. Make sure all clips catch properly.
11. Replace the top shelf by tilting it upwards and sliding the rear retaining tabs back into their slots.
12. Push the front half down flat while holding the back edge engaged.
13. Restore power to the refrigerator via breaker or by plugging back in.
14. Allow unit approximately 10 minutes to restart, purge air from lines and begin actively cooling.
15. Feel by hand or use a thermometer to confirm the freezer section is once again below 0°F.
16. Make sure the refrigerator section stabilizes temperatures below 40°F.
17. Load food back into each compartment now that proper temperatures are validated.

That concludes replacement of the defrost heater – great job!

More Information

Thanks for reading! We hope this article helped you replace the defrost heater in your GE refrigerator.

If you still need some replacement parts, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com. We offer over two million parts and most orders arrive in two business days.

If you need some help with finding the right part or placing an order, you can contact our team at 1 (877) 477-7278.

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