[christina]

my freezer keeps freezing up and i have to defrost it my self. My husband and i took the back cover off the in side of the freezer area and it was froze up the part that plugs in the bottom which by looking at it is a heater, also looking at other pictures that says a freezer heater, but g.e. says it's a thermostat. then the first part they tell me is going to be 165.00 and i said i think thats alot these here on line cost only 39.00 something then she comes back and says 12.00 something. but when i put the part # and all that in i dont get nothing.

[PS Staff - Sheila]

Yes the defrost heater or the bi-metal can cause the fridge not to defrost but there is one or two other things that could be causing your problem.

One is the encoder board that is in the fridge section of the fridge.

The other is the electronic board located at the back of the fridge.

There may be a instruction sheet tucked in the panel at the back where the board is on how to test the defrost cycle.

Also check in your owner's manual it may have the test sheet.

Here is a link to your fridge model GSS20IEPCWW.

I will also try to locate a copy of the test sheet.