Hello -- I have frost build up in the back freezer wall of a GE fridge (model; GSH25JSXL SS). As a result, it is preventing any ice cubes to be formed and is causing the refrigerator to be less cold than usual.


I called a local repair shop on the phone and they want to replace the defrost heater, but I'm not sure.


What's your take on the problem cause?

I would say that they are right. You may also need a defrost timer if your unit has an analog type instead of an electronic type.

How much are they charging you to replace the defrost heater?

Here is a manual for one similar to yours: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8010163/GE_Profile_Artica.pdf
And some more information: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8010163/Electrical%20Theory%20and%20Diagnosis%20of%20Major %20Appliances%20Service%20Manual.pdf
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8010163/Electronics%20and%20Electrical%20Troubleshooting%2 0and%20Repair%20Handbook.pdf
If you remove the cover to the freezer coils you will see the defrost heater at the bottom of the coils. It is usually a coil inside a hollow glass rod and when they are bad you can easily see it because you will see the coil burned in two and most of the time the glass rod will be broken, too. The whole kit is $58.55 at: GE Refrigerator Heating Element Parts from RepairClinic.com (http://www.repairclinic.com/Shop-For-Parts/a4b3c42/GE-Refrigerator-Heating-Element-Parts)
Make sure it fits yours, as you did not say whether yours was a side-by-side or other type.