Appliance Spares
Quick answer: A Westinghouse fridge icing up at the back of the freezer — then running warm as the ice chokes the airflow — has a failed defrost system. Three parts share that job and any one can kill it: the defrost heater element ($25.95–$57.50) that melts the frost, the defrost termination thermostat ($17.55–$19.95) that tells the heater when to stop, and on older models the defrost timer ($21.95) that starts the whole cycle. All three are plug-and-screw DIY parts.
The part that fixes this
- Westinghouse Fridge Defrost Heater Element 350W Suit Small Size 410mm Wide
- Westinghouse Fridge Defrost Heater Element 450W Double Pass Medium Size 530mm
- Defrost Heater Element 500W Side by Side Door Westinghouse Electrolux Fridge
Not sure it is the same on your machine? See every part listed by Westinghouse model number.
Last updated September 2026
Find the right Westinghouse part by model number — or start at the complete Westinghouse fridge repair guide.
Match the symptom to the cause
| What you see | Most likely cause | Cost to fix |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet of ice on the freezer’s back wall, builds back after you melt it | Defrost heater element burnt out | $25.95–$57.50 |
| Ice returns even though the heater tests fine | Defrost termination thermostat or thermal fuse open-circuit | $17.55–$19.95 |
| Older fridge never enters a defrost cycle at all | Defrost timer stuck on “cool” | $21.95 |
| Fridge section warming while the freezer ices up | The ice itself blocking airflow — fix the defrost fault | as above |
| Frost only around the door edges | Door seal, not the defrost system | see door seal guide |
How the defrost system works (60 seconds)
Every frost-free Westinghouse pauses cooling a few times a day and runs a heater element under the evaporator coils to melt the frost. A termination thermostat cuts the heater once the coil clears, and a thermal fuse stands guard in case it doesn’t. When any link fails, frost accumulates run after run until the evaporator is a block of ice: the freezer still freezes, but the fridge section starves of airflow and warms up. That is why “icing up” and “fridge not cold” are usually the same fault a fortnight apart.
Step 1: Defrost it fully and inspect
Unplug the fridge, empty it, and leave the doors open for 12–24 hours (towels down). This alone restores cooling for a week or two — useful confirmation that ice was the problem, and it exposes the parts. Remove the freezer’s rear inner panel: the heater is the glass or metal element along the bottom of the coils, the termination thermostat is the small disc clipped to the coil pipework.
Step 2: Replace the failed link
Element first — it does the hard work and fails most. If you have a multimeter, an open-circuit reading across the element confirms it. Match by cabinet size:
| Your fridge | Part | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Smaller cabinets (410mm-wide coil) | Westinghouse 350W defrost heater element, 410mm | $25.95 |
 Medium cabinets (530mm-wide coil) | Westinghouse 450W double-pass defrost heater, 530mm | $57.50 |
 Side-by-side cabinets | 500W side-by-side defrost heater element | $43.50 |
Then the sensing side — cheap enough to replace while the panel is off, and wise, because a heater that burnt out often took the thermostat with it:
| Part | Fits | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Westinghouse defrost termination thermostat (1433633 type) | Many Westinghouse and Electrolux frost-free cabinets | $19.95 |
 Westinghouse defrost termination thermostat (J54100001D type) | Later Westinghouse models | $17.55 |
 Set of 3 defrost termination thermostats | Westinghouse, Kelvinator and universal fit | $17.95 |
 Westinghouse defrost temperature fuse | WFB2804WA, WRB3504WA | $39.95 |
 Westinghouse thermal fuse (811944701) | WBB3400 and KTB2302–KTB2802 cabinets, among others | $17.55 |
Step 3: Older fridge? Check the defrost timer
Pre-electronic Westinghouse cabinets use a small motorised timer to switch between cooling and defrost. When it sticks on “cool”, the heater never gets its turn and the ice wins. The genuine Sankyo defrost timer ($21.95) suits many Westinghouse cabinets — four wires, one screw, done in twenty minutes. If yours has a control board instead of a timer, the board takes the timer’s role; test the heater and thermostat first as they are far more likely.
Repair cost summary (Australia 2026)
| Cause | Part cost | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Full manual defrost (diagnosis) | $0 | overnight |
| Defrost termination thermostat / thermal fuse | $17.55–$39.95 | 30 minutes with the panel off |
| Defrost timer | $21.95 | 20 minutes |
| Defrost heater element | $25.95–$57.50 | about an hour |
| Technician callout for the same job | commonly $250–$400 | — |
| New fridge | $900–$2,500 | — |
The 50% rule: the entire defrost system — heater, thermostat and fuse together — costs less than $100 in parts. It is one of the best-value fridge repairs there is.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my Westinghouse fridge keep icing up at the back?
The automatic defrost system has failed — usually the defrost heater element, sometimes the termination thermostat or (on older models) the defrost timer. Melting the ice manually only resets the clock; the part needs replacing.
The freezer works but the fridge is warm. Is that the same fault?
Very often, yes. Ice on the evaporator blocks the air channel to the fridge compartment. Defrost fully, and if cooling returns for a week or two before fading, the defrost system is confirmed as the culprit. There is a separate Westinghouse not-cooling guide for the non-ice causes.
Can I just defrost it with a hairdryer every month instead?
You can, but the fault compounds: melted water refreezes in the drain, the fridge works harder, and food safety suffers. The permanent fix is a $17.55–$57.50 part.
How do I find my Westinghouse model number?
On the model sticker inside the fridge compartment, usually on a side wall or behind the crisper. It starts with letters like WBB, WBE, WFB, WRB or WTB. Enter it in the Part Finder for the exact-fit part.
Do these parts ship same day?
Yes — order by 12pm Sydney time for same-day dispatch Australia-wide.
Related
- Westinghouse fridge repair — the complete Australian guide
- Westinghouse fridge error codes explained
- Westinghouse fridge not cooling — causes and fixes
- How to replace a fridge door seal
- All Westinghouse defrost parts in stock
Ready to fix it?
- Run your model number through the Oz Appliance Spares Part Finder — model in, exact-fit part out.
- Browse thousands of parts in stock
- Order by 12pm Sydney time → ships same day from our Sydney Northern Beaches warehouse, Australia-wide.
Disclaimer: this article is general information only and is provided without warranty of any kind. Appliance designs vary between models and production runs — always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, switch off and unplug the appliance before starting any work, and confirm parts against the model number on your appliance’s model sticker. Any repair is undertaken at your own risk and Oz Appliance Spares accepts no liability for injury, loss or damage arising from work performed after reading this guide, to the maximum extent permitted by law. If in doubt, use a qualified technician.
