We’ve had a similar problem with the ice maker on our new fridge. Glad you got that figured out!
Maybe make it part of the pre-Thanksgiving or pre-Christmas ritual, preparing for the food overload. Good time to empty it, clean it thoroughly inside and out.
Have a freezer on the bottom model in my condo. The lower freezer rolls out as a bin. Excessive icing was caused by a seal on the back of the drawer not sealing up and room air (which is higher in humidity usually) getting past the seal. If you every buy a freezer on the bottom style, get one which has a solid back and trays that roll out when the hinged door is opened.
What you are describing is not a maintenance issue, it is a symptom of a problem. Call for a repairman, your refrig is under warranty.
A few years ago my doctor took me into his garage and showed me a fridge he still had working from the 50s. It was a big ol stand up monster! “Still works perfect”, he bragged.
We have a ten-year-old house which we equiped with brand new GE Profile equipment, and Whirlpool Duette washer and dryers. Everything is going out at the same time. GRRRRR.
no need to be replacing things all the time....many things can be fixed....
Maybe blocking the internal vents like you mentioned may have been the problem.
Being curious, I did some web searching for "Frigidare HE model" and came up with washing machines (plus the Figidare and Kenmoore HE-high explosive stuff on the NSA only weblink pages I can't tell you more about) but couldn't find an 'open' or public listing for "HE" fridge.
I'll assume that means High Efficiency, or else there was a mix up at the loading docks, and the 'sleeper agent' refrigerators produced for export were shipped out stateside.
Careful where you stick that hair dryer next time, eh? Just in case.
Defrost timer or defrost heater or both. If it is still under warranty call for service. If not the parts are easy to replace.
You say this is 6 months old. If so, this might still be covered by warranty. Older units defrost timer was just a clockwork motor and a switch, typically a 10 to 12 hour time cycle, and was relatively easy to replace if you were even just slightly useful with tools and weren't afraid of electrical stuff. The newer ones (probably yours) have a circuit board 'defrost control circuit' which not only is more expensive than the old clockwork timers, but often is located in obscure locations.
Even if packed, there still should be enough air circulation to allow it to function if it is defrosting properly (unless you really go to the extreme freezer packing school), but with no defrost, it will ice up even if loosely packed. Heavy packing just will accelerate the icing.
Watch this unit closely and if it ices up again you might want to have a talk with the warranty repair people, or if you are a do-it-yourselfer, your appliance repair parts place and googlebing a how-to video.. (especially if you never see any condensate in your drip tray..)
(Voice of experience ;-)
You should never have to have done this with a new fridge. What is to stop this from happening again?
My fridge never has to have this done. Over 20 years old.
I say you got a lemon.
I use a remote reading thermometer and a hair dryer. I unplug the fridge and put the sending unit for the thermometer and the hair dryer in the fresh food compartment. I heat the inside to about 100 degrees, close it up, then let it sit for about 8-12 hours. When I open the door there is usually a pool of water in the bottom on the inside of the fridge. That means the coil drain thawed out and it is now draining properly.
A lot of refrigerators actually drain the coil into the inside in the fresh food compartment down the back wall into the bottom of the food bin where from there it drains into the drip pan.
Had similar problems with our Kitchen Aid refrigerator. Had to open it up, remove most of the interior panels and defrost it to eliminate the ice that was blocking the duct that allowed cold air to get from the freezer compartment to the refrigerator compartment.
Not enough freon.
You know, of course, the refrigerator was testing you. Your actions were documented and communicated back over WiFi to the corporate offices, which have now redirected their operational policies to rely on your efforts. It will now increase the freezer temp just to mess with you until you purchase their newly revised maintenance package.
The Coffee Maker has been watching and taking notes. All the appliances are jealous. <;^)
It will happen again. The system is low on Freon.
Since the unit is, basically, brand new; check the door(s) alignment and closure seal if it occurs again. Manhandling and installation will sometimes throw them just slightly out of wack.