---
title: "Kenmore refrigerator showing LED 6 flashes"
description: "What LED 6 flashes means on Kenmore refrigerators, what to check before booking, and when it is not a failure at all."
url: "https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-111-led-6/"
---

# Kenmore refrigerator showing LED 6 flashes

Six flickers from the main board of a 111 top-freezer say the defrost heater has failed.

## What LED 6 flashes actually means.

Six flickers from the main board of a 111 top-freezer say the defrost heater has failed. Sears measures the heater circuit from the control board and replaces the heater if it reads outside 50 to 70 ohms.

Kenmore refrigerator display · also shown as Main board LED flickers 6 times

What to do when LED 6 flashes shows on the refrigerator

### Kind of code Defrost

The defrost cycle did not finish in the time the board allows. A heater, its thermostat or the sensor that ends the cycle.

### Usually leads to Defrost system repair

The failure behind most slow, gradual losses of cooling — and behind most visible frost.

### Shows up as Frost Building Up in the Refrigerator

Ice on the back wall, around the door, or over the whole freezer — and each location means something different.

### Make Kenmore

A retail badge on appliances built by several different manufacturers.

### Source Sears PartsDirect: Kenmore 111 top-freezer error codes (Wayback copy, Nov 2019)

Kenmore top-freezer models whose number starts 111; six flashes of the main board LED name the defrost heater.

## Before you book, in this order.

Each step comes from Kenmore's own guidance for LED 6 flashes on its refrigerators. Follow it to the end: the last card says whether this is a visit.

01

Confirm the 111 prefix and a top freezer on the model label.

02

Expect the fresh food side to warm gradually as frost spreads, and keep a thermometer there.

03

Book a visit and pass on the six-flash count.

### Still there?

It usually turns into [defrost system repair](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/services/defrost-system-repair/). Book with the code and the model number.

### What not to do

Six flashes do not call for a new control board. The board is reporting the heater, not itself.

## What you may notice with it.

The refrigerator problems LED 6 flashes tends to arrive with. Answer these at the refrigerator before anyone is booked.

[All problems](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/problems/)

Before you call

### [Frost Building Up in the Refrigerator](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/problems/frost-buildup/)

[All 4 causes, cheapest first](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/problems/frost-buildup/)

It also comes with

- [**Fresh Food Section Warm, Freezer Cold**](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/problems/fresh-food-warm-freezer-cold/)

Problem

### Frost Building Up in the Refrigerator

4 causes, cheapest first

Where LED 6 flashes usually leads

## Defrost system repair.

**Defrost heater, thermostat or sensor · low.**

Book a visit [What the job involves](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/services/defrost-system-repair/)

## Read these before the visit.

Short guides that make the call quicker and the diagnosis cheaper.

[All guides](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/guides/)

How not to need us

### Keeping the defrost drain clear before it floods

Why it is doing that

### Why refrigerators stop cooling, in order of likelihood

Error codes

### All 247 codes, by make

## Kenmore refrigerators.

A retail badge on appliances built by several different manufacturers.

[Kenmore refrigerator repair](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/brands/kenmore/)

More Kenmore codes

[COOLING OFF](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-cooling-off/) [Er FF](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-er-ff/) [F dH](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-dh/) [Door Ajar](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-frigidaire-door-ajar/) [Sb](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-frigidaire-sb-sb/) [Er FS](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-er-fs/) [Er rS](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-er-rs/) [F dS](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-f-ds/) [r dS](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-r-ds/) [Er HS](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-er-hs/) [Er IS](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-er-is/) [Er SS](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-er-ss/)

[All 51 Kenmore codes](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/#codes-kenmore)

Defrost on other makes

[LG dH](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/lg-dh/) [GE dE](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/ge-de/) [Sub-Zero 20 2 00](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/sub-zero-20-2-00/) [Café dE](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/cafe-de/) [Monogram dE](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/monogram-de/) [GE Profile dE](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/ge-profile-de/)

Kenmore builds this

### French door refrigerator

Two fresh-food doors over a freezer drawer — the most common premium layout, and the one with the most to go wrong at the door line.

Kenmore builds this

### Side-by-side refrigerator

Full-height freezer beside full-height fresh food, with the ice maker and dispenser built into the freezer door.

## In Kenmore's own words

> Main control board LED flickers 6 times Defrost heater failure

[Sears PartsDirect: Kenmore 111 top-freezer error codes (Wayback copy, Nov 2019)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191117144659/https://www.searspartsdirect.com/diy/error-codes/refrigerator-repair/1234589/kenmore-111-model-top-freezer-refrigerator/0582)

Every code on this site is taken from the manufacturer's documentation, never from a forum or a parts listing. Kenmore top-freezer models whose number starts 111; six flashes of the main board LED name the defrost heater.

## Kenmore LED 6 flashes refrigerator repair, where we come out.

The same visit in every metro below: the code, the model number, and a diagnosis before any part is ordered.

[All service areas](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/)

[Tampa Bay](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/) FL · 31 areas

- [Hyde Park](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/hyde-park/)
- [Davis Islands](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/davis-islands/)
- [Palma Ceia](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/palma-ceia/)
- [Westchase](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/westchase/)
- [Carrollwood](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/carrollwood/)
- [Belleair](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/belleair/)
- [St. Pete Beach](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/st-pete-beach/)
- [Palm Harbor](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/palm-harbor/)

[Orlando](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/) FL · 30 areas

- [Winter Park](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/winter-park/)
- [Windermere](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/windermere/)
- [Dr. Phillips](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/dr-phillips/)
- [Bay Hill](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/bay-hill/)
- [Lake Nona](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/lake-nona/)
- [Heathrow](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/heathrow/)
- [Celebration](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/celebration/)

[Miami / South Florida](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/) FL · 47 areas

- [Brickell](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/brickell/)
- [Coconut Grove](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/coconut-grove/)
- [Coral Gables](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/coral-gables/)
- [Pinecrest](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/pinecrest/)
- [Key Biscayne](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/key-biscayne/)
- [Aventura](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/aventura/)
- [Sunny Isles Beach](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/sunny-isles-beach/)
- [Bal Harbour](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/bal-harbour/)
- [Miami Beach](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/miami-beach/)
- [Golden Beach](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/golden-beach/)
- [Weston](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/weston/)
- [Boca Raton](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/boca-raton/)
- [Palm Beach](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/palm-beach/)

[New York Metro](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/) NY · 75 areas

- [Upper East Side](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/upper-east-side/)
- [Upper West Side](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/upper-west-side/)
- [Tribeca](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/tribeca/)
- [SoHo](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/soho/)
- [Greenwich Village](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/greenwich-village/)
- [Battery Park City](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/battery-park-city/)
- [Brooklyn Heights](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/brooklyn-heights/)
- [Park Slope](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/park-slope/)
- [DUMBO](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/dumbo/)
- [Forest Hills](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/forest-hills/)
- [Great Neck](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/great-neck/)
- [Southampton](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/southampton/)
- [Scarsdale](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/scarsdale/)

[Houston](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/) TX · 36 areas

- [River Oaks](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/river-oaks/)
- [Memorial](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/memorial/)
- [Tanglewood](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/tanglewood/)
- [Greater Heights](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/greater-heights/)
- [Kingwood](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/kingwood/)
- [Bellaire](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/bellaire/)
- [Bunker Hill Village](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/bunker-hill-village/)
- [Piney Point Village](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/piney-point-village/)
- [Hunters Creek Village](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/hunters-creek-village/)
- [Sugar Land](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/sugar-land/)
- [Cinco Ranch](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/cinco-ranch/)
- [The Woodlands](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/the-woodlands/)
- [West University](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/west-university/)

[Chicago](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/) IL · 50 areas

- [Lincoln Park](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/lincoln-park/)
- [Near North Side](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/near-north-side/)
- [West Loop / Near West Side](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/west-loop-near-west-side/)
- [Wilmette](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/wilmette/)
- [Winnetka](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/winnetka/)
- [Glencoe](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/glencoe/)
- [River Forest](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/river-forest/)
- [Oak Park](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/oak-park/)
- [Hinsdale](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/hinsdale/)
- [Lake Forest](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/lake-forest/)
- [Highland Park](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/highland-park/)
- [Gold Coast](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/gold-coast/)
- [Lakeview](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/lakeview/)

[Los Angeles](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/) CA · 95 areas

- [Beverly Hills](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/beverly-hills/)
- [Bel Air](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/bel-air/)
- [Holmby Hills](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/holmby-hills/)
- [Brentwood](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/brentwood/)
- [Pacific Palisades](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/pacific-palisades/)
- [Santa Monica](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/santa-monica/)
- [Hancock Park](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/hancock-park/)
- [Studio City](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/studio-city/)
- [Calabasas](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/calabasas/)
- [Manhattan Beach](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/manhattan-beach/)
- [Palos Verdes Estates](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/palos-verdes-estates/)
- [Pasadena](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/pasadena/)
- [San Marino](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/san-marino/)
- [Malibu](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/malibu/)

[San Diego](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/) CA · 31 areas

- [La Jolla](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/la-jolla/)
- [Carmel Valley](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/carmel-valley/)
- [Point Loma](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/point-loma/)
- [Del Mar](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/del-mar/)
- [Rancho Santa Fe](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/rancho-santa-fe/)
- [Coronado](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/coronado/)
- [Encinitas](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/encinitas/)
- [Solana Beach](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/solana-beach/)

[San Francisco Bay Area](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/) CA · 74 areas

- [Pacific Heights](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/pacific-heights/)
- [Presidio Heights](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/presidio-heights/)
- [Russian Hill](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/russian-hill/)
- [Noe Valley](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/noe-valley/)
- [Sea Cliff](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/sea-cliff/)
- [Hillsborough](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/hillsborough/)
- [Atherton](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/atherton/)
- [Woodside](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/woodside/)
- [Palo Alto](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/palo-alto/)
- [Los Altos Hills](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/los-altos-hills/)
- [Tiburon](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/tiburon/)
- [Piedmont](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/piedmont/)
- [Marina](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/marina/)

For the heart of your home.

## Questions about LED 6 flashes.

### Can I clear LED 6 flashes myself?

Confirm the 111 prefix and a top freezer on the model label. If it comes back, it needs a visit.

### Does six LED flashes on my Kenmore top-freezer mean a new board?

No, the board is reporting the defrost heater, not itself. Sears measures the heater circuit from the board and replaces the heater if it is outside 50 to 70 ohms.

### What will I notice while six flashes go unrepaired on my Kenmore 111?

The fresh food side tends to warm gradually as frost spreads. A thermometer there shows how quickly that is happening.

---

**[Read on the site: Kenmore refrigerator showing LED 6 flashes](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-111-led-6/)**

**[Book a visit with RefrigeratorRepair.center](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/schedule/)**
