My freezer stopped making ice one day and then kept making this horrible rattling sound. When I checked it out, I realized everything in my freezer was frozen solid in thin layers of ice over each item and the bottom of the freezer had a thick layer of ice. There were icicles hanging from the shelves and the back wall also had a thick layer of ice. I opened the back panel and found the coils covered in a thick layer of ice. The rattling was the fan which was also covered in ice and trying it's best to continue to perform. I defrosted everything and cleared the drain hole (as suggested all over the internet). 2 weeks later, it happened again. So, I have since replaced the defrost thermostat (also suggested online) - it was the cheaper route to immediatey replacing the defrost heater. Still freezing over. Now, I'm planning to replace the heater. I noticed recently that the "freeze over" begins on the right side of the coils and then moves left. I'm curious whether I'm doing the right steps or whether the pattern in which it is freezing is indicative of another unrelated problem. My biggest fear being that I am making all of these replacements when it is something much simpler and unrelated to the thermostat and heater altogether.

This freezer problem is a monkey on my back!!!!

Can anyone help me?

Sorry. It is a Frigidaire Side by Side Gallery Series GLHS36EEB1. I have replaced the thermostat because it was only $16 dollars and it is still freezing over. I know where and how to replace the defrost heater but I know nothing about testing any of these components to see which is failing. Anyone, please help!!! I'm ready to put this thing curbside and I REFUSE to pay someone else to fix what I KNOW I can do myself.