Preventing Frost in Freezers
A freezer with frost is more expensive to run because it uses more energy. Frost also reduces the amount of food storage space in a freezer. Many newer models of refrigerators and freezers come with an automatic defrost feature to prevent frost build-up. If you notice frost in your freezer, follow these steps: turn off freezer, remove contents, melt the ice*, drain the water and wipe dry. Then, you can follow the tips below to help prevent future frost build-up.
* Quick methods for melting the ice:
- Put a pan of hot water in the freezer compartment and close the door. Reheat the water as needed until ice melts.
- Use the hot air from a hair dryer to melt the ice.
- Leave the freezer door open and wait.
- Clean your freezer regularly.
- Check the temperature of your freezer. If it isn’t low enough, frost can build up. Your freezer’s temperature should be set at 0 degrees.
- Make sure the seals to your freezer door are in good shape. If you feel cold air when the freezer door is shut, change the seals. Clean them regularly to keep them in good condition.
- Limit the amount of times you open and close the freezer door. After grocery shopping, put all the frozen items in the freezer at the same time so you don’t have to open the door more than once.
- Use a dehumidifier if you have a stand-alone freezer. Humidity can cause frost build up.
To locate the freezer user’s manual or the refrigerator user’s manual for the model(s) you own, visit the ManualsOnline Library.
4 Responses to “Preventing Frost in Freezers”
The unit must be running, open the door and see if the fan motor is running. It may make a scrapping sound if it’s hitting ice. See if the freezer wall has ice on it or on the outside. Find the defrost timer shaft and slowly turn it clockwise until it clicks. This puts it in the defrost mode. If the defrost timer is good, it will time out and start the compressor in about 20 minutes. Look in the drain pan while you wait and see if water is trickeling down from above. This checks the defrost heater and terminator, if either one is bad there will be no water. Remove the back cover and check to see if the fan is running and the compressor. Vacuum out front and rear the lint before you finish up.
If you have a ice problem then you have to remover the inside freezer wall cover and melt the ice. If you can unplug the round disk terminator then you can check for open or closed condition. The terminator stops the defrost cycle so that it will not get to hot inside. If it’s warm the switch will be open, it has to be cold to turn on for the heater. The heater must be checked for open of closed condition also. Sometime parts are combined so that you are replacing both of these parts. Remember the layout if you have to replace the heater. The defrost timer is easy to replace, 2 screws will remove it from the cabinet and the plug will remove all the wire. If you want you can replace the timer with a universal one that can be selected for any time increment in 24 hours and time duration for the defrost cycle. (6, 8, 12, hours, 20-30 min.)
If the compressor is not running, you must determine if it’s getting power. If the fan runs but not the compressor then the overload is open in the compressor. Substitute the capacitor, apply power to the run winding and shot the start winding to the run winding. If it starts then the start relay or the capacitor is bad. Remove the wires from the terminals and using an ohm meter measure the resistance (Low Ohms) between the terminals and to ground for each lead. If you get a short to ground then you have a shorted or burned out one. If you get no ground reading and a reading between the leads , then then it not burned but it may be stuck. Typically a compressor is about $200 so you got junk now
By frank on Aug 2, 2010
nice post. thanks.
By dental hygienist on Aug 22, 2010
Also, be sure you have the mulleon heaters on for the summer, these are strip heaters in the frame that help keep frost down. Also, if your experiencing freezer burn,(large frozen ice crystals) have a technician check the defrost timer.
By Kevin on Nov 2, 2010
I like to line the bottom with a big towel.than i take a plastic spatchula and scrap the sides (let it defrost a little first),you dont have as much water to deal with and it suce saves time
By ginger on Feb 6, 2011