This Week's Top Stories About Frost Free Fridge And Freezer

How to Maintain a Frost Free Fridge and Freezer

A frost-free fridge and freezer removes the requirement to manually defrost. This can save you time, effort and electricity when compared to a traditional refrigerator/freezer.

If you notice ice crystals on the package frozen food items can be damaged. These crystals can cause freezing burns or alter the texture of food.

Defrost

The freezer defrost process isn't the most exciting or enjoyable but it's an essential aspect of maintaining your fridge and freezer. Warm air is dragged into the freezer each time you open it, causing condensation and frozen surfaces. The frost can affect the freezer's temperature control, causing it to work harder and use more energy. It can also compromise the flavor and quality of food, and cause freezer burn.

The best method to defrost a freezer is to let it melt naturally, however this can take several hours. If you want to accelerate the process then a handheld steamer or hairdryer could be used. Make sure to disconnect and turn off the freezer before beginning. Take out any frozen food items and clean up any water spilled.

Before you start the process, ensure that you have a towel or a plastic liner handy to catch any water that may spill during the process of defrosting. It's also an excellent idea to empty your freezer completely to allow you to reorganize the food items that remain and take out items that are no longer in use. Once the defrosting is complete make sure you clean and dry the freezer compartment thoroughly before turning it off.

To speed up the natural defrost process, open and close the door to your freezer a few times to help the temperature rise. Then, remove all drawers and shelves to give yourself easier access to the ice. You can also lay old towels or newspapers that are extremely absorbent on the floor to soak up any puddles that form from melting ice.

As the ice melts, keep a heated spoon or plastic spatula nearby to break off any large chunks of ice that might be accumulating on the interior walls. Avoid using sharp objects such as forks, knives or ice picks break through ice, as this could puncture the interior walls of the freezer and cause leaks and damage. Make sure to clean and rinse removable drawers and shelves once the ice has been removed. After everything is clean then plug in the freezer and let it run for the night to return to its normal freezing temperature.

Clean

Regular cleaning is the most effective method to stop spores, food and smells from accumulating. Discard any produce that is spoiled or over its best. Clean all shelves and drawers with soapy water using a damp cloth (I use Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid). Then, dry them. I also wipe down the freezer using a cloth that has been dipped in a solution of vinegar and water or baking soda. Scrubbing hard-to-clean stains using a non-scratch broom may be necessary. I also vacuum the coils that are located at the back of my refrigerator using a spray.  Highly recommended Internet page  pulls out all the pet hair, and dust that accumulates in difficult-to-access places.

When you have an appliance that is frost-free, you will not need to defrost it as frequently as other models. Frost-free refrigerators have a mechanism which circulates cold air to cool food, making it unnecessary to do manual defrosting. However, it is important to clean your refrigerator at least every week, throwing out any food items that are past its expiration date, and clearing out the old jars, bottles and packets of soy sauce.

To make the task of defrosting your freezer simpler, remove all the food from the freezer and then put it temporarily into another freezer or cooler that has ice packs or in an enclosed box with blankets. During this process, be sure to protect the floor of your freezer by putting an old towel on the bottom. When the freezer is defrosted, you are able to remove any remaining ice using a plastic scraper.

If your refrigerator is equipped with an automatic defrost function, you will see an indicator light that will inform you when it's time to defrost. Empty the freezer, and place it on the counter so that you don't risk losing frozen food during the defrost. Then, you can restock the freezer with frozen items that have a long shelf life. You can then use the old towel at the bottom of the freezer to collect any drips of water as it melts.

Maintaining

If the evaporator is covered with frost the evaporator will freeze. This will cause the refrigerator to work harder and use more energy. Regular maintenance is essential. Unplugging the freezer and cleaning the evaporator coil can prevent this from happening in the first place.

If the defrost is operating correctly, a layer will appear on the evaporator in an even pattern. If there is an accumulation of ice on the evaporator, and it's not caused by an issue with defrost it could be a sign of a defective timer or defrost termination thermostat.

In some older models, the supply and return air duct to and from the freezer can get clogged with pet hair, dirt or food residue. This causes the compressor to have to work harder and generates an excess heat that will migrate to the refrigerator's section cabinet, causing warm temperatures there, especially around the doors of the freezer. This issue can be addressed by ensuring the freezer door gasket is not damaged and is tightly sealed.

Frequent openings of the freezer could allow humid air from the room to enter the appliance. This creates a situation where frost and ice can form more quickly. The freezer should be kept tightly shut may help, but it's not the answer to eliminating all problems with frost and ice.

Clean the drain trough of the evaporator regularly to ensure that it isn't clogged with food debris or ice. A hand-held vacuum hose, or a special refrigerator coil cleaner (typically with brushes that slide into hard to reach places) is a good method of doing this.

Make sure the freezer is free of obstructions that could hinder air flow or block the condenser fan. Clean the interior shelves and walls of the freezer using a solution of hot dish soap and water or baking soda to remove any food residues and to eliminate smells. Air vents between the refrigerator and freezer compartments must not be blocked as this could result in inadequate air circulation, which will increase the humidity inside the appliance.

Repair

There are several reasons why your freezer with frost free may not be working correctly. Most of these issues can be fixed easily but some require expert assistance. Most often, the issue is caused by something that prevents air from moving to and from the freezer section of the unit. It could be caused by food items that are packed too tightly, clogged air gaps or closing the door for too long.

Unplug your fridge before performing any repairs or maintenance. This will reduce the chance of electric shock and allow any frost to melt by itself.

If the refrigerator still isn't cooling, it could be due to a problem with the defrost. In this type of refrigerator and freezer a heater is continuously turned on to melt any frost that has built up on the coils of the evaporator. The melted snow flows through a drain tube to a pan located in the back of the freezer, and eventually evaporates into the surrounding air. The timer for defrost could be malfunctioning and need to be replaced.

A damaged seal could prevent cold air from being able to get into the freezer section of your fridge. This can be easily fixed by cleaning the seal with warm water and a bit of soap. Make sure there aren't any items blocking the freezer vents or resting against back wall of the refrigerator.

You can also replace the freezer gasket if it is worn or damaged. Many major appliance manufacturers offer replacement parts in-person, including freezer gaskets. It is important to know that the replacement of the gasket in a freezer is best performed by a trained professional.

You could also have a problem with the evaporator fan that circulates air in the freezer section of your fridge. In this instance you'll probably hear a clicking sound whenever the fan starts to turn on. This is because the ice that covers the evaporator coils has become too thick and is impinging upon the fan blades. This will require a professional to be diagnosed and corrected.