Everyone in the house has a refrigerator - the main assistant for housekeeping and food storage. It requires careful care in order to function for a long time. During operation, ice build-up occurs on the internal surfaces of the refrigerator. This process is facilitated by the evaporation of moisture and the penetration of warm air from outside.
If the ice is not removed in time, the load on the compressor will gradually increase, eventually leading to a malfunction. And also the formed ice reduces free space and increases electricity consumption. It is recommended to carefully monitor this process and defrost the refrigerator regularly.
Defrosting frequency for different types of refrigerators
There are many types of refrigerators, but regarding the frequency of defrosting, there is only one criterion to consider: whether it is equipped with automatic defrosting.
Devices with No Frost system
A refrigerator with a No Frost system independently regulates its temperature and removes excess moisture to the outside, so that ice does not form inside it.
However, he still needs defrosting. It is carried out no more than once a year and is of a preventive nature: to extend the service life and preserve the freshness of food, it is important to wash the walls and shelves. Defrosting is carried out in the same way as for conventional equipment.
Single-chamber and double-chamber
Unlike equipment with a No Frost system, single-chamber and double-chamber equipment do not have an automatic defrosting function, which is why ice forms inside refrigerators and freezers much faster.
These types of equipment should be defrosted as needed. As a rule, it occurs no more than 2-3 times a year and is especially relevant in the summer.
The fact is that ice forms when it comes into contact with hot or warm air. Therefore, the hotter the summer, the higher the likelihood of additional defrosting.
Expert opinion
Borodina Galina Valerievna
Single-chamber and double-chamber equipment are defrosted according to the same principle. However, the second type can be defrosted in parts: turn off the power to only the refrigeration or freezer compartment. At the same time, it does not matter whether both types of cameras are de-energized at the same time or alternately - as a result, this will not bring any qualitative differences.
What is a No Frost system in a refrigerator?
No-Frost is a cooling technology using circulating cold air. The flows are evenly distributed throughout the refrigerator and freezer compartments, preventing temperature changes. ... A refrigerator with No Frost technology does not need to be defrosted.
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Step-by-step instruction
Step-by-step instructions are suitable for all types of devices: single-chamber, double-chamber, equipped with the No Frost system, etc.
Step 1
Set the temperature to 0°C, unplug the equipment and open the door wide open. If it is two-chamber, carry out the same manipulations simultaneously or alternately with both the refrigeration and freezer compartments.
Step 2
Get all food products.
In order to maintain their freshness, you should follow one of the recommendations:
- During the cold season, you can place food on the balcony
- Place the food in a pan, which then needs to be placed in a bath of ice water.
- Place the food in a thermal bag along with bagged ice and put it in a cool place. The thermal package can be purchased at any large supermarket or hardware store.
- Wrap the food in a thick blanket and put it in a dark and cool place. This method is not as reliable as using a thermal package, but it is budget-friendly and is well suited for defrosting equipment with a No Frost system because it requires little time - only 2-3 hours.
It is best to prepare in advance for defrosting by first eating all perishable foods. This will eliminate problems with storage during defrosting and will not make you worry about the freshness of food that has been lying in improper conditions for some time.
Step 3
Get all the components: shelves, containers, egg stand, etc.
Step 4
Wait until the device defrosts naturally, i.e. under the influence of warm indoor air. Depending on the thickness of the layer of ice that managed to cover the walls of the equipment during the time it was not defrosted, this process can take from 2 to 9 hours.
Expert opinion
Borodina Galina Valerievna
In cases where the ice crust covering the inside of the device is of impressive size, it is better to leave the equipment to defrost overnight: this will save a lot of time and effort.
Step 6
Wash all shelves, grids, containers, egg cups and other components. It is better to wipe the walls from top to bottom so that there are no streaks left on them.
There is no need to use caustic chemicals to clean the device. This will cast doubt on the safety of food that will be stored in it, and will also damage the rubber seal.
Step 7
It is good to wipe the walls of the equipment with a dry cloth or leave it to dry under the influence of a heater. This is important to prevent ice from forming in the device again.
Step 8
Turn on the refrigerator. Before placing food in it, you need to wait 30-40 minutes. During this time, it will reduce its temperature to the required level. After a short wait, you can start filling it with food.
Why defrost?
The frequency of defrosting depends on the defrosting system.
- How often should you defrost a No Frost refrigerator? If you have a dry freezing system, then you need to unplug the device from the mains for several hours to allow the system to completely thaw, once a year - at least. This applies to all models, whether you have Indesit, Bosch, Samsung, Biryusa, Saratov or another well-known brand.
- All models that do not have the No Frost system installed, which implies automatic defrosting, must be manually defrosted every 3-4 months.
- If you have an old refrigerator, then you need to do this even more often. The timing depends on the amount of ice on the walls of the freezer and refrigerator compartments.
As you can see, defrosting is necessary for all models - both old and modern.
In any refrigerator, the system directs air to the evaporator, where it cools and fills the chamber with cold.
In devices without dry freezing (this can be not only old-style models, but also modern budget devices), frost appears on the walls from the cold air. Based on its thickness, the housewives understood that it was time to stock up on basins, rags and time to clean it up. After such prevention, the refrigerator began to work more quietly, the specific smell disappeared. The housewives sighed calmly for a month. It took approximately this long for the ice to cover the walls again.
Danger of ice
- The main danger is that ice on the walls impairs the operation of the device, which leads to premature wear of parts and their breakage.
- The device takes more energy if there is ice on the walls, as it turns on more often.
- Products freeze. They are difficult to remove.
- The door does not stick tightly, which allows air to flow inside. Products become unusable faster.
- A smell appears that permeates all the products on the shelves.
If you monitor defrosting and do it regularly, you will increase the life of your appliance.
Dry freezing
In modern devices, the operating principle remains the same, but the No Frost system prevents ice from appearing on the walls. But this does not mean, as many assume, that since moisture is not formed, there is no visible ice, then there is no need to defrost the device with such a system of operation, it is enough just to occasionally wipe the walls from dirt and stains.
Actually this is not true. How often do you need to defrost a No Frost refrigerator for it to work properly? Experts have different opinions. Some claim that such models do not require defrosting at all. There are cases where refrigerators worked for up to 10 years without ever being disconnected from the network to defrost. But most recommend defrosting the device at least once a year for prevention. There are several reasons to heed this advice.
Moisture on the evaporators (and we remember that it is this that turns into cold) that modern models are equipped with can cause condensation to form. That is, you need to defrost the refrigerator in order to control the level of humidity, preventing it from increasing. If you do not take care of this, frost and ice will begin to appear on the walls and parts (compressor, pipes) over time. Replacing parts is not cheap.
You also need to do defrosting to thoroughly clean the refrigerator at least once a year. After all, most often housewives wipe the walls and shelves with a damp cloth, sometimes they don’t even unplug the device.
- Firstly, it is unsafe both for you and for the device itself. It is not recommended to keep the door of the refrigerator open when it is turned on.
- Secondly, in a hurry, you will not wipe the refrigerator plugged in thoroughly. But you need to monitor its cleanliness, at least in order not to create a favorable environment for the development of microorganisms.
Taking into account all the above recommendations, the equipment can work for a fairly long service life. However, before you start cleaning, you should find the instructions and familiarize yourself with the defrosting requirements. Additional conditions are:
- Heat. It is best to carry out cleaning in the cool season or winter. Then you won’t have to worry about the safety of the products and the performance of the device.
- Don't turn on the refrigerator right away. The interval between switching on must be at least 15 minutes.
- Frequent power outages negatively affect the operation of household appliances. In this case, you should defrost the refrigerator once every 4 months.
- Control of contamination inside the chambers. It is best to remove any dirt or stains that appear immediately rather than wait for them to dry.
Discussions about whether it is necessary to defrost a dry freeze refrigerator stop the moment it comes to the need to wash kitchen appliances - doing this with the appliance plugged in is simply unsafe. In addition, disconnection may be necessary in the following cases:
- the need for service inspection of the device systems;
- cleaning refrigerator ventilation systems (they are the basis for the operation of the dry freezing system);
- Troubleshooting minor equipment problems.
Refrigeration service technicians disagree on how often a No Frost refrigerator should be defrosted. But most agree that a thorough inspection of equipment and cleaning of the device must be carried out at least once a year.
When answering the question of how often to defrost a No Frost refrigerator, some housewives rely on the time of year: they turn off the unit once every three months in warm weather, once every six months in cold weather.
Before defrosting a dry freeze refrigerator, remove all food from the refrigerator and turn off the power supply. The following rules should be followed when carrying out work:
- You should not defrost a refrigerator with a no-frost system in too hot or too cold weather - sudden temperature changes have a bad effect on any household appliance.
- If possible, you can defrost the chambers of the device one by one (this is provided in devices with two cooling circuits).
- To thoroughly clean all surfaces of the unit, it should be moved away from the wall.
- How long it takes to defrost a No Frost refrigerator depends on the means used: you can completely dry the interior of the unit using a hair dryer; if you don’t have one, just leave the appliance doors open for an hour and a half.
- Even if frost has formed on the surface, under no circumstances should you scrape it off with a spatula or knife, as there is a high risk of damaging the elements of the unit.
The answer to the question of how many times a year you need to defrost a refrigerator with No Frost directly depends on the degree of contamination of the device
How long does it take to defrost a refrigerator?
The duration of the process depends on the chosen method. For example, traditional natural defrosting can take up to 8 hours.
- Why does ice form on the walls of the refrigerator?
- Violation of the tightness of the structure;
- Thermostat failure;
- Opening the door for a long time;
- Remaining moisture from previous defrosting.
How often should you defrost your refrigerator?
Old appliances and Dnepr need to be defrosted once a month. Imported models and modern models of domestic brands are subject to the procedure once every six months or when the ice layer thickness is more than 6 mm.
Do I need to defrost a No Frost refrigerator?
Manufacturers claim that No Frost refrigerators do not need defrosting, since in such devices the process occurs independently. In fact, small layers of frost form on the walls (not to be confused with ice). But the need for defrosting occurs no more than 1-2 times a year, and the procedure is carried out more for sanitary and hygienic reasons.
How to defrost a two-chamber refrigerator?
In the same order as single-chamber. If the cameras work separately from each other, the process is simplified. After all, when defrosting one chamber, you can transfer the food to another and return it back upon completion of the procedure.
Are there any differences in defrosting refrigerators of different brands?
We are often asked how to defrost a refrigerator from Atlant, Indesit, Samsung, Ariston, Bosch and other brands. The principle always remains the same. Differences may only relate to the frequency (depending on the year of manufacture) and the duration of the procedure based on the defrosting system.
For detailed information, please contact the service department.
How to reduce defrosting time: 5 reliable ways
If the opportunity and desire to wait for the equipment to thaw naturally are completely absent, you can resort to one of the ways to speed up this process.
- Method 1. Place a heating pad with hot water in the freezer.
- Method 2: Place a metal bowl of boiling water in the refrigerator. However, it must be placed carefully, using some kind of stand so that the plastic does not deform under the influence of high temperatures. As soon as the water in the bowl has cooled, it needs to be replaced with hot water. After 30-60 minutes of such manipulations, the ice crust will begin to come off.
- Method 3. Pour hot water into a container with a spray bottle and spray the walls of the freezer with it. Within 20 minutes, layers of ice will begin to break off.
- Method 4: Place a heater opposite the equipment. However, this must be done correctly: do not place it too close to the device, this can dry out the rubber seal, causing it to become unusable and will not retain the cold. Also, the heater must be placed in such a way that melt water does not get on it, otherwise a short circuit may occur.
- Method 5: Systematically soaking a cloth in hot water and wiping the walls of the freezer for 20-30 minutes will help the ice begin to come off.
How long does it take?
The optimal time for thawing the unit is 24 hours.
You can turn on the device 12 hours after the start of defrosting: this time is required to reduce the pressure in the refrigerant circulation system and on the compressor piston.
If you turn on the device earlier than the specified time, the electric motor will need significant force to start the crankshaft, which rotates the compressor piston. This may result in motor failure.
Bad advice: what not to do when defrosting
Often, inappropriate or even dangerous methods are used to speed up defrosting:
- Scraping ice with a knife. This method is dangerous, and it can also be bad for the equipment. Trying to break off ice with a knife can easily damage the channel carrying freon or isobutane - substances that provide cooling. Repairing the canal will require time, money and effort;
- Using a hair dryer to heat ice masses. The hair dryer is intended for drying hair and is not designed for prolonged use. If you heat the freezer with it for 20-30 minutes, you can damage the equipment. Perhaps this is too high a price for an ordinary household procedure. In addition, using a hair dryer is not safe for the refrigerator. Hot air can dry out the rubber seal, causing the freezer to no longer retain cold.
Is your refrigerator equipped with the Nofrost system?
Not really
Ice growth rate
Defrosting the refrigerator is carried out to remove ice that forms on the evaporator body during operation. The rate of formation and growth of such a “coat” is determined by the following parameters:
- device model;
- presence of the know frost system;
- degree of filling of refrigeration chambers;
- the number of openings and closings of the door during the day;
- average moisture level in the room where the refrigerator is located;
- service life of the unit and its technical age.
conclusions
It is important to approach defrosting correctly in order not to damage the device. If you follow simple rules and apply a couple of life hacks, this procedure will be easy and quick.
Basically defrosting consists of the following steps:
- Disconnection from the network.
- Moving products.
- Removing shelves, grilles, etc.
- Waiting, accelerating the defrosting process.
- Washing containers, egg cups, etc.
- Wiping the walls.
- Turn on, wait 30 minutes.
- Product placement.
Expert opinion
Borodina Galina Valerievna
Trying to speed up the process, it is important not to use knives or other sharp objects to break off ice, and also not to use a hair dryer. Use of these items may result in personal injury and equipment failure.
Defrosting your refrigerator is easy! The secrets to proper defrosting are simple and will help save a lot of time.
Relatively safe quick method
You can turn on a fan with a thermostat.
Set the maximum power, direct the air flow inside the refrigerator, and go about your business. How many hours will it take for such a device to defrost a refrigerator? In just 45 minutes!
When the last piece of ice has melted, you need to wash the walls and door with a solution of baking soda and wipe everything dry. Don’t be too lazy to do this, and you won’t have to defrost the refrigerator often.
Close the door and plug in the unit. Let it run for a bit before you start loading the groceries.
Common mistakes
The refrigerator, despite its large size, is a very delicate unit. And it must be handled in compliance with all rules.
When defrosting, you should not break off pieces of ice with anything at all, much less use hard objects for this. You can damage the cooling system, from which all the freon will escape, and the refrigerator will have to be thrown away.
It is strictly forbidden to use salt, vinegar or generally aggressive chemicals when cleaning the refrigerator. The plastic of the camera can be easily damaged.
Defrosting a plug-in refrigerator
Turning off the refrigeration system using internal regulators is not enough. Otherwise, the mains voltage will remain and there is a chance of getting an electric shock.
Defrosting in hot weather
The higher the room temperature, the longer and more powerful the compressor will have to work after the refrigerator has completely defrosted. In summer, it is better to turn it on at night, during cool hours.
