How to defrost a refrigerator quickly and correctly: step-by-step instructions
Happy owners of refrigerators with the No Frost system rarely think about defrosting them, but not everyone is so lucky.If the model does not have an anti-frost option, then a thick layer of ice will grow very quickly in the refrigerator and freezer.
Devices with defrosting systems also require special care, but less often. Let's figure out what can trigger the formation of ice and how to defrost the refrigerator with minimal time.
The content of the article:
Why is ice dangerous?
All refrigerators have to be defrosted - both with and without auto-defrosting systems. The only difference is the frequency, complexity and duration of the procedure itself. In any case, you can’t do without it.
The biggest mistake a refrigerator owner can make is ignoring the ice problem. This only leads to negative results.
Ice in the freezer is unsightly, inconvenient and, most unpleasantly, expensive. The build-up interferes with the normal operation of the camera. Its volume is significantly reduced, so products have to be placed further from the walls.
If the product is in the freezer in cling film or a thin plastic bag, the package may freeze to a layer of ice.
You will have to tear it off with force, tearing the shell and sprinkling the floor next to the refrigerator with pieces of ice. A little later, puddles will form and cleaning will be required.
The unpleasant appearance and inconvenience of using a frostbitten camera are not the main problems.
A thick layer of ice makes it more difficult to maintain the desired temperature. The refrigerator turns on more often, works longer, worse and consumes additional electricity.It has been noticed that housewives who take care of their freezer in a timely manner pay less for light. We talked about the energy consumption of a refrigerator and saving methods in this material.
A refrigerator compressor with a large amount of ice wears out faster and its service life is reduced. Replacing it is an expensive type of repair, which costs almost half the cost of the device itself.
There are certain recommendations regarding the frequency of defrosting the refrigerator, but you should focus not so much on theory as on the actual amount of ice.
The reasons and speed of frost formation are different, so sometimes you have to clean the freezer more often than recommended by household appliance manufacturers.
Reasons for the formation of frost in the refrigerator
When the door is opened, moisture enters the freezer and it also evaporates from the stored food. The steam condenses on the walls of the device, and the resulting water droplets freeze. This is how the freezer and refrigerator become covered with frost.
Gradually, its layer grows, becomes thicker and turns into powerful ice, which begins to interfere with the normal operation of the compressor.
In summer, the process of frost formation in the refrigerator accelerates, because... hot air enters the chamber. The compressor already works in increased mode, and ice creates additional load.
To prevent compressor breakdown, it is better to reduce the intervals between defrosting the device. But in winter you can relax and take care of the refrigerator a little less often.
It happens that ice appears too quickly, and this is an alarming signal.
The rate of frost formation increases sharply if:
- When it's hot, the refrigerator is turned on to maximum. The desire to preserve the freshness of food in hot weather is understandable, but still you should not run the cooling mode “to the fullest.” The lower the temperature in the chamber, the more moisture settles when hot air rushes in when the door is opened. The degree of cooling of products still depends only on the settings of the device, and not on the environment.
- Super freezing option works. The super freezing function is turned on manually when you urgently need to freeze a large volume of food (for example, if you are making preparations for the winter). There are models where the option works automatically, but in most cases it is controlled by the user himself. If you forget to turn off the super freeze, the refrigerator will work intensively and become very frosty.
If you have to constantly defrost the refrigerator, you should make sure that the cooling mode settings are set correctly, and adjust if necessary.
If you suspect a malfunction, first check the sealing tape on the refrigerator door.If the cause of ice lies in the elastic band, which is damaged or no longer ensures a tight fit of the door to the refrigerator body, you have to think about replacing the seal.
If everything is in order with the seal and the reason for freezing is not due to operating conditions, then there is a high probability of more serious damage.
Intense freezing of the freezer is not always associated with the “human factor”.
This is often a sign breakdowns, especially if after defrosting the cooling function of the device is disrupted.
Signs of malfunctions and their possible causes:
- Ice appears on the back wall of the refrigerator compartment, and the temperature in the chamber itself is too low. This happens if The thermostat breaks down. The device stops maintaining the desired temperature, turns on frequently and works for a long time. The wall of the refrigerator compartment does not have time to thaw; a layer of ice accumulates on it.
- The refrigerator does not turn off, but the temperature in the compartment is still too high, and ice forms on the back wall. Such signs appear if the normal circulation of the refrigerant through the capillary pipeline is disrupted. Sometimes it becomes clogged due to condensed machine oil, which forms a lump and blocks the gap in the tube.
- The refrigerator works intensively and rarely turns off, and ice appears in the corner. These are signs of a freon leak. One of the most unpleasant breakdowns, because... It is unlikely that you will be able to cope on your own. You need to call a professional to fix the leak and refilling the system with freon.
- Local icing of part of the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment. There is a possibility that this is a manifestation of a violation of the thermal insulation layer of the device. This section should be replaced.
- The temperature in the refrigerator compartment is too low, the temperature in the freezer is too high, and the wall of the appliance is covered with ice.. This happens if the solenoid valve that controls the cooling breaks down and “froze” in one position. Normally, it should cool both chambers alternately.
The refrigerator, even if it is equipped with the best automatic defrosting system, must be defrosted on time, monitor its operation and control the degree of icing. Paying close attention to your household appliances will help prevent many problems.
Step-by-step instructions for proper defrosting
For a working refrigerator with a modern defrosting system, defrosting is a routine procedure that takes a minimum of time.
It should be carried out twice a year, and more “for show”, because a small amount of frost accumulates only in the freezer. Drops of water may appear in the refrigerator compartment, but there is no ice.
Outdated models without auto-defrost become covered with ice faster.As soon as this happens, you need to immediately take care of the refrigerator - defrost, wash and dry thoroughly.
Step #1 - disconnect from the power supply
The temperature regulator is set to number 0, and then simply unplug the plug from the socket. Defrosting should be carried out when the device is completely disconnected from the power supply.
Step #2 - releasing the unit chambers
It is necessary to remove all food from the freezer and refrigerator compartments. If defrosting is planned, it is better to take care in advance that there is nothing perishable left and the freezer is empty.
In winter, food is transferred to the balcony, and in summer, it is placed in a basin and placed in a bathtub with cold water. This helps keep them fresh for the coming hours.
If you have to defrost the refrigerator on a hot day, it makes sense to buy an insulated bag from a hardware store especially for such an occasion. Ice packs will help lower your temperature and prevent food from spoiling.
An alternative is to package frozen food in foil-lined polyethylene or insulating material with a reflective layer.
When the refrigerator is empty, all that remains is to remove the shelves, racks, trays, egg containers and other removable elements.
They should not be removed together with stored products. Under the influence of the heaviness of the contents and temperature changes, the plastic may burst.
Step #3 - collecting melt water
Some models have trays for melt water. If they are, the problem of liquid collection is solved. It is enough to place hygroscopic towels under the container and leave it while defrosting.
Step #4 - defrosting procedure
No additional effort is required to defrost. Simply leave the refrigerator door open and take care to collect the water. In a few hours the ice will thaw.
The ideal option is to leave the refrigerator to defrost overnight.
If the ice layer is thick and the refrigerator needs to be turned on as quickly as possible, the process is accelerated.
There are several simple and safe methods:
- Warmer. If you have a rubber medical heating pad at home, fill it with water and place it on the bottom of the freezer on top of a towel.
- Hot water container. Heated steam will cause accelerated melting. If there is too much ice and the water cools quickly, the procedure can be repeated. Within an hour, pieces of ice will begin to break off.
- Spraying. You can simply spray the walls of the freezer with a special spray or hot water from a spray bottle. An alternative is to wipe the ice with a rag soaked in hot water. The main thing is not to get burned.
- Fan. If the kitchen is warm, you can install a fan pointing it towards the freezer.You can also use a heater or hair dryer, but be very careful that the hot air does not dry out the seal and that the electrical cable does not come into contact with water.
The most controversial defrosting method is using a hair dryer, heater or fan heater. On the one hand, it works.
But on the other hand, the risks are too high: if warm air gets on the sealing rubber, it will lose elasticity and stop performing its functions.
It is strictly forbidden to chop pieces of ice with a knife. It can penetrate plastic and the thin piping through which the refrigerant circulates. This will lead to a freon leak and costly repairs.
There will be a large amount of water left in the container or pan that has drained during defrosting. It must be collected and the wet surfaces thoroughly wiped.
Step #5 - washing and cleaning the refrigerator
If any shelves or racks have not been removed previously, they need to be removed. All elements are thoroughly washed using store-bought or homemade detergents. Dishwasher safe.
After cleaning, the parts are left to dry and the packaging of products that show signs of contamination is wiped. You can only put them back in the refrigerator if they are clean, otherwise an unpleasant smell will soon appear in the refrigerator.
The refrigerator is washed from top to bottom. The same solution can be used for interior and exterior surfaces.
The drain hole located on the back wall of the compartment is not only washed out, but also thoroughly disinfected, because This is where it can smell bad. Detergent is poured into hard-to-reach recesses using a syringe.
Crumbs and residual liquids accumulate in the sealing tape, so its folds should also be cleaned.
A great tool is a toothbrush. It is better to choose a product based on soda, because... Vinegar can cause the rubber to dry out. It is important that no water remains in the seal. After cleaning and washing, wipe it dry.
Step #6 - total drying and filling
All surfaces are thoroughly wiped and left to dry completely. You can use a fan to blow air over an open refrigerator. This will speed up the process.
The shelves and containers are put back in place when the refrigerator is completely dry. The device is connected to the network and left to work for half an hour.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
There are many defrosting methods. We offer video materials that will clearly demonstrate how to properly speed up the thawing of ice. Proper defrosting of the refrigerator and subsequent maintenance:
Ultra-fast defrosting using multiple pots of hot water:
If you do not “start” the refrigerator and monitor its technical condition, the entire procedure of defrosting and cleaning it will take no more than a couple of hours.
To prevent the chambers from becoming covered in ice, store food in airtight packages and special containers. Then the food will remain fresh for a long time, and there will be no difficulties when defrosting the device.
Trying to defrost your refrigerator but having trouble? Describe your situation in detail in the comments section, and our experts will try to help you.
If you use the author's method of safe defrosting and want to share with other users, tell us about it below under this article.
I believe that only lazy people can run a freezer so that “half a meter” of ice forms on its walls. My sister is like this. I grumbled at her, not understanding how she could be let down to such an extent. I started telling her, she was offended that I was meddling in something that wasn’t my own business. But then she bought a normal refrigerator, in which the snow “coat” and frost do not appear at all, otherwise this would have continued. Previously, we all had to defrost refrigerators like this. And they defrosted it. So what to do?
Nowadays you rarely see old refrigerators that need to be defrosted every few months. No Frost technology or dry freezing allows you not to defrost the refrigerator for a year, not to mention the fact that food is stored longer.
If ice begins to actively form in a refrigerator with dry freezing technology, this indicates a technical problem.Most often, the problem lies in the incorrect operation of the defrost heating element. It looks like this, but I don’t recommend repairing it yourself unless you have experience and the right tools.
Other common causes include clogged drain tube and damaged seal.
We have a NORD refrigerator, 2005. I really like it, it works quietly, it freezes great, but it doesn’t have a no-frost system. She simply wasn't there then. You have to defrost it at least once every 2 months, otherwise a very large layer of ice accumulates in the freezer. For me this is already a common thing. I unplug the refrigerator and take out all the food. It’s good when it’s winter, you can hide everything on the balcony, but in the summer it’s worse, you have to put it in a bowl on top, cover it with frozen food and cover it with some kind of jacket. It looks like a thermos. It can last a couple of hours. I put a bowl of warm water and collect the ice that chips and falls. I wait until it defrosts completely, then wash it. It usually takes me about 2 hours, no less.
In general, it was surprising to me that modern refrigerators need to be defrosted, and even periodically. But then I was faced with such a need. Of course, I will defrost it, but I will also call the master. Let him find out what's wrong.