Ten Things You've Learned In Kindergarden That'll Help You With Frost Free Fridge And Freezer

How to Maintain a Frost Free Fridge and Freezer Defrosting is not necessary with a frost-free fridge freezer. This can save you time, effort and electricity when compared to a traditional refrigerator/freezer. Food that has been frozen can be damaged when ice crystals develop on the packaging. These crystals may cause damage to the freezer or alter the texture of food. Defrost The process of defrosting the freezer isn't glamorous or fun but it's an essential component of maintaining your fridge and freezer. Every when you open the door of your freezer warm air infiltrates, causing moisture to condense and freeze on the inside of the freezer. The frost can hinder the freezer's ability to regulate temperature, causing it work harder and use more energy. It can also affect the taste and quality of food and lead to freezer burn. The natural method of defrosting a freezer is the best option, but it can take several hours. In the event of an emergency using a hairdryer or handheld steam cleaner can accelerate the process. Make sure to disconnect and turn off the freezer before you begin. Remove all frozen food and clean up any water spilled. Be sure to have an extra towel or a plastic liner, ready before you begin the process of defrosting. This will help catch any water that spills. It's also an excellent idea to completely empty your freezer so that you can organize any food leftovers and clear out items that are no longer in use. After the defrosting process is completed, you must thoroughly clean and dry the freezer prior to turning it on. To accelerate the natural process of defrosting, open and close the door to your freezer a few times to help the temperature rise. Take all drawers and shelves off to enable you to access the ice. You can also lay extremely absorbent towels or old newspapers on the floor to soak up any puddles of melting ice. While the ice is melting, be sure to keep a warm spoon or plastic spatula in your kitchen to break up any large chunks that accumulate on interior walls. Avoid using sharp objects like knives, forks or ice picks to break through ice, as they can damage the interior walls of the freezer, causing leaks and damage. Be sure to wash and clean the shelves and drawers after the ice has been removed. After cleaning the freezer, plug it in and let it run for a few hours to get back to its normal freezing temperatures. Clean A regular cleaning is the best method to avoid a build up of spores and food odors. Take out any food that has gone bad or is beyond its prime and throw it away. Do a once-over of all the shelves and drawers and wipe them clean with soapy water (I use Seventh Generation natural dish liquid using a damp cloth) then drying them. I also clean the freezer with a cloth dipped into a solution of vinegar and water or baking soda. Stubborn stains may require scrubbing with a nonscratch scrub brush. I also clean the coils that are located at the back of my refrigerator with a blower. This removes all dirt, pet fur and dust that gets stuck in difficult to reach places. If you own an appliance that is frost-free you won't have to defrost it as often as other models. Frost-free refrigerators come with a mechanism that automatically cools food by circulating cold air through the refrigerator, eliminating the need to manually defrost the appliance. It is essential to clean your refrigerator at least once per week. Remove any food that has passed its expiration date and clean out all old bottles, jars and soy sauce packets. To make defrosting simpler take the contents out of your freezer and temporarily put them in a different freezer, a cooler with Ice packs, or a box covered with blankets. During this process, you should protect the floor of the freezer with an old cloth. Once the freezer has been defrosted, you are able to remove any remaining ice using the help of a plastic scraper. If your fridge is equipped with an automatic defrost system built-in it is likely to have an indicator light to let you know that it is time to run a defrost cycle. Clean out the freezer and place it on the counter to prevent losing frozen food during defrost. You can then restock it with frozen food that has an extended shelf life. You can then use an old towel to catch any water that leaks out of the freezer when it melts. Maintain If frost gets on the evaporator coil, it will freeze and cause the fridge to work harder and consume more energy. Regular maintenance is crucial. Unplugging the freezer and cleaning the evaporator coil will prevent this from occurring in the first place. If the defrost is operating correctly, a layer will form on the evaporator with an uniform pattern. If there is an accumulation of ice on the evaporator, and it's not caused by a defrost problem, it may be a sign of a faulty timer or defrost termination thermostat. In some older models, the return air duct and supply to and from the freezer may become blocked by dirt, pet hair or food residue. This causes the compressor to have to work harder and creates lots of heat that can then move into the refrigerator section cabinet and create warm temperatures there, particularly around the freezer doors. Maintaining the gasket on the freezer's door free of damage and making sure that it is in good condition will lessen the chance of this happening. Frequent openings in the freezer can also let humid air from the room to enter the appliance. This creates an environment where ice and frost can form more easily. Keeping the freezer tightly closed can help but it is not the answer to eliminating all problems with frost and ice. Regularly clean the evaporator drainage trough regularly to ensure it is not clogged with food debris or ice. A hand-held vacuum hose, or a special refrigerator coil cleaner (typically with brush that can be slipped into hard to reach places) is a great method of doing this. Keep the freezer space clear of any obstructions that might hinder air flow or block the condenser fan. To remove food particles and prevent odours, clean the shelves and walls using a mix of hot dish soap, hot water or baking powder. Air vents between the refrigerator and freezer compartments must not be blocked as this could cause inadequate air circulation, which will increase humidity in the appliance. Repair There are many reasons why your frost-free fridge freezer might not be functioning properly. Most of these issues can be fixed easily however some require expert assistance. Generally the problem is caused by something that prevents air from flowing to and from the freezer section of the unit. It could be caused by over-packed packages of food or air gaps that are blocked, or by opening the door too long. Unplug your fridge before performing any repairs or maintenance. This reduces the chance of electric shock and allows accumulation of frost to melt naturally. If the refrigerator still isn't cooling, it could be due to a problem with the defrost. frost free fridge and freezer of refrigerator and freeze automatically turns on a heater to melt any frost on the evaporator. The melted snow flows through a drain tube and into a pan in the back of the freezer and eventually evaporates into the surrounding air. The defrost timer may be malfunctioning and need to be replaced. It's also possible that a damaged seal is blocking cold air from entering the freezer area of your refrigerator. It is easy to fix this by cleaning the seal using soap and warm water. You should also make sure that there aren't any objects sitting on the back wall of the freezer or blocking any vents for the freezer. You can also try replacing the freezer gasket in case it is damaged or worn out. A lot of major appliance manufacturers offer spare parts, including freezer gaskets. It is important to know that the replacement of the gasket in a freezer is best done by a certified professional. Alternatively, you may have a problem with the evaporator fan that circulates air in the freezer section of your refrigerator. You will hear a click sound when the fan is turned on. This is because the ice that covers the evaporator coils has gotten too thick and is rubbing on the fan's blades. This is an issue that needs to be spotted by a trained professional.