Frost inside your freezer is the effect of moisture coming into contact with the coils inside the unit and freezing. It can result in odors, lack of storage space, and inefficient sealing of the unit’s door.
Frost can also affect your food and groceries, and lead to a situation known as freezer burn or frostbitten food. It is caused by numerous factors, including dehydration from unstable temperature within your freezer, exposure to air and food stored in the freezer for too long. If the moisture evaporates from the food, ice crystals develop on its surface. (Note: Freezer burn can affect the taste of the foods and might lead to food loss.)
1) Check the door or lid gasket.
Do you notice that your freezer is frosting over? It may be due to a defective door lid or gasket. Gasket creates an airtight seal between the door and freezer cabinet to keep the air cold inside your freezer. If the gasket is cracked or damaged, it may be letting warm, moist air inside your unit, which can lead to frost. If the gasket on your frost-free model leaks, you expect that frost can develop on the evaporator, which means the compressor has to run more than its usual operation. You can check the gasket for leaks or defects. If the frost is in particular or specific to one area, that is likely where the leaking gasket is. Don’t wait! You replace the gasket if you spot any cracks or damages.
2) Inspect your defrost thermostat devices.
Does your frost-free freezer unit have frost buildup, particularly around the evaporator? Then there may be an issue with your defrost thermostat device. The frost-free freezer has a defrost heater to dissolve or melt the frost from the evaporator coil to keep it from frosting over. The defrost thermostat supplies power to the heater and gives you a signal of the shut-off when the defrost period is complete. You can check the performance of your defrost thermostat with the use of a multimeter. It should have continuity when at freezing point and should be open circuit when the temperature is higher than 37 degrees Fahrenheit. A loss of continuity means your thermostat will not power the heater, leading to frost over your freezer.
3) Examine your freezer defrost timer.
If you are noticing frost in your freezer, it may indicate a problem with your defrost timer device. A defrost heater is used to melt the frost before it spreads on the evaporator coil of your frost-free freezer. The timer gives a signal to the heater to turn on at regular intervals for efficient performance. If the timer is not running well, the heater will not run as its normal function, and the compressor may run continuously. Just turn on the defrost timer manually to start the defrost session; if the other components operate well, that means the timer is broken and needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
Call and Hire An Expert to Help You!
Still not sure which part is not working well? Don’t worry! Our team at Next Door Appliance Repair can help you with any of your freezer repair needs. What is best about our team is that we can also provide you top-quality oven repairs, cooktop repairs, range repairs, washer repairs, dryer repairs, dishwasher repairs, and any other appliance repairs that you need. Save your home appliances by hiring our expert technicians today!