How can I keep frost from building up so much or as fast in my non-frost free freezer?

James

• 59 Answers
• Posted on Nov 02, 2008

SOURCE: freezer not defrosting

The reason it is not defrosting is one of three things. First and most likely is that the Defrost Thermestat (aka BiMetal) is open and needs to be replaced, secondly it could be that the defrost timer is bad and lastly the heater can be bad. The bimetal and heater are found behind the back panel in the freezer section. The time is usually located near the controls in the fridge section. I would need you entire model number to tell you exactly where it is. To replace the either part is fairly straight forward. With the full model number I can walk you through the easiest way to test each part.

SOURCE: Freezer building up lots of frost, but on lowest setting.

FREEZERS SHOULD BE TEMP AT O /REFRIGERATOR SHOULD BE 40/FOR PERFECT OPERATION.1ST IS THE FAN RUNNING IN THE FREEZER/IF YES UNPLUG FOR 6-8 HOURS AND RETRY/IF NO UNPLUG THE FRIDGE AND REMOVE THE BACK PANEL OF THE FREEZER MAKE SURE THE FAN IS PLUGGED IN.IF SO PLUG IN THE FRIDGE AND SEE IF THE FAN IS TURNING.IF NOT YOU NEED A NEW FAN IF THE FRIDGE IS NEW MAKE THEM BRING YOU A REPLACEMENT FOR FREE.

SOURCE: Kenmore Trio bottom freezer frost free. Producing frost

There are several reasons this can be happening...

1. The seal on the door may have a tear or may not be seating properly...this allows excess warm air into the freezer compartment and in its effort to remove the same ...frost appears.

2. There is something call a thermistor (which senses temp and ice build up) that is cycled on and off as needed to remove excess frost accumulation and or ice buildup on the evaporator (freezer) coils...it is a heat strip which actually defrost the frost/ice. If this is not working frost will accumulate and eventually it will become Ice......now the remarkable thing about Ice accumulation is that you would think everything would remain cold or get colder ..however in this case the opposite occurs...it insulates the coils and thereby increasing the temperature...put a thermometer...one that is calibrated properly...(calibration can be set by placing a thermometer into a glass of ice water...the temp of a glass of ice water..after a few minutes setting will be exactly 32 degrees)..if the temperature of your refrigerator is gradually rising over the period of a week...you will need to call a tech or replace the thermistor and or trouble shoot other problems that may have occur such as..

3. The evaporator fan may be going out although they usually make a high pitched whining noise of a whirring noise before they go out...not always and if they are intermittently cycling off then frost would build up...do you always here a fan running when you open the freezer...if so that is good...fan is working...but it may be cycling off at times when no one is aware.
P.S. the odds of it being due to overfilling are slim...I have been in the industry for 35 years and that is what freezers do...which a lot of people don't realize is that freezers don't actually cool anything ..they just remove heat and when you remove all the heat all that is left is cold (like in space) and when heat is removed quickly frost can appear like when you blow your breath on a freezing cold window..then right your name....but I digress...any way..if there was an excess of heat due to a lot of new food in the freezer it would correct itself by one of the processes i mentioned above..and it would never result in Ice..you probably have one or more of the problems I mentioned...evaluate how long its been going on...

4. Thermostat could be out of adjustment..and or not functioning
properly..which would delay or inhibit a defrost cycle..from occurring..unfortunately almost all of these problems require a tech...or a good handyman.

This should lead you in the right direction...if you need help in finding a reputable service company in your area let us know..I hope this has been helpful..if so PLEASE rate me....thank you... .......The Fang

SOURCE: frost forms in freezer, blocking vents so temp in both freezer and fridge is warmer than normal

You have an issue with the defrost system, either the timer, thermostat or heating element. Probably the defrost timer refer to the manual to find it. If you don't have the manual check the makers web site for a parts breakdown. You should be able to put it into defrost manually by turning the knob and see if that helps. You may need to do this sevral times as it only stays in defrost for a little over twnety minutes and run cycle for 6,8 or ten hours. If the ice build up is heavy then twenty minutes may not do the trick thus the need for repated defrost cycles. If it does the trick replace the timer. If not check the thermostat and heater element.

SOURCE: Bosch intelligent frost free 88

We have the same and I think it is because the freezer door bounces open when we shut the fridge door. Then the freezer compartment ices up, the fan clogs up with ice and cannot blow cold air into the fridge, and the fridge gets warm and the milk goes off.
Solution? We have bought one of those child safety clips (search for fridge safety clip or lock) to hold the freezer door closed.
Simple design error. Expected better from Bosch :-(