How to quickly and correctly defrost a refrigerator: using hot water and a hairdryer, how often should you defrost

Refrigerators not equipped with a No Frost system must be defrosted independently

All modern refrigerators are equipped with a No Frost system, which does not require defrosting. More precisely, this process occurs automatically due to the special design of the product. Those who have not yet become the owner of a more or less brand new refrigerator are already accustomed to the fact that regular defrosting is required. This process is simple, but takes time. Experienced housewives know the secrets of how to quickly defrost a refrigerator, and actively use them.

Causes of ice formation

The process of formation of an ice coat is a completely understandable phenomenon. It occurs due to the interaction of warm air from outside with the cold air produced by the refrigerator.

Note! Absolutely every refrigerator must be defrosted; the difference is how often it needs to be done.

The reasons for excessive ice formation may be:

breakdown of a special thermostat;
wear or deformation of door seals. As a result, the refrigerator does not close tightly and warm air entering inside provokes the formation of a layer of ice;
Too much camera load. The device does not have time to properly maintain the desired temperature, and the compressor operates too intensely.

Excessive ice formation can be caused not only by technical failures, but also by operating errors.

You can tell whether the refrigerator needs to be defrosted by the amount of ice that has formed, which will interfere with the normal cooling of the contents of the unit.

Why do you need defrosting?

Now is the time to figure out what will happen if you don’t defrost the refrigerator for a long time.

A dense layer of ice on the walls of the unit’s chambers can lead to many unpleasant consequences:

The necessary air exchange will be disrupted. This means that the food will not be fully cooled and will begin to deteriorate quickly.
Trying to reach the desired temperature, the compressor will work at full capacity, which will certainly affect your electricity bills..
A thick layer of ice will take up quite a lot of space, so it will not be enough to store food.

Important! Do not place hot dishes in the refrigerator. This will disrupt its operation and, as a result, accelerate the formation of ice.

A thick coat of ice prevents free access to food in the refrigerator

And another reason why defrosting the refrigerator is concern for the quality of food and the health of the whole family. Often food debris, packaging or crumbs accumulate in the ice crust. And this will become an excellent environment for the active growth of bacteria.

How to turn on the refrigerator after defrosting

You can turn on the refrigerator after it has been disconnected from the network no earlier than 24 hours later. If you need to do this earlier, it is acceptable to start the unit after 12 hours. However, it is not recommended to do this every time.

Please note that by the time you turn on the refrigerator, it must be completely dry after washing. Only when the moisture has evaporated can you turn it on and set the desired mark on the thermostat. You do not need to load the unit with food immediately; it should “get cold” within 1–2 hours.

By following defrosting recommendations, you will keep your expensive unit in working condition for a long time.

Types of refrigerators

Now let's figure out what types of refrigerators there are.

Earlier models have a drip system. Its principle is very simple. There is a special evaporator on the back wall of the device. Its main task is to distribute the cold evenly. Drops of water that form on the wall during operation slowly flow down and accumulate in a special container.

Ice forms when the compressor works too hard. Gradually increasing, the ice crust disrupts the normal circulation of cold, and then you have to defrost the refrigerator with a drip system.

Note. When the drip system operates, condensation and ice form only on the back wall, the other two remain dry.

More modern and, importantly, expensive models have a No Frost system. Unlike the previous option, cold circulation occurs thanks to built-in fans. But here there is also an evaporator and condensate is formed, although in much smaller quantities. Even if you are the owner of this modern unit, you still need to know how to defrost a refrigerator.

Special markings indicating built-in cooling system

When deciding how often to defrost a refrigerator, you should take into account the type of cooling system. Drip units require this procedure on average once every 2–4 months. The No Frost system requires preventive cleaning and defrosting no more than once a year.

How to properly clean a refrigerator after defrosting

Cleaning up the inside of the refrigerator

When cleaning a household appliance, start by cleaning its internal parts, moving from top to bottom and paying special attention to the corners of the chambers;
do not forget to wash and disinfect the drain hole on the back wall of the refrigerator compartment: clean it with a brush, then draw detergent into a syringe (without a needle) and pour it into the channel;
clean the holes on the fan grille with cotton swabs soaked in cleaning product;
wash the outer parts of the case, wipe the condenser located on the back wall with a slightly damp sponge;
Wash the sponge or rag from any remaining cleaning products, fill a bowl with water and rinse all surfaces with it;
take a dry towel and wipe the refrigerator inside and out;
leave the device with the door open so that all moisture from the internal surfaces completely evaporates;
Reinstall the shelves and drawers in their original place, plug in the device and after half an hour place the food in it.

IMPORTANT! According to the recommendations of manufacturers of refrigerators with a no-frost system, such units can only be connected to the network 12 hours after being turned off.

Step-by-step algorithm

Every housewife should know how to properly defrost a refrigerator.

Important! Natural thawing is the safest defrosting method.

To do this, we suggest that you read the detailed instructions:

Set the operating mode control lever to the zero position.
Unplug the power cord from the outlet. Remember, you cannot defrost a refrigerator that is turned on, this will disrupt the operation of the compressor and damage the unit.

Sealed bags keep food fresh while defrosting

Completely empty the device of its contents. During the cold season, food can be taken out onto the balcony. When it’s warm, place it in a large basin and cover it with a thick blanket to keep it cold.
Remove all removable elements (shelves, drawers, containers).
Check the melt water collection tray. If there is none, place rags and containers.
Give the ice time to melt. During the natural defrosting process, ice melts on average in 2–8 hours. But in general, how long you need to defrost the refrigerator will depend on the thickness of the ice layer .
After all the ice has melted, you need to thoroughly rinse the refrigerator and wipe it dry.
Upon completion of cleaning, return all shelves and drawers to their place, set the temperature and turn on the device.

Important! You can load food back only after the refrigerator has reached the desired temperature.

Use soft cloths to clean the interior surface

You can defrost the freezer in the refrigerator by following the same instructions. But in two-compressor models you do not have to completely turn off the entire unit; it is enough to turn off the power to only one of the chambers.

How to defrost a refrigerator correctly

Any refrigerator needs care. To do this, it is defrosted and washed.

Important! If the compartments of the refrigerator are not washed, bacteria will begin to multiply intensively in it, which will lead to rapid spoilage of food. Disconnecting the device from the power supply must last for at least 12 hours. During this time, the refrigerant pressure in the system gradually decreases. Turning on the unit prematurely will result in compressor failure and costly repairs.

Preparatory stage:

The temperature regulator in the device is set to zero;
disconnected from the network;
a rag is placed next to the door;
disconnect equipment from the power supply;
remove all food from the refrigerator;
remove shelves, drawers, pallets, grates - all elements that can be detached are best washed separately;
leave the freezer open and wait for the ice to disappear;
accumulated water is collected with a sponge.

To assess the thickness of the ice layer, you can remove the back wall of the freezer. If it is thick, this indicates either improper operation of the device or a malfunction in its operation.

Defrosting procedure:

Defrosting and cleaning equipment should not be carried out in too hot or too cold weather. External temperature maximums and minimums are an unnecessary and unnecessary test for a refrigeration compressor.
If the equipment has two cooling circuits, only one of the chambers can be defrosted. If the refrigerator has one cooling circuit (which happens more often), i.e. It is not possible to turn off only one of the cameras and leave the other running; it must be disconnected from the power supply. Remove all food from the refrigerator and leave the doors wide open.
The entire refrigerator needs to be washed, so it is advisable to move it away from the wall and kitchen unit so that you can clean not only the internal chambers, but also the external panels, including the back wall, where the most dust accumulates. Pay special attention to the handles and other parts of the surface of the device that are most often touched by your hands.
You can speed up the thawing process and bring the temperature inside the refrigerator to room temperature, and at the same time dry the wet areas of the internal walls of the device, using a regular hair dryer. If you don’t have a hairdryer, you just need to leave the refrigerator open for an hour and a half. Under no circumstances try to scrape frost and ice from the walls of the appliance with knives or spatulas! This way you will probably damage your equipment.
When the device has completely cooled down, you can proceed directly to cleaning it of dirt. It is important to remember that you should absolutely not use any chemicals to clean the internal chambers of the refrigerator! Refrigeration equipment stores food, and you do not want chemical particles harmful to human health to subsequently settle on it.
Since the ventilation system is an important part of the No Frost technology, the first thing you should pay attention to is the ventilation openings in the refrigerator and freezer compartments. Take regular cotton swabs, soak them in clean warm water or a mild soda solution and carefully apply each hole. Under no circumstances remove or unscrew the panels covering the ventilation! This is a violation of the warranty agreement, which means that in the event of a breakdown, you will be denied free repairs. This may violate the terms of the warranty agreement between you and the manufacturer. For external panels, you can use regular cleaning products, with the exception of powders, which may cause scratches.
After the ventilation mesh is clean, you can begin to work on glass shelves, door pockets, pull-out containers for vegetables and fruits, and other elements of the interior of the refrigerator. You need to use the same aqueous solution of regular table soda. Particular attention should be paid to the rubber seals that ensure the refrigerator doors close tightly. Rubber is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria and germs, so regularly wiping it with detergent is a must.
After treating all the internal surfaces of the refrigeration device with a soda solution, you should go over them again with a regular damp cloth dipped in warm water. Then they need to be wiped dry with a soft cloth so that there are no streaks or water stains left. The doors of the device can be left open for some more time so that the refrigerator chambers dry completely.
Now your refrigerator is clean and you can return all the shelves and containers to their place, close the doors and move the device back to the wall. Unlike classic refrigeration equipment, No Frost refrigerators gain cold faster, so food can be placed on the shelves immediately after it is plugged in.

Defrosting a windy type refrigerator

Defrosting is carried out as follows: an evaporator is installed behind the rear walls of the chambers, onto which cooled air enters. The air flow direction is controlled by a built-in fan. The ice in such a system is able to thaw on its own, so defrosting a two-chamber Bosch unit takes less time. If there is no need for cleaning, you can defrost a No Frost refrigerator of this type without removing food. However, it is recommended to clean the ventilation grilles as often as possible.

Defrosting a drip-type refrigerator

The operating principle of drip defrosting involves the operation of an evaporator mounted on the wall of the refrigerator compartment. When the compressor operates, frost accumulates on this part. When the engine is turned off, the ice begins to thaw. The resulting liquid is discharged through gutters into a container located outside the chamber. Here the water turns into steam. When the holes in the evaporator area become clogged, frost accumulates, causing refrigerators to take a long time to defrost. When cleaning the main compartment, you need to properly clean the water drainage gutters.

Ways to speed up the defrosting process

Natural melting takes a long time and is not always convenient. In this case, the question arises of how to quickly defrost an old refrigerator. To do this, use the following methods:

boiling water Is it possible to defrost a refrigerator with hot water? Yes, but do not pour it into the unit itself. Just place the heating pad on the shelves or place deep bowls. At the same time, try to change the water as often as possible so that they always have hot liquid.
Heat from electrical appliances . Is it possible to defrost a refrigerator with a hairdryer? Yes again. You can also place a fan heater opposite the device.
Salt . A safe product that will melt ice without sudden temperature changes. Just place a bowl of this ingredient inside the refrigerator.

Important! Never try to remove ice with sharp objects. This can damage the evaporator and cause the refrigerator to fail.

Vinegar . Another reliable assistant in speeding up defrosting. You can place a saucer with 9% vinegar in the center of the refrigerator or spray the solution onto an ice coat. After this, it is important to rinse the device thoroughly so that the acid does not damage the surface of the refrigerator.

To make your refrigerator last longer, try to resort to emergency defrosting measures as rarely as possible

Thus, defrosting the refrigerator allows you to update the operating cycle and improve the quality of cooling. And always remember that following the operating rules will allow your unit to operate for a long time and reliably.

Why shouldn't you defrost your refrigerator with a hairdryer?

Usually people defrost the refrigerator traditionally: they simply remove all the food from it, disconnect it from the power supply and leave it open until all the ice has melted and the water has drained into a special container. However, some people prefer to find some extraordinary ways to defrost the refrigerator as quickly as possible. So, recently the method in which a hair dryer is used has become especially popular. With it you can actually get rid of ice much faster, but no one thinks about how dangerous this method is.

Firstly, the high temperature of the air flows coming from the hair dryer harms the parts. If you use too hot air or do not take into account the required distance between several electrical appliances, then many parts and components of the refrigerator may fail. As a result, you will have to spend additional money on repairing it. After all, the equipment was not made in such a way that ice could be removed from its walls. Therefore, to save your money and time, it is better to resort only to a reliable traditional method.

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If drops of water fall on the body of the hair dryer, or even on its open areas, or reach the wiring, then, at best, the device will simply stop working. At worst, it will short out, causing the person holding it to receive a severe electric shock. Drops of water can get into the hair dryer at any time. Even if the hair dryer cord is lying in a small puddle, this can also cause terrible consequences. In order not to risk your life, it is better to refuse such an unconventional use of a hair dryer.

If the hair dryer is left on for too long, it will get too hot, which will cause it to break. In the worst case, the electrical appliance may completely fail, which is why you will have to buy a new one. In this situation, is saving 1-2 hours worth it to subsequently be nervous about the incident and spend money on buying a new hair dryer? This type of appliance is not intended to be used to defrost a refrigerator.

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Direct flows of hot air negatively affect the rubber inserts used on all refrigerator doors to ensure a tight fit to the main body. Under their influence, rubber deforms and dries out. As a result, in the future, ice will form inside the refrigerator many times more often, because its doors will not close tightly, ensuring the continuous entry of new air into the equipment. To avoid this, keep the device at a distance of at least 25 cm from the walls of the refrigerator. In this case, direct the air flows evenly over the entire area of the chambers, without holding the hair dryer for a second towards the rubber gasket.

Do you defrost the refrigerator traditionally, or with a hairdryer?