Manually defrosting a freezer is slow but simple: unplug it, move the food to coolers, set pans of hot tap water inside, and wipe up the meltwater until all the frost is gone. Plan on it once frost on the walls reaches about a quarter inch, a common guideline for manual-defrost chest and upright freezers.
Time: about 1 to 3 hours, depending on frost · Difficulty: Easy · You'll need: coolers and ice packs, towels, shallow pans, a plastic scraper, a bucket or hose for the drain (chest freezers)
Before you start
- •Unplug the freezer before you start. Don't run an extension cord or heater near meltwater.
- •Never use a knife, screwdriver or ice pick on the frost. Refrigerant tubing runs inside the walls of many freezers, and one puncture ends the freezer's life.
- •Check your manual before using a hair dryer or fan to speed things up. Some manufacturers advise against heating devices inside the cabinet.
- •Pick a cool morning so food in coolers holds well.
Steps
Step 1 — Empty the freezer
Pack food tightly into coolers with ice packs and close them. Grouped frozen food stays cold longer.
Step 2 — Set up for meltwater
Lay towels around the base. On a chest freezer, find the drain plug near the bottom front, pull it, and set a bucket or attach a hose as your manual shows.
Step 3 — Add warm water pans
Set shallow pans of hot tap water on the shelves or floor of the freezer and close the door or lid. Swap in fresh hot water every 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 4 — Lift off loosened frost
As the frost softens, ease off sheets with a plastic scraper or your gloved hand. Don't pry at frost that's still bonded to the wall.
Step 5 — Wipe and dry
Once the frost is gone, wipe the interior with a solution of warm water and a little baking soda, then dry everything thoroughly. Any water left behind turns straight back into ice.
Step 6 — Restart and wait
Replace the drain plug, plug the freezer in, and let it run empty until it's cold. Then reload the food and confirm the temperature with a thermometer; see how to check your refrigerator temperature for placement tips.
Didn't fix it?
If frost rebuilds within a few weeks, check the lid or door gasket for gaps, and make sure the freezer isn't in a humid spot with the lid opened often. Heavy frost in an auto-defrost freezer is not normal and usually means a defrost component has failed. A freezer that won't get cold after restarting needs our freezer repair service.
How often to do this
Most manual-defrost freezers need it once or twice a year, more often in a damp basement or with frequent use. Defrost when the frost hits about a quarter inch, not when the door won't close.
From Kevin: The ice pick is the enemy here. Patience and warm water are slower, but they're the only method I'd ever use on a customer's freezer.
Freezer still not right? Call ProFix NJ at (973) 718-9373.