There are different options for freezing systems. According to some of them, a freezer surrounded by ice is a normal phenomenon. The condensate cools and settles on surfaces. But if ice forms in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator when using the know frost system, then this indicates a violation. The use of the latter involves removing condensate from the freezing compartment.
How does ice form and how to remove it?
How does No Frost work?
This is a fully automated system that eliminates human participation in its operation. Defrosting of the refrigerator occurs according to a calculated algorithm using special mechanisms. The system independently performs defrosting in forced mode. This is done in a hidden way.
At the same time, the freezing compartment is ventilated. Thanks to the presence of a built-in drip device, condensate is constantly removed from the refrigerator, as a result of which it does not leak. Violation of the output mode may cause frost to form on the surfaces of the freezer.
The idea of creating “NoFrost” involves eliminating situations in which ice forms. For this purpose, a special moisture removal technology is used. A heat exchanger is built into the cavities of the side walls. Increased air movement occurs thanks to the built-in fan heater.
During operation, condensate is retained by the heat exchanger, which has a reduced temperature. Due to this, the chamber walls remain dry and clean. The frost that forms on the evaporator is removed in defrost mode. This happens thanks to specialized heating elements.
Using the know frost system in a refrigerator requires taking into account some features of how food should be stored on the part of the owner. Due to the specific nature of the work, in which there is constant movement of air, rapid airing of the stored material will occur. Accordingly, before putting food in the refrigerator, you need to protect it from external influences (i.e., put it in a container or wrap it in film).
Due to the specific nature of the work, in which there is constant movement of air, rapid airing of the stored material will occur. Accordingly, before putting food in the refrigerator, you need to protect it from external influences
Repair of a freezer with No Frost when ice freezes
No Frost System
It was precisely designed to prevent ice from freezing on the evaporator, as a result of which we do not lose the efficiency of heat transfer in the freezer. The best way to get rid of ice painlessly is to melt it. To achieve this, a heating element was added to the evaporator, which melted the freezing ice.
If you have read this far, then a reasonable question may well arise: “Why heat the cooling element? Author, what were you smoking?
The principle of operation of the system is as follows: along with the heating element, the manufacturers installed a special sensor on the evaporator, which is responsible for monitoring freezing and the so-called “defrost timer”, hooking up the compressor control electrics to it.
This is the same frost sensor that monitors the appearance of frost on the evaporator. It is very easy to check whether it works or not by testing it. If called correctly, then this is the so-called “thermal relay”. In Stinoly and Indesit they use the same thing, the average price is 500 rubles.
There are our production, there are bourgeois ones.
This is the so-called defrost timer. They differ slightly in design, but the principle of operation is absolutely the same. When the thermostat detects freezing, it commands the defrost timer to turn off the compressor and turn on the heating element. The heater turns on for a certain time, melts excess water or ice if it has formed, after which it turns off the heater and turns the compressor back on. Its operation is very easy to diagnose - all defrost timers have a button, when your compressor is running - just press it, the compressor should turn off. If it turns off, the problem is either in the shade or in the sensor. If it doesn't turn off, the problem is most likely with the timer. As a rule, it just changes to a new one. Average price - 500 rubles,
may be more expensive. Again, it all depends on the design and manufacturer.
And this is the defrost heater itself, which is laid along the evaporator. If the relay works and rings, and the defrost timer turns off the compressor during testing, but you still have ice freezing on the evaporator, the problem may be in the shade. Diagnosed by the same dialing. This happens extremely rarely and it simply needs to be replaced.
The average price is 1,000 rubles.
Why does ice form?
One of the likely causes of ice may be a power outage. The mains voltage has gone out, so the refrigerator does not freeze. As a result of downtime, a puddle may appear; the fact that it appears is not always clearly visible and may go unnoticed. After operation is restored, it freezes and ice forms.
Setting the maximum freezing mode can lead to untidy consequences. When you open the door, frost forms, which begins to melt and drip down, resulting in the formation of ice.
To avoid this, it is recommended to keep the freezing temperature at medium. This will not only prevent the occurrence of frost, but will also save some energy. According to the recommendations of most manufacturers. This mode of operation is the most optimal.
When you open the door, frost forms, which begins to melt and drip down, resulting in the formation of ice.
Naturally, opening and closing the door is not the only circumstance leading to the occurrence of icing. The reasons for this phenomenon may include the following:
- Broken door seal. Wear of the rubber seal may result in the door not fitting tightly to the refrigerator body.
- Another reason why ice forms in a refrigerator with the NoFrost system may be clogging of the channels leading water from the heat exchanger with foreign inclusions. Also, one of the pipes could simply have jumped out, as a result of which moisture does not enter it and the movement of water to the container for collecting moisture does not occur.
The container itself is usually located in the same compartment with the motor. Water evaporates from it naturally. The occurrence of icing may be due to the fact that the resulting water does not get to the required place, but is poured into the freezer. There it freezes safely.
- Malfunction of the heating element of the heat exchanger, that is, its combustion. In this case, no one except a service specialist can help.
Important! If the appearance of ice is observed regularly, and the refrigerator is still under warranty, then you should not look for reasons. Moreover, carry out independent repairs. Contact the seller to fix the problem or replace the technical device.
If the appearance of ice is observed regularly, and the refrigerator is still under warranty, then simply return it to the seller - the new refrigerator must work properly
Reasons for the formation of ice in the freezer and under the drawers of the no frost refrigerator
If ice freezes in the no frost freezer, this can be caused by the following reasons:
- Fast freezing mode, which is used to freeze large quantities of food. It turns off on its own after a day, but not on all models. Therefore, if ice appears in the freezer, check if this mode is working.
- Incorrect installation. Problems arise if the gap between the surfaces of the refrigerator and the furniture is too small. Deterioration of the cooling process can cause ice to form.
- Incorrect operation of the cooling mode.
If the installation was carried out according to all the rules and the optimal temperature mode was selected, but ice is still visible in the no frost freezer, then a breakdown has occurred.
It's also worth trying a simple diagnostic. Find the defrost timer and press the button. If the compressor turns off, the mechanism is working properly. The thermal relay needs to be called a tester. It is also necessary to check the heating element. If all these devices are in order, check the wiring from the different units to the compressor.
Important!
Ice also occurs when there are temperature changes as a result of an electrical system failure. As a result, puddles appear under the bottom drawers of the freezer, and drops remain on the evaporator.
The drainage hole in the freezer of the no frost refrigerator is clogged
Excess water exits through drainage holes, which eventually become filled with debris. A clog allows water to enter the freezer. As a result, ice appears at the bottom.
To clear the drainage, you must use a knitting needle or wire. The hole can be found under the evaporator.
If the know frost system is working normally, the chamber is cleaned at least once a day. To form ice, a heating element is connected to the water. As a result, the ice in the no frost refrigerator turns into water and flows through the drainage device. The E hole becomes clogged and water remains under the drawers.
Important!
To provide easy access to the drain hole, unscrew the back panel.
Faulty temperature sensor in refrigerator no frost
A common cause of malfunction is problems with the sensor. When broken, ice appears evenly on the walls. If the equipment is equipped with two compressors, then freezing will affect only the freezer. In single-compressor devices, frost will also affect food.
The temperature sensor helps measure the temperature in the chambers. If this device fails, the equipment receives incorrect data, which affects the non-stop operation of the compressor.
The insulation in the refrigerator is frozen no frost
In this case, check whether the “super freeze” mode is turned on. It is used when you need to freeze a large amount of food.
Wear of the rubber seal in the no frost refrigerator
As a result of prolonged use, wear may occur on the seal located around the perimeter of the door. As a result, the tightness of the chamber decreases and heat enters, which causes freezing in the No Frost freezer. Uneven growths are located closer to the doors. In this case, you need to replace the worn seal.
Thermostat failure in the no frost refrigerator
The sensor maintains the required temperature by starting and stopping the compressor. Electronically controlled refrigerators are equipped with air thermostats. The element determines the actual temperature in the compartments.
A breakdown can be identified by the following signs:
- the appearance of a layer of ice on the back surface;
- freezing food in the chamber;
- decrease in temperature values;
- the light inside is on, but the unit is warm;
- the compressor operates intermittently;
- accumulation of water under the bottom drawers.
The faulty part must be dismantled and then replaced with a new element.
The door does not fit tightly in the refrigerator no frost
If the door does not fit tightly, the same signs are observed as when the seal is worn. The cause of problems with the equipment is a violation of the tightness of the chambers. Refrigerator doors are attached to hinges and if they break, the sealing of the chambers is compromised.
Evaporator heating element in the refrigerator no frost
The evaporator heating element may become unusable as a result of a short circuit and sudden voltage changes. In such a situation, warm air begins to flow into the equipment, and the compressor seeks to compensate for the lack of cooling. As a result, a thick layer of ice freezes on the back walls and shelves. To fix the problem, the mechanism must be replaced.
Refrigerant leak in no frost refrigerator
The cooling level decreases sharply when freon leaks. This affects the compressor, which tries to restore the functionality of the device and begins to work without stopping. If all the gas comes out, the engine will stop starting. With this problem, ice is located in the evaporator area.
Solenoid valve in refrigerator no frost
This valve is necessary to switch operating modes between the refrigerator and freezer compartments. The device often complements single-compressor units. If the valve breaks down, the temperature in the freezer increases. But in the refrigerator compartment, food, on the contrary, will freeze.
Incorrect installation of the no frost refrigerator
To ensure that your refrigerator cools and freezes food properly, it is important to install the unit correctly. There should be at least five centimeters between the back wall and the equipment. If this is not done, air exchange will be disrupted. In this case, heat will not be removed from the rear wall, which will lead to poor freezing of food. As a result, ice will form.
Malfunction of the defrost system in the no frost refrigerator
The defrost system consists of several components. The evaporator is located in the freezer on the back wall. It helps in cooling. Air ducts and a fan are located nearby. Cold air passes through the ducts into the refrigerator compartment. The degree of cooling is regulated by the air flow, which is blocked by a special damper. During the cooling process, frost forms on the evaporator, which melts under the influence of the heater. The water exits through drainage channels into a special bath.
If problems arise, you need to defrost. If the main compartment does not start to cool after this procedure, then the defrost is faulty.
How to defrost correctly?
Owners of modern refrigerators with a no-frost system note that the defrosting procedure on some models has to be done quite often. To ensure that this procedure does not lead to breakdown of the technical device, it should be carried out correctly:
- The first thing to start with is disconnecting the refrigeration unit from the power source. That is, remove the plug from the socket.
Before defrosting, you will have to turn off the refrigerator, even by unplugging the cord from the outlet.
- The resulting ice may make you want to remove it mechanically: cut it off with a knife or scrape it off with any other hard object. Under no circumstances should this be done.
The wall thickness of the heat exchanger is small. It will not be difficult to cause damage to it by mechanical force. As a result, the problem will develop into a completely different direction. You will have to contact the service department for repairs, which will not be cheap.
- The defrosting process can be accelerated by using a container of warm water. The use of boiling water is excluded. If the water temperature is close to 100 degrees, its impact on the surfaces of the refrigerator can lead to damage. It is recommended to install the container on a woven material or on a board. To quickly dry it, you can use a hairdryer, but first you need to make sure that the heating function is not turned on.
Some refrigerator users are afraid that defrosting them may cause damage. In this situation, you can entrust the procedure to the technical device itself. After the defrosting process is completed, the person will only need to remove excess moisture.
After completing the defrosting process, remove excess moisture by wiping all parts and containers with a soft cloth
Next, you need to wait a while (about half an hour) before returning the products to their places. This is necessary for the refrigerator to return to standard operation. This is most relevant in the warm season.
After completing the defrosting process, remove excess moisture by wiping all parts and containers with a soft cloth
Remember! Refrigerators with “NoFrost” require defrosting only when there are any malfunctions. The main advantage that was pursued when developing the operating process of the system is the absence of the need for defrosting, due to the removal of moisture by the technical device itself.
No Frost drain hole clogged in Bosch refrigerator
The freezer compartment of Bosch refrigerators with the No Frost system has a drainage hole to drain condensate. When it becomes clogged, water flows to the bottom of the chamber and freezes. At the same time, the bottom drawer in the freezer freezes.
To fix the problem, you need to clean the drain hole. The main difficulty is that it is hidden behind the back panel of the freezer compartment. To get to the hole, you need to disassemble, remove the panel and clean it. After this, the water will drain normally. If you doubt that you can handle it, call a specialist.
Additional Operating Notes
- The cooling mode must be selected correctly. A high ambient temperature does not mean that it is necessary to set the freezer to the maximum possible power.
- Placing containers with hot food in the refrigerator may cause the temperature sensor to malfunction. If it is also open, the actively evaporating moisture will lead to the formation of ice. Often, this becomes the simplest cause of ice formation.
Let hot food cool before putting it in the refrigerator
- Do not overload the refrigerator with food. This may cause the compressor to overload. Extreme operating mode will lead to its failure.
Loading the refrigerator too tightly can cause the compressor to overload.
