Convert frosty freezer to frost-free freezer??

[Marvin Moss]

I bought a non-frost-free freezer that frosts up too much and too
frequently. I want to convert it to a frost-free freezer.
Can I add a timer to the line input so it turns off for 30 minutes or an
hour per day so the ice build-up can melt?
Does a frost-free freezer have a water drain system that a non-frost-free
does not have to get rid of the melted water?

Marvin

 

[Nigel]

I bought a non-frost-free freezer that frosts up too much and too
frequently. I want to convert it to a frost-free freezer.
Can I add a timer to the line input so it turns off for 30 minutes or an
hour per day so the ice build-up can melt?
Does a frost-free freezer have a water drain system that a non-frost-free
does not have to get rid of the melted water?

Marvin

To answer your second question, yes it does have a drain and evaporation
system to get rid of the moisture.

If you want a frost-free freezer, then sell the one you have and make a new
purchase.

Adding a timer to the mains input is unlikely to do the fridge or the food
any good - salmonella anyone ?

Don't try doing a home conversion on white goods, it's not worth it and it's
unsafe.

 

[Wild Bill]

You might want to check that the door gasket is sealing properly.
Infiltration of room air will cause more run time and frosting.

You can check the gasket seal by using a strip of paper (almost any kind, or
waxed paper). Open the door, place the paper across the area where the
gasket contacts the cabinet, close the door and pull on the paper. If it
slips out loosely, the gasket isn't sealing properly.

Most common household refrigerators have weak cabinets made of stamped
sheetmetal, and they need to be leveled and/or squared up to make sure that
the door openings form a flat plane (not twisted).
When the cabinet is square, the doors (hinge mount areas) may need to be
adjusted slightly to insure a complete surrounding seal.

WB
................

 

[Sam Goldwasser]

I bought a non-frost-free freezer that frosts up too much and too
frequently. I want to convert it to a frost-free freezer.
Can I add a timer to the line input so it turns off for 30 minutes or an
hour per day so the ice build-up can melt?
Does a frost-free freezer have a water drain system that a non-frost-free
does not have to get rid of the melted water?

A frost-free has:

1. Its evaporator coils isolated from the freezer and fridge compartments
so that they can be heated without affecting the food.

2. A timer to control the defrost cycle. Something like 20 minutes
every 6 hours.

3. A heater to melt the frost during the defrost cycle.

4. A separate thermostat to tell the heater to turn off when the frost
is melted (gets to 32 deg F).

5. A drain system to get rid of the water to an area near the hot
condensor coils where it evaporates.

Could you convert to something that may be good enough? Possibly.
Depends on what you really need. Realize though that the normal
thermostat turns the compressor off periodically when the temps are
low enough and the frost doesn't melt on its own.

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[Allodoxaphobia]

I bought a non-frost-free freezer that frosts up too much and too
frequently. I want to convert it to a frost-free freezer.
Can I add a timer to the line input so it turns off for 30 minutes or an
hour per day so the ice build-up can melt?
Does a frost-free freezer have a water drain system that a non-frost-free
does not have to get rid of the melted water?

Marvin

You could move here.
Humidity is typically 10-15% and I disable the heating strips on the
fridge and freezer door jambs to save electricity and to make life
"easier" for the appliances. I defrost my chest freezer about once
every 7-8 years.

Big Help -- ya, I know.

Marvin, too.

 

[Marvin Moss]

Well, this was a really bad idea. I think that I will just defrost it
periodically and let it go at that.

Thanks very much for your comments.

Marvin