Frost free

- A frost free appliance in operation.

The aim of a frost free appliance is quite obviously described by the term, the elimination of all frost within a freezer or refrigerator. Why can frost become a problem?, well to begin with it can build up to such a degree that shelves cannot be opened easily or at all. The more troubling aspect is that frost blocks the natural circulation of air and stops the fridge or freezer working at optimum performance. This will mean that food is not stored at the proper temperature, which can result in food going bad within a time frame it should not have.

Thirdly the removal of frost is a time consuming process. It involves the removal of all food stuffs from a freezer, the appliance being turned off, and a bowl of warm water placed in the appliance to melt the frost for an afternoon or longer. If you do not have a second freezer to store your frozen foods they can defrost while you defrost the appliance. And become inedible.

A frost free fridge freezer works by using a mechanism that allows a warming process on the cooling system. This avoids any frost building up in or around the cooling system, which in turn avoids it being sent into the storage area. The cooling system of a frost free unit does need to placed outside of the freezer lining, unlike with a traditional appliance.

The frost free system is sometimes only incorporated into the freezer compartment of a fridge freezer, because frost is not always a common problem with refrigerators. Therefore you have two classes of frost free fridge freezers. A 'partial' system which is only incorporated into the freezer compartment, and a 'total' system which is placed within both compartments.

The only disadvantage to a frost free system is the extra power consumption it entails. There can also be problem with the heating of the cooling system. If not properly insulated there can be safety issues with the constant heating of the element. And heat can be transferred into the storage areas if insulation is poor. Overall however the advantages seem to easily out weigh any drawbacks.