How Does a Frostless Freezer Work?

What Is a Frostless Freezer?

Frostless freezers are freezers that are designed to avoid the frosty layer that can sometimes build up in freezer cases that makes it difficult to store items in the freezer or even close the door. These freezers work by defrosting slightly on a schedule. These defrosting periods allow the ice forming around the freezer coils to thaw, which helps the freezer remain free of icy buildup. This feature is usually available only on refrigerator/freezer combos found in dorm rooms or in average kitchens. Larger chest freezers generally require manual defrosting.

How the Freezer Remains Frostless

In a normal freezer, ice buildup is an extension of the water that freezes around the freezer coils. When water vapor from the freezer unit hits the freezer coils, it freezes instantly. The frozen water builds up on the coils over time, eventually invading the freezer's food storage area. Frostless freezers contain a heating coil, which is wrapped around the freezer coils. The heating coil is connected to a timer. Every 6 hours, the timer activates the heating coil. The heating coil thaws any ice that has frozen around the freezer coils. The melted ice drains away.

Keeping the Food Frozen

Though frostless freezers heat their coils on a fairly regular basis, the food inside the freezer isn't harmed by this procedure. This is because all frostless freezers contain temperature sensors that monitor the freezer's temperature while the heating coil is turned on. If the temperature of the freezer rises above 32 degrees F, the temperature sensor shuts off the heating coil to keep the food in the freezer from thawing out.