Commercial Freezer Defrost: What Is It, and Do You Need It?

Why Do Freezers Have Defrost Cycles?

Many people don’t know why freezers have a defrost cycle, let alone understand the importance of this function. The defrost system in freezers helps the equipment to perform properly, without thick layers of ice developing and preventing the evaporator coil from absorbing heat and cooling the cabinet. If it was not for the defrost cycles, freezer temperatures could become dangerously warm. This would not only ruin anything that you have stored in your freezer but would also cause your entire freezer to break down. The frost puts such a large burden on the entire refrigeration system that it would eventually stop working.

Defrost cycles are specifically designed to avoid the buildup of ice and allow the freezer to perform at its required temperature of between -10 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-24 to -12 degrees Celsius). Defrost cycles are designed to maintain reliability and efficiency. If it wasn’t for defrost cycles, your freezer would be unable to perform at its highest potential, which would leave to many negative factors, including damage to the outdoor unit itself.

How do defrost systems work?

Once defrosted, the melted ice is usually piped into a separate tray underneath the unit. From there, the water is gently heated to just the right temperature, to allow the water to evaporate. This is done in several ways, most commonly a ‘wicking system’, which allows the water to evaporate without the need for electrical components. This makes the system much safer and reduces the risk of electrical malfunction. Manufacturers continually developing ways they can make the water evaporate quicker, safer, and more efficiently. It’s important for us to offer the most

Keep in mind that there are a variety of factors that influence when your unit will go into defrost mode. Here is a list of factors that are influenced when your unit goes into defrost mode:

• The outdoor temperature and humidity: This all depends on where your freezer is stored/placed in your home. For example, if you store your freezer in your basement compared to storing it in your garage, those external conditions and temperatures will have an overall effect on the performance.
• The amount of heating load the unit is trying to deliver: The temperature that the unit is trying to produce at a constant and consistent level. If the unit is unable to produce a consistent level of temperature, the defrost unit will not work properly and end up failing.
• The condition of the heat pump: Depending on how new and/or old your heat pump is, that will ultimately have an effect on the overall performance of the defrost system. Older systems tend to work a lot harder to produce the proper temperatures and conditions for the unit.

True units’ defrost cycle occurs 4 times per day at preset intervals.

Does a Defrost Cycle Affect the Food in the Freezer?

This is a common question, and the good news is that you do not have to worry about the defrost cycle affecting your food. In fact, all of the manufacturers have gone through extensive research and development to make sure that food is not affected during a defrost cycle. Food safety is always a top priority in the refrigerator and freezer industry. Defrost systems are designed to only melt the ice on the evaporator coil. Even during this process, the defrost system does not interfere with the temperature for the food in the freezer. One thing to keep in mind also is that the defrost cycle doesn’t even last long enough to affect anything that is in there, as the interior temperature is not affected during this process.

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