Which Is Better: Frost-Free or Manual Defrost Freezer?
When it comes to choosing a commercial freezer, there are a few options available. Two of the most popular types of commercial freezers are frost-free and manual defrost models. Both have their pros and cons, so it can be difficult to decide which one is best for you. In this blog post, we’ll explore the differences between frost-free and manual defrost commercial freezers so that you can make an informed decision when it comes time to buy one.
What is a Frost-Free Commercial Freezer?
A frost-free freezer is a type of commercial freezer that uses an automatic defrost system to prevent ice from building up on the evaporator coil. This system works by periodically running a defrost cycle, heating up the evaporator coil and melting any ice that has accumulated. This type of commercial freezer requires less maintenance than manual defrost models, as it eliminates the need to manually defrost the unit every few months. It will also hold temperature better than manual-defrost commercial freezers as too much ice buildup on the evaporator will impede air flow and result in less stable freezer temperatures. The defrost cycle comes standard in Ancaster’s refurbished commercial freezers and runs every six hours. There are sensors that tell the freezer when to end the defrost cycle - when the ice is all melted or the cabinet temperature gets too high.
Advantages of Frost-Free Commercial Freezers
The main advantage of a frost-free freezer is that it requires less maintenance than manual defrost models. As mentioned above, this type of freezer eliminates the need for regular manual defrosting, which can be time consuming and inconvenient. Additionally, frost-free freezers tend to be more energy efficient than manual defrost models because they don’t require as much energy to keep them running efficiently.
Disadvantages of Frost-Free Commercial Freezers
One disadvantage of frost-free freezers is that they tend to cost more than manual defrost models due to their more complex design and technology.
What is a Manual Defrost Commercial Freezer?
A manual defrost freezer is a type of commercial freezer that requires regular maintenance in order to prevent ice from building up on its evaporator coil. This type of commercial freezer does not have an automatic defrost system like frost-free models do; instead, users must manually remove any ice buildup every few months by turning off the power and allowing the unit to thaw out completely before restarting it again. These are more common in laboratory settings where samples should not be subject to the temperature spike during defrost cycles. Regularly packaged foods do not have this issue since it’s such a short duration of increased temperature.
Advantages of Manual Defrost Freezers
The main advantage of manual defrost commercial freezers is that they tend to be more affordable than frost-free models due to their simpler design and technology. Additionally, these types of commercial freezers typically keep food colder than frost-free models since they don’t have an automatic defrost system running periodically throughout the day or night. Finally, some people find that these types of freezers have longer lifespans since they don’t rely on complex technology like frost-free models do.
Disadvantages of Manual Defrost Freezers
One disadvantage of manual defrost freezers is that they require regular maintenance in order to prevent ice buildup from occurring inside the unit; this can be time consuming and inconvenient for some people who don’t want to spend time manually removing ice every few months or so. Additionally, these types of commercial freezers tend to be less energy efficient than frost-free models since they require more energy in order for them to run efficiently over time. Letting ice build up on the evaporator coil will decrease the freezer’s efficiency by slowing or stopping air flow and will eventually cause temperatures inside the freezer to rise.
Conclusion: Which Type Is Best?
When deciding between a frost-free or manual defrost freezer, there are several factors you should consider before making your purchase decision such as cost, energy efficiency, convenience level with maintenance requirements and how cold you want your food stored at all times. Ultimately though it comes down to personal preference as both types offer advantages depending on what you prioritize most in your purchase decision!
Contact Ancaster Food Equipment today to price the best refurbished frost free commercial freezers on the market today!
