How often do you need to defrost your frig/freezer

[Paul L]

My reefer seems to need a defrost about every 4 weeks. I recently put new seals on the lid. We use it in the tropics as full time liveaboards. Is that about what I can expect?

[Frigoboat Info]

Paul: There is no difinitive answer to this one. If you are experiencing heavy frosting on the evaporator it indicates that warm, humid air is entering the box, and that further indicates that colder, denser (i.e. heavier) air is escaping from somewhere. The colder the air, the denser and heavier it becomes, and the more it is likely to force its way out of a weak seal, especially low down in the box. Make sure that all drains and access holes for tubing and wiring are sealed and not allowing air to escape or enter. If you have a front opening door also, this is a very common place for cold air to escape, and warmer air will then get sucked in through the weaker top seals. If you have a fan anywhere in the box, either as a spillover control or to assist the natural convection, make sure that this is not overpowered and forcing air out of one section of the seals and allowing warmer, humid air to be sucked in from another location. To evaluate the integrity of your seals, tape them over temporarily after defrosting the evaporator and while you are away from the boat for a decent time, say a week, and see if that cures the frost build-up. Excessive frost is a result of weak box/seal integrity and is in no way influenced by the size, type, or manufacturer of the refrigeration system.
Hope this helps.
Frigoboat info

[Paul L]

Frigoboat
Thanks for the info. We live aboard, so I can't really do the tape the seals test. I do have drains at the bottom of the box that go to a small pump. I guess I could tape over those next time I defrost. The air is obviously humid as I'm in the tropics and the box gets open multiple times per day in normal use. It is a freezer - spill over refrig setup -- top load. Is 4 weeks unexpectedly short time for a defrost in this environment?

[SV THIRD DAY]

Originally Posted by Paul L

Is 4 weeks unexpectedly short time for a defrost in this environment?

4 weeks isn't bad at all Paul....because every time you open the box warm humid air is heading in, so it's a constant fight even if you have perfect seals.

[sailorboy1]

I found toward the end of this season that not having ice that was "open" (like in a standard bag that it comes in) in my freezer reduces the ice build up on my plates (I have a spill over system). I also noticed this earlier in the year when I found that a container I had filled with water and put in the freezer had developed a crack in it. The ice level in the container was going down and I think the water was just slowing making its' way to the colder plates.

[River Cruiser]

I liveaboard 9 months of the year and defrost 2 times, the last one when I clean it out before going home for the winter.

[sparrowhawk1]

It depends on how often you open it. It's very important to have a U-trap in your drain line that's filled with water. The water keeps cold air from flowing out the line.

[CGP]

I defrost mine about every second month.

[Cruisin Cat]

I've got an upright fridge/freezer that ices up pretty fast. It's got a digital thermostat that I set to defrost every 24 hrs. Fridge seems colder and more efficient with no ice on the evaporator.

[svBeBe]

All units are Frigoboat, not the water-cooled kind. Freezer lockers need defrosting at most once per year regardless of climate. Upright under-counter fridge needs defrosting every 30 days in cool climate and every 7 to 10 days in tropical areas.

Judy

[Celestialsailor]

I believe defrosting frequency is more a function of use and insulation quality rather than make.
What I can't believe is a poll done on defrosting.