How to defrost a freezer quickly

[Pilot]

While defrosting our freezer today, it occurred to me that many folks probably still use the hot water in the pot method. There is a faster, easier way that I have been doing for several years.

Once all the food is removed, set up a fan outside the freezer and blow room air into it. I used a box fan sitting on a stool to get it up high, where the frost is thickest.

Today the temp in the garage where we have our freezer was about 70 degrees. The 18 cu. ft. freezer had about 1.5 inches of ice in places on the top shelf and a little thicker on the underside of the top of the freezer, the thickest areas. From the time I set the fan until all the ice was melted took about 35 minutes. I started with the fan sitting about 16 inches off the floor, but most of the air went into the bottom. About half way thru the job I put it on a stool where it would blow closer to the thickest ice.

Of course it would have defrosted faster on a warmer day.

The faster you get the ice out of there, the sooner you can put the food back in and the less the chance of the food defrosting.

 

[blueriver]

Just buy a 'Frost Free"

 

[rjkobbeman]

While defrosting our freezer today, it occurred to me that many folks probably still use the hot water in the pot method. There is a faster, easier way that I have been doing for several years.

Once all the food is removed, set up a fan outside the freezer and blow room air into it. I used a box fan sitting on a stool to get it up high, where the frost is thickest.

Today the temp in the garage where we have our freezer was about 70 degrees. The 18 cu. ft. freezer had about 1.5 inches of ice in places on the top shelf and a little thicker on the underside of the top of the freezer, the thickest areas. From the time I set the fan until all the ice was melted took about 35 minutes. I started with the fan sitting about 16 inches off the floor, but most of the air went into the bottom. About half way thru the job I put it on a stool where it would blow closer to the thickest ice.

Of course it would have defrosted faster on a warmer day.

The faster you get the ice out of there, the sooner you can put the food back in and the less the chance of the food defrosting.

You may laugh, and the safety police will probably have something to say, but I stick a hair dryer in mine to defrost it every couple of years or so.

Middle of summer works good too!

 

[Redgoatea]

I just defrosted one at work last month. Somebody left the door open a crack and it filled the entire freezer solid with ice including freezing the door in place. I took one of those shark hand steamers to it and had it completely defrosted in 2 hours. 7

 

[LBrown59]

You may laugh, and the safety police will probably have something to say, but I stick a hair dryer in mine to defrost it

That's how I do it .

 

[MossRoad]

While defrosting our freezer today, it occurred to me that many folks probably still use the hot water in the pot method. There is a faster, easier way that I have been doing for several years.

Once all the food is removed, set up a fan outside the freezer and blow room air into it. I used a box fan sitting on a stool to get it up high, where the frost is thickest.

Today the temp in the garage where we have our freezer was about 70 degrees. The 18 cu. ft. freezer had about 1.5 inches of ice in places on the top shelf and a little thicker on the underside of the top of the freezer, the thickest areas. From the time I set the fan until all the ice was melted took about 35 minutes. I started with the fan sitting about 16 inches off the floor, but most of the air went into the bottom. About half way thru the job I put it on a stool where it would blow closer to the thickest ice.

Of course it would have defrosted faster on a warmer day.

The faster you get the ice out of there, the sooner you can put the food back in and the less the chance of the food defrosting.

That's the same way I do our upright freezer every few years. I get to do it again next weekend. I just bought a chest freezer to replace our upright. I have hated the upright since the first time a gallon of ice cream fell out and smashed my foot! :laughing:

 

[Sackett2]

on older freezers, its the ice you cant see thats important. behind the insulation and the back wall. So if i have the time I use heat guns for the inside, then let it set for another few hours until everything is done dripping..

 

[captaincrab55]

You may laugh, and the safety police will probably have something to say, but I stick a hair dryer in mine to defrost it every couple of years or so.

Be careful to keep the heat off the outside walls... Too much heat on one spot can do some funky things to the foam insulation...

 

[jinman]

I have a 18 or 19 cu ft chest freezer in my garage. When we bought it, I looked for a frost free chest freezer, but could not find one. Frost free is pretty rare in chest freezers. It seems that since the cold air stays in the box even when the door is opened, they frost mostly in a 6" to 10" band around the top shelf where warmer air penetrates when you open the freezer. keeping a tight seal and opening the door as few times as possible seems to be the best practice. We've had our chest freezer for over three years and never had to defrost it. It has minimum buildup around the top, but all the baskets still lift in and out just fine. I really like chest freezers.:thumbsup:

 

[impdaddy]

A 'tight seal" is the key. Just ask a walrus.. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[ray66v]

Heat gun. :thumbsup:

 

[merrickvilleguy]

I just let time do its thing, cheaper that way

 

[schmism]

I use a box fan to blow more room air into the freezer so it moves more air around.

for the thick chunks i try to break off (by hand no tools), and will hit trouble spots with a hair dryer.

 

[Oldstuff]

I am with Schmism- I have been using a fan for 30 years. Empty and unplug freezer, sit a 20 inch box fan in the bottom and with in 5 minutes BIG chunks will start to fall. Very little prying is needed.

Oldstuff

 

[Pilot]

Heat gun, hair dryer, sure, except when the water drips on it as you stand in the puddle created by the melting ice. Could be exciting.

OTOH, if you want to use one of those, how about using some sort of tube to extend the barrel so you can hold the heat gun outside the freezer and not get water dripping on it? Or maybe wrapping the appliance in something that would protect it from the water, with just the barrel exposed?

 

[MossRoad]

Heat gun, hair dryer, sure, except when the water drips on it as you stand in the puddle created by the melting ice. Could be exciting.

OTOH, if you want to use one of those, how about using some sort of tube to extend the barrel so you can hold the heat gun outside the freezer and not get water dripping on it? Or maybe wrapping the appliance in something that would protect it from the water, with just the barrel exposed?

Sounds like a leaf blower, small jet engine from an auxiliary power unit, lots of duct tape and Tim Taylor should be involved. :laughing:

 

[ray66v]

Heat gun, hair dryer, sure, except when the water drips on it as you stand in the puddle created by the melting ice. Could be exciting.

OTOH, if you want to use one of those, how about using some sort of tube to extend the barrel so you can hold the heat gun outside the freezer and not get water dripping on it? Or maybe wrapping the appliance in something that would protect it from the water, with just the barrel exposed?

Having used a heat gun dozens of time for this task, I can tell you if you know what your doing, like anything else, there is no problem.

Like any power tool, you need to posses the ability to use it, before taking it on a job.

Did you know, people use hair driers while soaking wet, and standing in a puddle of water everyday?

Plastic heat guns are double insulated, and metal ones are grounded.

It's about a 5 minute job with a heat gun, not much time to start a flood.

If you drip some water on a hot heat gun, it simply vaporizes. No big deal.

Someone who is inclined to do such a slow, and sloppy job, that their standing in a puddle of water defrosting a freer, should leave this job to someone else.

Besides, you can also burn yourself, or melt something other than ice, anyway.

Any kind of extension would be in danger of combusting, if made of combustible material, potentially burning you, if made of metal. And, will likely overheat the appliance, shutting it down via the thermal overload anyway.

 

[clemsonfor]

Or you could just defrost on an 80+ degree day in the summer. I guess this does not work if you freezer is way in the house, but then again you have to deal with all the water pans i just pull mine to the door and let it drip out of it.

 

[tallyho8]

Owning a refrigeration shop for 38 years I have discovered the very fastest way to defrost a freezer. Please note: this is not for frost-free freezers which do not need defrosting unless they are broken.

Remove everything from the freezer and put it in an ice chest.
Since most freezers are in garages it is very simple to roll them out into the driveway.
Open the freezer door and put a 2x4 under the rear so that it leans forward slightly.
Turn on the garden hose, without the nozzle and run the water over the ice.
Since most freezers usually need cleaning every year, you are able to clean your freezer and defrost it at the same time.
Running water will defrost the ice much faster than fans, heat guns or propane torches and it is much safer.
Dry the inside out, put the freezer back in place and restock it. :thumbsup:

 

[hawkeye08]

Owning a refrigeration shop for 38 years I have discovered the very fastest way to defrost a freezer. Please note: this is not for frost-free freezers which do not need defrosting unless they are broken.

Remove everything from the freezer and put it in an ice chest.
Since most freezers are in garages it is very simple to roll them out into the driveway.
Open the freezer door and put a 2x4 under the rear so that it leans forward slightly.
Turn on the garden hose, without the nozzle and run the water over the ice.
Since most freezers usually need cleaning every year, you are able to clean your freezer and defrost it at the same time.
Running water will defrost the ice much faster than fans, heat guns or propane torches and it is much safer.
Dry the inside out, put the freezer back in place and restock it. :thumbsup:

Good plan, now if I can remember that in 3 years when we defrost the freezer again...