Refrigerators are designed to be frost free and moisture-free on the inside. That’s when refrigerators are working at their peak performance. So when you find a buildup of moisture droplets, or a collection of ice inside your refrigerator, then you know that something’s not quite right.
Frost generally forms on older refrigerators when water vapor, warm air or increased humidity comes into contact with the refrigerator’s cooling coils. At that moment, the water vapor condenses, and liquid water. When you are drinking your cold lemonade or iced tea glass on a hot day, and there are beads of moisture Think of the water beading up on a glass of iced tea on a summer day — that is an example of water vapor in the air condensing. Similar science occurs with your refrigerator’s freezer coils; freezing happens when it gets into contact with the coils.
You could call out a serviceman to check it out for you, but you also might want to keep reading below to learn how to DIY the situation, using refrigerator replacement parts from Appliance Parts Company.
Why frost occurs
In most refrigerators, if the cool air inside the compartment meets the hot or humid air outside the compartment, it results in frost formation at the point of contact.
There are a variety of reasons for this, including that the door is not closing completely, or that the gaskets are dirty and not allowing for a complete seal around the door close. Some repairmen recommend the paper sheet test. This is when you close the refrigerator or freezer door on a sheet of paper. Once the door is shut, and you can still pull out the sheet of paper with minimal resistance, then it’s definitely time to replace the seals on the door.
Moisture and frost
Moisture in the air collects on cold surfaces inside the freezer, forming frost. Frost is an ice layer that insulates well. But in the performance of a refrigerator, it’s not ideal. So, if your refrigerator is showing frost areas, this means that some of the components might not be in top working order. You can then troubleshoot your refrigerator’s parts to see if they are working well. Here are some common culprits.
Door Seals
Check both the freezer door and the refrigerator door closely. Make sure that the seal is fully closing on the sides of the refrigerator. Door seals are often the first thing to go, especially in busy household that have a lot of refrigerator opens and closes. Check out the Appliance Parts Company online appliance parts catalogue to find the right replacement seals.
Evaporator Fan
Another opportunity for frost to form is on the evaporator fan near the back of your refrigerator. This fan blows cool air onto the fresh food in your refrigerator. If you hear that the fan is not blowing cool air, then it’s possible that the compressor has burnt out and needs to be replaced. You’ll be able to find that part on the Appliance Parts Company site.
Check back with the pros at Appliance Parts Company for all your refrigerator replacement parts needs. We’re happy to direct you to the right appliance part.
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