Do I need to defrost a frost-free freezer before moving?

Author: Prof. Parker Doyle  |  Last update: Saturday, January 24, 2026

Defrost a freezer for moving for at least 24 hours. Thoroughly clean and dry the interior to prevent mold and mildew during transport. Remove and clean off any shelves or bins from the freezer, too. Use tape to secure the electrical cord to the back of the freezer.

Do frost-free freezers ever need defrosting?

Do you need to defrost a frost-free fridge freezer? A frost-free freezer functions with an automatic fan that helps remove the warm air from the freezer to prevent ice build-up. These freezers help you to save time and make life easier as they do not need any defrosting. You do not have to defrost the freezer.

Can I move a freezer without defrosting?

Yes but it is better if you have another freezer to let the new freezer get down to temperature or the food might start to thaw. That said - I actually recommend anyone replacing a freezer to simply unplug the old one and move all the food to the ...

What happens if you don't defrost your freezer?

Unfortunately, it is impossible to avoid frost build-up entirely and this can have a negative impact on the efficiency of your freezer. As frost builds up in the machine, the freezer has to work harder to keep the food cool throughout and this requires more energy.

How do you defrost a frost-free upright freezer?

Defrosting Instructions for an Upright Freezer
  1. Turn the temperature control to OFF and unplug the Freezer.
  2. Remove all food and place in corrugated boxes, insulated bags, or picnic coolers. ...
  3. Remove the drain plug (on models so equipped).
  4. With the door open, use pans of hot water to speed the loosening of frost.

How to defrost your fridge freezer | by Hotpoint

Do you need to defrost a frost-free fridge freezer before moving?

However, even frost-free automatic fridges can build up a thin layer of ice. If that's the case simply turn the fridge off to defrost. Do Plan Well in Advance – Most fridges take at least eight hours to defrost, but it's better to err on the side of caution and give it a full day to complete the process.

Do upright freezers self defrost?

The system heats coils in the freezer which prevents frosting to ensure that you don't need to manually defrost the freezer. Many upright freezers have a fan-assisted or direct cooling system with an auto defrost feature in place.

What are common problems with frost-free fridge freezers?

The most common frost-free fridge freezer fault is a build-up of ice on the evaporator. If evaporator ice builds up, it's going to affect the airflow, resulting in the temperature never getting low enough.

How long can a freezer go without defrosting?

A full freezer will hold a safe temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full and the door remains closed). Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40°F (4°C) or below, however, its quality may suffer.

Which is better, auto defrost or frost-free?

Most modern refrigerators which come with two or more doors come with Frost free technology. However, the affordable ones that have single door features either manual defrost or auto defrost feature. Another important difference between the two is that the Frost free refrigerators are relatively more energy efficient.

Why do you have to defrost a freezer before moving?

When should you turn it off before moving? If you're moving a fridge or freezer into your new home, it's best to turn it off 24 hours before. This gives the fridge's evaporator time to defrost, which reduces the risk of any damage during the move.

How long does it take to defrost a frost free fridge freezer?

To Defrost a Frost Free Freezer or Fridge Freezer:

Professionally engineers recommend you remove all food and containers in the freezer and leave it switched off with the door open for a minimum of 36 to 48 hours to ensure all ice has had chance to defrost.

Is it OK to lay a freezer down to move it?

Possible damage to the sealed system could occur. Transport the freezer in an upright position. If it has been necessary to transport the freezer on its side, it should be stood upright for an equal amount of time as it was on its side before plugging it in.

What is the downside to a frost-free freezer?

2. Slightly Higher Energy Consumption. As mentioned earlier, the defrost cycle does use additional energy. While modern frost-free freezers are designed to be as efficient as possible, they may still consume slightly more electricity than manual defrost models.

What is the lifespan of a frost-free freezer?

On average the lifespan of a frost-free freezer ranges from 12 to 20 years.

How often does a frost-free refrigerator defrost?

During defrost there will be no running sounds, no fan noise and no compressor noise. Most models will defrost for approximately 25 to 45 minutes, usually once or twice a day. You may hear water dripping or sizzling as it hits the heater. This is normal and helps evaporate the water before it gets to the drip pan.

What happens if you never defrost your freezer?

This moisture becomes frost inside your appliance, which can build up over time. If your freezer doesn't have an auto-defrost option, this frost can become ice that covers interior air vents and temperature sensors. This can cause your freezer to work overtime, exacerbating ice build-up.

How long can you keep food in a frost free freezer?

The guidelines for freezer storage are for quality only—frozen foods stored continuously at 0°F (-18°C) or below can be kept indefinitely.

Do new freezers need defrosting?

The majority of new freezers and fridge-freezers will have a frost-free feature, meaning there's no need to manually defrost, so this advice applies to older models and those without a frost-free feature.

What are the disadvantages of a frost-free refrigerator?

Drawbacks of No Frost Refrigerators:

Higher Cost: No Frost refrigerator models tend to be more expensive due to the advanced technology they use. Energy Consumption: No-frost refrigerators use a little bit more electricity than defrost refrigerators since the defrosting mechanism in them uses more energy.

Why does a frost-free freezer freeze up?

Frost free fridge freezers are great because you don't need to manually defrost them. Instead, they use fans to blow cold air around and get rid of any ice. But you can get a build-up of ice if you leave the door open for too long or if you overload the fridge.

Is it worth getting frost-free freezer?

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.

Can you move a freezer without defrosting it?

Food left inside a freezer could spoil, and the moisture from the food could promote mold growth. Avoid these problems by removing all food from your freezer. Defrost a freezer for moving for at least 24 hours. Thoroughly clean and dry the interior to prevent mold and mildew during transport.

Do you ever have to defrost a frost-free freezer?

On the other hand, a Frost Free freezer functions with an automatic fan which removes warm air from the freezer to prevent ice build-up. Frost Free freezers help you to save time and make life easier as they won't need any defrosting.

Can I leave freezer door open to defrost overnight?

DON'T Close the door when defrosting.

You need all the warmth you can get and should let the air circulate inside.

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