While the point of a freezer is to stay cold so that food and other perishables remain fresh, moisture from the outside that makes its way inside threatens its capacity for freezing. The defroster ensures ice doesn’t build up, protecting the machine and keeping the room at an ideal temperature. Here's what you need to know about the defrost cycle on your commercial freezer.

What Is the Purpose of the Defrost Cycle?

In a self-contained freezer system, a defrost cycle wouldn’t be necessary. Since employees constantly walk in and out of commercial freezers, the moisture from the humid outside air travels in and creates condensation on the evaporator coils, which then becomes frost. 

When too much frost accumulates, it turns into a layer of ice covering the coil. The result is more heat inside the freezer since the evaporator coils can no longer effectively remove it. More heat means the freezer has to work harder to maintain the temperature. Eventually, this extra energy can overburden the system, causing it to fail.

How Does the Defrost Cycle Work?

Defrosting Process

A heating element is attached to the evaporator coil. As frost builds up, this component turns on and begins melting, or defrosting, the frost on the coil. After it’s finished, the coils can resume absorbing heat from the air and maintaining the freezing temperatures inside.

How Long Does It Last?

A commercial freezer in optimal condition will have three or four defrosting cycles per day. Each cycle should take about 15-20 minutes. It’s imperative that these cycles happen to avoid drastic problems down the road.

If your commercial freezer is not correctly defrosting, let the professionals at Commercial Refrigeration of KY Inc. give you a hand. For years, businesses across southeastern Kentucky have come to them for all their refrigeration needs. Whenever you need system repairs or assistance, they are there to help, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call (270) 465-2910 or visit their website for more information.