Frost “Not Free” Refrigerators

[Boatagain]

When most of us were kids I’m sure you remember the thick coating of ice in the freezer compartment that required regular defrosting. The process was a mess. Either you left the freezer off and waited for the ice to melt or, like my father, you’d take a hammer and suitable tool to knock the ice off. Still a mess and downright inconvenient. Along came “Frost Free” refrigerators and the problem was (mostly) solved.

Well, our boat fridges bring me back to my childhood. If I leave it on for a few days while I’m away from the boat, the Arctic begins to form. The longer i’m away and the longer it’s on, the thicker the ice - after a while you can’t even close the freezer door. Then, when I turn the fridge off to let it defrost and return in a few days, a great watery mess greets me.

How do y’all deal with yours?

 

[NorthernFocus]

Yes the high humidity environment on a boat lends itself to a frosty freezer. When not on the boat we leave ours off with the door cracked open a bit. We typically use the boat a week at a time and for that time frame it isn't an issue.

 

[ethanbarnett]

A heat gun and towels. Done in 10 minutes.

 

[doke01]

Check the door seals. Outside air getting into the fridge will cause what you are talking about. We run our fridge all summer long, with only a light buildup of frost in the freezer section.

 

[NorthernFocus]

Check the door seals. Outside air getting into the fridge will cause what you are talking about...

Good point. Even if you don't feel cold air leaking out as moisture condenses it will draw more air into the fridge in an ongoing process.

 

[Ernie]

It’s pretty rough having some frost build up in the freezer on my 23’ boat, but into each life some rain must fall. We deal with it though
Keeping our sense of humor, and being resourceful, we just of push on through it,
Sometimes I have to eat some of the pint of ice cream so I can smush the carton down just enough to push it into the frosty freezer.

 

[Boatagain]

The suggestion to check the door seal was an excellent one. It was at least a half inch open along the bottom. I added some weather strip tape and closed it up pretty well. Now we’ll see if it helps.

 

[knotflying]

I put one of those mini reusable dehumidifiers. It helps, but does take up some room. https://www.amazon.com/Improved-Eva...ocphy=9012263&hvtargid=pla-175638461812&psc=1

 

[marcham]

Most door seals are replaceable and relatively inexpensive.

Sent from my SM-T590 using Tapatalk

 

[Boatagain]

Most door seals are replaceable and relatively inexpensive.

Sent from my SM-T590 using Tapatalk

The funny thing is the seal looks normal. It looks like the door itself is out of wack. I took delivery of the boat when new in 2016 and the door was installed with the hinges on the right. Since the galley fridge on the C30 is on the port side just inside the door to the cockpit we had to lean over the open door to see and/or reach inside. I reversed the door to solve that problem - all of the hardware can simply be swapped to opposite sides to allow the door to open the other way. I wonder if I misaligned something? I never noticed it until recently when I looked for a gap that might explain the frost buildup. Whatever, the extra weather stripping has the gap closed for now.