The Cold, Hard Facts on Frost-Free Freezers

Question: How does a frost-free freezer work?

Answer: Ice builds up in a freezer when water vapor in the air condenses on the cooling coils and freezes. A frost-free freezer has three components to enable it to melt the accumulated ice regularly: a timer, a heating coil and a temperature sensor. About every six hours, the timer turns on the heating coil, which melts any ice, letting it evaporate. As the ice melts, the temperature starts to rise and the sensor shuts the heater off.