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Frost Buildup in Your Freezer: Causes and Solutions

Heavy frost coating the walls or coils eats into storage space and wastes energy. It usually means moisture is sneaking in or the defrost cycle has quit working.

By Jordan Feld3 min read read

Written by Sawyer Kincaid, Lead Technician — True Fix Houston. Factory-trained, EPA-certified, 6 years servicing Greater Houston.

A thin layer of frost is nothing to worry about; sheets of ice are. Here's what typically drives excess frost and how to bring it back under control.

Door Left Ajar or a Bad Seal

Every time the door sits open or fails to seal properly, humid room air rushes in and freezes onto the coldest surfaces inside.

Fix: Inspect the gasket and clear away anything that might be blocking the door from closing all the way.

Failed Defrost Heater or Thermostat

Auto-defrost refrigerators are designed to melt off frost on a schedule; once that system breaks down, ice just keeps accumulating on the evaporator.

Fix: Replacing the defrost heater or thermostat brings the cycle back to normal.

Frequent or Lengthy Door Openings

Along the Gulf Coast, outside air carries a lot of moisture, so every extra second the freezer door stays open loads the compartment with humidity that turns straight to frost.

Fix: Plan out what you need before opening the door, and keep the freezer reasonably full — a fuller freezer holds its temperature better and limits how much humid air gets pulled in.

Not sure what's wrong? Book online — every visit includes a free diagnosis.

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