Skipping refrigerator defrost cycles

MN Renovator · 06-11-12, 01:27 PM

I've noticed that my refrigerator doesn't seem to need to run very long between defrost cycles. When I look at the evaporator coil inside the freezer through its bottom intake vents, there really doesn't seem to be any frost there and I don't really open up the refrigerator often between the probably 2 or 3 days before it kicks the heater on to try and melt frost. The fridge runs more now since it's the cooling season and I don't cool my house too much. It is a recent fridge bought by the previous owners so its up to the latest government mandated energy standards by is not an energy star unit.

When I'm in the refrigerator, I occasionally take a look at the defrost timer and see its position. Sometimes if its about to defrost, I'll twist the defrost timer through its defrost position. I'll do this when the refrigerator is not running(to prevent it from cycling off and immediately back in.

It seems after even the second time around there is still little frost on the coil but I'll let it defrost the second time around anyway.

I'm assuming running a heater to melt the frost, then have the compressor running until it removes that heat has a fairly high cumulative energy usage that may be going to waste if there is no frost on the coil. Is this a good idea? Am I saving energy by skipping every other defrost cycle? Are there replacement defrost timers that will cycle less often for those of us who don't open the fridge every hour to let fresh humid air in that will frost on the coil?

06-11-12, 01:27 PM	#1
MN Renovator Less usage=Cheaper bills Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 939 Thanks: 41 Thanked 116 Times in 90 Posts	Skipping refrigerator defrost cycles I've noticed that my refrigerator doesn't seem to need to run very long between defrost cycles. When I look at the evaporator coil inside the freezer through its bottom intake vents, there really doesn't seem to be any frost there and I don't really open up the refrigerator often between the probably 2 or 3 days before it kicks the heater on to try and melt frost. The fridge runs more now since it's the cooling season and I don't cool my house too much. It is a recent fridge bought by the previous owners so its up to the latest government mandated energy standards by is not an energy star unit. When I'm in the refrigerator, I occasionally take a look at the defrost timer and see its position. Sometimes if its about to defrost, I'll twist the defrost timer through its defrost position. I'll do this when the refrigerator is not running(to prevent it from cycling off and immediately back in. It seems after even the second time around there is still little frost on the coil but I'll let it defrost the second time around anyway. I'm assuming running a heater to melt the frost, then have the compressor running until it removes that heat has a fairly high cumulative energy usage that may be going to waste if there is no frost on the coil. Is this a good idea? Am I saving energy by skipping every other defrost cycle? Are there replacement defrost timers that will cycle less often for those of us who don't open the fridge every hour to let fresh humid air in that will frost on the coil?