Defrosting the freezer only (Dometic)

[82125]

I'm assuming the answer is simply that I cant, but if im wrong and who ever designed the Dometic 8**5 series actually had some common sense, then, is there a way to switch off ONLY the freezer compartment and leave the fridge on while defrosting so that we dont have to waste all the food in the fridge that doesnt need defrosting?!

My fridge has zero frost in it and is currently full of food with no where else to store it while i have to switch the whole thing off in order to defrost the freezer section.
Presumably during the design state, the idea of independent switching for the freezer and fridge was financially unviable ($2 extra).

Or maybe I missed the section in the manual where it states to buy a hairdryer and wait for a really cold night before putting your food stuff outside and switching it off over night when ever this needs doing?

 

[Speve]

Just leave the door open on the freezer and leave it running?

 

[82125]

I did consider it, not sure if it might cause damage over working it or eat through my gas?? Might to check in to a campsite with a fridge i can borrow for a bit.
Or snaffle all the frozen pizza, icecream and ready meals in there on one sitting, and try it your way!

 

[KUSKUS]

We used to have a large upright freezer at home and to defrost that I used to box up all the contents and wrap a thermal cover off the motorhome into a large parcel, it would stay frozen for hours.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Buy a little usb fan and point it on the freezer fins with the fridge off and door open. The ice will drop off in about 15 min

I just put the food on the settee with a towel over it.

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[82125]

Buy a little usb fan and point it on the freezer fins with the fridge off and door open. The ice will drop off in about 15 min

I just put the food on the settee with a towel over it.

thats a good idea thanks.
I might combine the last 2 ideas, wrap my frozen stuff in the thermal windscreen cover and put it in the fridge, then switch it off and leave the freezer door open with a fan blowing ambient air at it. Thank you

 

[Robert Clark]

We turn ours off and use a hair dryer to melt the on the fins - takes about 15 mins

 

[cyberyacht]

I only ever defrost after a trip. There's never that much of a build up even after a month. Mop up with a hot J Cloth, job done.

 

[82125]

I only ever defrost after a trip. There's never that much of a build up even after a month. Mop up with a hot J Cloth, job done.

thanks, im full time though so not an option for me

 

[Riverbankannie]

Squeeze as much of your fridge food up together and add some of the frozen to the fridge and keep the door closed (if there are two separate doors), or if you have run down your freezer a bit, put a water bottle or milk bottle in there to freeze to put in the fridge part. However as others have said above, if you can get some warm air blowing the freezer will soon defrost and no harm will come to fridge contents.

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[rb62]

I think you are worrying far to much,people do the 24hour crossing to Spain with their fridges turned off and everything is still cold when they get there! If you are worried cool the fridge right down,put a couple of frozen 4litre milk containers in there and the contents of the freezer and don't open the door. That will keep it cold for 24hrs let alone the 30mins that it will take to defrost the freezer

 

[82125]

all done!
Bought a tiny hand held fan for £2.50, switched the fridge freezer off, turned the heating up. Just blowing ambient air towards the ice it only took about 30 minutes tops.
(I still finished off all the ice cream first just in case!)

 

[82125]

.. and of course, now ive defrosted it and went and did a full shop for food, its now started bleeping (door open alarm).

I can visibly see moisture in the fridge door switch/light enclosure but dont own a hair drier!! Think im going to have to invest in one after all.

 

[82125]

another update, getting rid of the water in the switch enclosure was easy enough, just lifted the cover enough for it to drain out.

Fridge STILL beeping door open...

Turns out (i hadnt noticed) the travel latch spring had broken (in to 3 pieces!). Temporary fix with an elastic band to keep it in the down position is enough so that the latch holds it just that little bit closer in to stop the door open alarm

Its spooky how these things come to light right after you do something else (defrosting the freezer) so you wrongly assume its related!

Once i source a new spring, ill probably try bending the switch out just a fraction so the fridge doesnt need to be "locked" to prevent the door open alarm.
Even so, happy outcome day.

 

[Two of usI]

We turn ours off and use a hair dryer to melt the on the fins - takes about 15 mins

Exactly what I do....... works perfectly

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[82125]

Exactly what I do....... works perfectly

im on the look out for a rechargeable hair dryer (just for periodic defrosting), can get them online but i dont have a delivery address, bound to find one in the Aldi isle or similar eventually.