Refrigerator - Manual Defrosting

You should defrost a Manual Defrost Refrigerator when the frost becomes 1/4" to 1/2" thick. It may be necessary to defrost the freezer compartment frequently if the freezer is used often and/or there is high humidity in the room. Never operate a Manual Defrost Refrigerator longer than six months without completely defrosting the freezer compartment.

Manual Defrosting Procedure

1. Remove all contents from the freezer compartment. To reduce the amount of thawing of frozen food while defrosting the freezer compartment, store the food in a picnic cooler or other insulated container.
2. Turn the temperature control to OFF. The temperature control must remain off and the freezer compartment door needs to remain open for a minimum of two hours to defrost an average accumulation of frost.
3. Use a plastic scraper to loosen and remove frost from the ceiling and walls of the freezer compartment as the frost begins to thaw. Do not use a sharp or pointed instrument to remove frost because this could result in damage to the refrigerating system.
4. Sponge up defrosted water as it collects in the bottom of the freezer compartment.
5. In addition to the visible frost in the freezer compartment, frost forms on the hidden side of the freezer compartment surfaces. This frost will melt during defrosting and the defrost water will drain through the opening in the top of the fresh food compartment. To catch this water, place a one-pint to one-quart container in the center of the top shelf under the opening.
6. After defrosting is complete, turn the temperature control to the desired setting and return the food to the freezer compartment.

Additional Support

If the the frost pattern is unusual, like a heavy concentration of frost on one wall and no frost on the opposite wall, please schedule a repair appointment with GE Appliances Factory Service.