Frost Free it's not!

[ermadea]

Ihave a Siemens frost free freezer,but it keeps frosting up, I have lost the users guide, at the top on the outside it has settings of -12, -14, -16, right up to -20, then super, I have tried every setting, but it is still doing it, does anyone know the proper setting for a freezer, worried food in it might not be safe to eat, I have it currently set to -16, but thats just cause it's sort of in the middle, but when I take food out to defrost, it has frost on it, can,t afford to get it repaired, It is fairly new 3months, but can I find receipt? and of course I didn,t fill in the Guarantee card when I got it, any help would be appreciated, Thanks

[mibn2cweus]

Some freezers use a fan and heating element to defrost. Sometimes the fan gets jammed and freezes up. This can block a drainage tube. If you can see or hear the fan in the back of the freezer compartment check to see if it spins freely or is stuck. You may need to do a manual defrost is the ice has built up until the drainage tube thaws. This may or may not help so good luck and watch out for Mr. Kilowatt.

[ermadea]

Thank you mibn2cweus, that is certainly something I shall try as soon as I get a chance, any idea though if I manage do do that what temp I should set it at for the future, perhaps you may get a chance to answer tomorrow if bedtime is beckoning just now, many thanks, or anybody else knows about freezer settings, I think you may be right I should defrost completely and start afresh. Goodnight!

[chasbo]

ermadea - If you put "freezer temperature" in the "search the site" box on the LH side of this page you'll find lots of information on this subject.

[ermadea]

Thank You chasbo, as you can probably tell by my green name Iam a bit green to the way the answerbank works, but what a great suggestion, I didn't know you could do that, found the answer right away its about -16, very much appreciate you taking the time to help.

[gazzawazza]

We had the same problem when we bought our Zanussi frost-free freezer. It was caused by a defective doorseal. The repairman came back a week later with and fitted a new door (he told us to keep the old one in case the new one got scratched as you can bring them back to life with a hairdryer). We've now had 3 years without a flake and it's fab.

Did you pay by credit card? That will be proof of purchase for the store where you bought it from and should also provide a guarantee in case they renege. Also I never fill in the guarantee card, you don't need to, your guarantee comes with the purchase. It's only used by the manufacturers to contact you to buy insurance when your guarantee runs out. I may have made the last bit up but I think it's right.

[heathfield]

Ermadea

I had the same problem but worse - the freezer turned into an oven! Got back home to the smell of cooked prawns!

As well as the fan, there's usually a heating plate where the frost will accumulate. By having the heat switched on for some minutes every day, the frost on the plate turns to water and that drains away. So there's a 24hour timer switch in the freezer. In my case, it jammed in the 'on' position!

It could be that you have a timer switch that's failed in the 'off' position.

Do report back on what you find out!

[heathfield]

Oops - forgot to add.... You might get a manual for your freezer at www.bshappliancecare.com/

Write down the freezer 'Enumber' from the manufacturer's plate - you'll need it. Then on the above site click on Siemens - Spare parts - Quick Finder - instruction manuals.

Hope this helps!

[ermadea]

Thank you so much to everybody who took the time to post an answer to me. mibn2cweus your suggestion worked a treat, I did what you said and left it for 5days before I got back to you, and it is working perfectly. gazzawazza no unfortunately I didn't pay by credit card. I also learned that the guarantee I omitted to fill in is just a tracking system indeed for manufacturers to try and sell you insurance, I checked it out, so you were right, and heathfield, Thanks to you I now have a copy of the instructions, What a lot of kind, informative and helpful people on Answerbank, Thank you all once again, very much appreciated. My freezer is now in full working order, couldn't have done it without you!