Freezers, frost free or manual defrost?

Frost-free for me, I never need to empty it. I'd recommend you have a look at the Which report on which are "Best Buys" and choose one with drawers that suit you. If the drawers are too deep you either waste space or bury what is in there. Some of the cheaper ones have fewer, more flimsy drawers.

Apparently the fans sometimes catch on packets or chunks of ice in non frost free

I have had frost free for many years. My present fridge/freezer is a Blomberg as is my under the counter freezer. Both machines are so silent.

I have an upright fridge,freezer.It's Daewoo and around 14 years old.I would hate to go back to defrosting.I always compared it to cleaning the oven.

Surely frost free.

Who on earth needs to defrost a fridge nowadays.

Frost free every time. I have a LEC fridge freezer from AO. They also take the old one away for a small charge.

Can't recall how long but must be a good twenty years of frost free. Have two freezers, both FF.

frost free every time. No contest!!

stillstanding - I agree that frost free is great option but care when choosing and be aware that you will lose a little space due to the frost free motor. No one has mentioned this but I found whilst benefits to changing to frost free were good I found the actual freezer space to use was a lot less. This was also due to the curved drawers they do now as oppose to the solid rectangular shapes of old.

I’m astonished when I read of GN’s who defrost freezers. It was my least favourite job and I’m happy to say I’ve not had to do it for years now. Only replaced when I had to so I’m amazed how many still have them.

Off at a bit of a tangent. I have an upright freezer which DOES need defrosting and I have managed (with DH's help) to crack one of the drawers and the flap at the bottom, so it is frosting up at the top.

I rang to order the two new parts and the price was high but (more worrying) the person I spoke to had no idea how long delivery would take.

Any ideas for spares other than the manufacturer?

Vintagenonna it might be worthwhile trying a google search with the make and model number of your fridge. Hopefully it might lead to a spare parts source.

My son did this recently for a replacement part for their 20 year old oven. He removed the glass door panel for cleaning and dropped it in the sink! His wife was away for a few days and was very impressed that not only had he remembered to clean the oven as requested but he had the door gleaming when she returned home! He basked in the glory for 15 mins before owning up to his mishap 😂

Hi, Grannynanywanny

Will give this a try. I think your son did very well . . . to own up.

My freezer still needs defrosting. Any tips on how often to keep it from becoming too much of a chore?

We've got three and frost-free is definitely the way to go!

Just defrosted my very old upright freezer - took a whole day. Looking back, I should have treated myself to a new frost-free one. I guess, I will now keep this, till it frosts up ,again, and then, I will get a new frost-free one,