What is better — a drip refrigerator or No Frost: comparisons and differences

Frost in refrigerators is formed due to moisture in the air. Tiny particles of water vapor enter the main chamber in a variety of ways — just from the microclimate of the kitchen when the door is opened, when placed on the shelves of pots of soup or uncovered containers of liquid, even from the surface of washed vegetables, fruits and herbs.

The appearance of ice is a completely natural process, due to the laws of physics. Moisture droplets condense in areas of low temperature, turning into snow crystals. And avoiding this physical process is almost impossible — although manufacturers are trying to do it.

In particular, manufacturers have created two main technologies for automatic defrosting (or rather, preventing the appearance of ice) in refrigerators — drip, known since Soviet times and used right now, and No Frost, also found in English spelling No-Frost. But which one is more efficient? In this article we will analyze which is better — a drip refrigerator or No Frost.

Drip automatic defrost system

Drip technology is the most traditional and widespread way to avoid the appearance of layers of ice on the walls of the refrigerating chamber. It is based on simple physical laws and involves the creation of two temperature zones in the main compartment. But do not think that this somehow affects the functionality of the refrigerator — the difference is literally a few degrees.

A special metal plate is placed on the back wall of the main (refrigeration) chamber, inside which tubes with freon are located. When the refrigerant circulates, it cools much faster than the rest of the air. That is, in fact, it works like a radiator in reverse.

Moisture vapor from the surrounding air condenses on this metal plate — just as, for example, the glass of a bus fogs up in winter if you exhale on it. They turn into droplets, which then flow down under the action of gravity and are taken out of the refrigeration chamber without having time to freeze.

In this principle lies both the main advantage of the drip refrigerator and the main disadvantage. The most important advantage is that the performance of such a system is relatively high. Even pots of hot soup can be placed in the refrigerator (although not recommended).

And the disadvantage is that the condensed moisture needs to be removed somehow. And in the air there is not only water vapor, but also volatile fats, proteins and other organic substances. Over time, the fluid outlet tube becomes clogged and becomes a place where entire colonies of bacteria and even molds develop. It needs to be washed and cleaned.

Advantages of drip refrigerators:

1. Low price. Indeed, such a system will be inexpensive, so you won’t have to overpay for it;

2. High performance. Copes even with actively evaporating substances, such as hot soup or freshly washed lettuce leaves on the bottom shelf;

3. Easy maintenance and durability. Since the refrigerant panel has no moving parts, it will last exactly as long as the refrigerator itself — and often have a service life of decades.

Disadvantages of drip refrigerators:

1. Not protected from ice formation. Especially if any products or containers touch the metal plate. At the point of contact, water stagnates and freezes;

2. Regular, at least once every few months, cleaning of the moisture removal system is required. Otherwise, it will become a source of development and spread of mold and fungi.

In general, drip refrigerators are a good budget option for everyday use. But it is still worth observing a few rules for the operation of such devices. Firstly, containers, bags and utensils should not be placed in close proximity to the metal plate on the back wall. Secondly, it is required to regularly clean the moisture removal system. And finally, it is still better to avoid placing actively evaporating products in the chamber. Let the soup cool down on the table first.

Automatic defrosting system «No Frost»

«No Frost» (aka No-Frost) is the latest technology to protect against the appearance of frost and condensation of water vapor on the walls of the refrigerator compartment. True, it is based on the same classical physical laws.

«No-Frost» means mixing the air inside the working chamber of the device. To do this, a fan is installed on one of the walls, which, when rotated, provides convection of the masses. As a result, moisture condensation points do not form on the walls, droplets do not appear and do not freeze.

The No Frost technology appeared in refrigerators relatively recently, just a few years ago. To this day, household appliances equipped with this particular method of anti-icing belong to the middle or premium price segment. This is explained not only by the structural complexity of the device, but also by the need to protect the fan from premature wear or short circuit.

The fact is that standard coolers are not suitable for use in a humid environment — in which, moreover, volatile fats can be found. They quickly «clog» with pollution and burn out. Therefore, special fans are installed in refrigerators, protected from such damage, often taking the electric motor outside the working compartment.

The fan itself usually runs at low speeds. Its task is to ensure the convection of air masses, and not to cool the products. The classic freon does a good job with the latter. Therefore, the noise from the blades is practically inaudible, and the energy consumption increases so slightly that it can be completely neglected when calculating the consumption of kilowatt-hours.

Advantages of No Frost refrigerators:

1. High sanitary cleanliness. Moisture does not accumulate anywhere, does not grow moldy and does not become a source of germs. This is especially important for people with sensitive digestion, respiratory problems like asthma, or those with a tendency to allergies;

2. No drying effect. Ready-made meals can be placed in containers without a lid, since moisture practically does not evaporate from their surface. Thanks to this, even products such as fish or meat are not covered with an unpleasant dry “crust”;

3. Uniform temperature distribution. There are no colder or warmer parts inside the chamber — unless, of course, they are provided by the manufacturer (like the «freshness zone», which can also be called «zero»).

Disadvantages of No Frost refrigerators:

1. Relatively high price. Such household appliances are more expensive than analogues with other camera anti-icing systems;

2. Unpredictable operating period. If used incorrectly, the convection fan may fail, after which urgent repair of the equipment will be required.

The main rule for the operation of No-Frost refrigerators with defrosting is not to place actively evaporating products in them. A pot of hot, still «smoking» soup may well damage the fan or simply reduce its durability. In general, liquid products in such refrigerators are best placed in closed, airtight containers.

Which is better — a drip refrigerator or No Frost? Comparison

Let’s compare these automatic defrost technologies and choose the one that is best suited for everyday use.

So, the No Frost refrigerator is more of a solution for healthy food lovers who want to store food in a place with high sanitary cleanliness and are worried about keeping them fresh. But it is worth considering that such household appliances are relatively expensive, and due to the presence of moving parts in the main chamber, the service life is unpredictable.

If you decide to get a refrigerator equipped with a drip anti-frost system, try to keep it clean. At least once every 1-2 weeks, wash and dry the inside of the chamber (especially the rear metal panel), and every few months, clean the drain tube.