Freezer Question

[Coach]

We started cleaning out our freezer tonight and noticed a big accumulation of ice in the bottom. We've had this freezer for 10 years and it's always done that, but for the first time, we noticed a gap in the back and it is completely filled with ice. Is that gap a return air or something? Should we try to break the ice out of it. We've never defrosted the freezer, just unplugged and moved to wherever we were headed next.

[60 Deluxe]

If this is a refrigerator freezer it should have the air vent kept clear.
Modern refrigerators have a defrost cycle and normally don't need to be defrosted. They are hard on food though.

Deep freezers are available that do not have a defrost cycle or air vents and they will need an occasional manual defrost and cleaning. The ones that do not defrost themselves will keep food longer without freezer burn. Hope this helps.

[Coach]

If this is a refrigerator freezer it should have the air vent kept clear.
Modern refrigerators have a defrost cycle and normally don't need to be defrosted. They are hard on food though.

Deep freezers are available that do not have a defrost cycle or air vents and they will need an occasional manual defrost and cleaning. The ones that do not defrost themselves will keep food longer without freezer burn. Hope this helps.

This one is manual defrost. So, do we need to take everything out and defrost it to clear that air vent?

[60 Deluxe]

Forgot...you probably have a plugged hose if you are getting an ice build-up. When the freezer defrosts the water has to run off somewhere. It has been awhile but if I remember correctly, there is an evaporation pan that the water runs to.

[60 Deluxe]

Yes. Just gets an ice chest or three and unload the thing. Unplug it or turn it off, grab a hair dryer and get after it. Shouldn't take over an hour

[Coach]

thank you 60 Deluxe