The appearance of moisture on the walls of the refrigerator or freezer compartment is not always caused by a breakdown of the device. Usually, the appearance of condensate on the back wall of the compartment is caused by the design features of the device, and on the shelves, side surfaces, on products or under containers - by the lack of prevention or operational errors.

In this publication, the masters of the service center odessa-remont.com.ua will try to understand the causes of condensate formation: in which cases this phenomenon is a natural process, and when it is necessary to defrost the device or seek help from professionals.

Why does condensation appear inside the refrigerator

In drip refrigerators, condensation accumulating on the back wall of the refrigerating chamber is a normal process. This is related to the principle of automatic defrosting of the device: during operation of the motor-compressor module, all moisture is directed to the coldest place (the evaporator is located behind the wall), and during a pause, it condenses and flows into the drainage hole, and then is discharged outside the chamber. But if moisture appears in other places of the compartment or there is too much of it, you need to look for the reason and take appropriate measures. After all, excess moisture is an excellent environment for the reproduction of microbes and, accordingly, shortening the shelf life of products.

Reasons for the appearance of condensation, which you can deal with yourself

Condensation on the internal surfaces of the refrigerator compartments can appear for the following reasons:

1. Through the loosely closed door. In such cases, heat penetrates inside the chamber, which interacts with cooler parts of the device and products, and condensate forms on them. Check that containers and dishes placed inside the compartment do not prevent the door from closing. After each "peek" into the refrigerator, check the tightness of the closure. If you often forget to close the door, choose devices with a door position alarm function.
2. In case of incorrect orientation of the device by level. In such cases, the chamber doors may open involuntarily (especially if the refrigerator is tilted forward). If there is no alarm, you will find out about the open door only at the next "visit" to the refrigerator. During this time, the products and internal accessories of the device are covered with condensate. Check that the refrigerator is leveled correctly. If necessary, adjust its position.
3. In the case of storage in the compartments of liquid products in an open container. When cooling, they evaporate and moisture spreads through the chamber, settling on shelves and other products.
4. When placing uncooled products in the compartments. In such cases, the air around the container installed in the chamber heats up and the moisture formed near them settles inside the chamber on cold objects.

Eliminate these reasons and prevent such situations in the future, and you will forever get rid of condensation on the shelves of your cold friend.

Breakdowns that lead to condensation

It is not always possible to get rid of excess moisture inside the refrigerator by eliminating one's own mistakes in operation. Sometimes the reason for the appearance of condensate is the breakdown of the device, which requires calling a refrigerator technician.

Most often it is:

1. Occurrence of clogging in the drainage channel. In such cases, the moisture condensed on the back wall is not removed through the drain, but sinks to the bottom of the compartment and freezes there, forming an ice crust. Clean the drain using a regular device or using a wire. After that, the drainage tube should be rinsed with warm water. If the tube is frozen, defrost the device.
2. The door seal has worn out, lost its properties or is torn. Through the damaged place, heat penetrates into the chamber and causes the appearance of condensate. Install a new seal and moisture will not enter the chamber.
3. The hinged door fastening mechanism has loosened. In such cases, the door closes with a "skew" and air easily penetrates into the compartment. Adjust or replace hinges.
4. The parameters have been lost or the temperature sensor (thermostat in electromechanical versions) has failed. Due to this, the refrigerator freezes and a lot of liquid is formed, which does not have time to be removed outside. Replace the defective part.

The service center masters also recommend regular manual defrosting to get rid of stubborn condensate. At the same time, all frozen systems are transformed into the "initial state" and begin to work properly.