Is frost free fridge freezer any good?

wazza

Currently have a Hotpoint frost free fridge freezer which died today. It is approx 8 years old. From the beginning it has been giving us problems. Ice will build up in the freezer section and would stop the fan from circulating cold air into the fridge hence a warm fridge. I will have to remove the panel in the freezer section and defrost the ice etc etc. This has to be done every 3-4 months and is a pain.

Was wondering if i am better buying a normal fridge freezer or shall i go for a frost free fridge freezer again? Before the current fridge freezer we had a normal non frost free which was reliable until the seal went.

Have noticed that the non frost free freezer has a larger capacity.

Plan to stick with Hotpoint. Have two models in mind. RF187 and FF200L.

Thanks in advance for any advice given

marmitepotato

Get yourself an ordinary one, and save yourself loads of time, money and trouble. I used to work for an electrical retailer and these frost free freezers are more trouble than they are worth. I have an old standard freezer and was thinking of changing to a frost free and the guys that fixed them warned me against them......nuff said!! My old freezer is still going and its now 16 years old.

Of course its all a matter of choice and its down to you what you decide.

sillygoose

wazza wrote: »

Currently have a Hotpoint frost free fridge freezer which died today.....

From the beginning it has been giving us problems..

Plan to stick with Hotpoint...

Normal freezer? no way, life is too short. I am a bit surprised at your statements above? Why continue with a brand that let you down? Personally I think Hotpoint appliances are diabolical and have been for many, many years.

Yes Frost free are less reliable but you have to adapt. I buy on the basis it may not last forever but did it give me adequate service life for what it cost? It's true a 20 year old freezer may be built better and keep going forever but they were so less efficient compared to newer models you have to take into account the running cost over that huge lifetime - it will likely largely offset the cost of more frequent replacement with a less hassle frost free.
Have a look at a SAMSUNG RL38.

Norma_Desmond

Well, our frost free LG freezer has been going strong for around 14 years now - no complaints!

cajef

sillygoose wrote: »

Normal freezer? no way, life is too short. I am a bit surprised at your statements above? Why continue with a brand that let you down? Personally I think Hotpoint appliances are diabolical and have been for many, many years.

Agreed, we had a Hotpoint freezer that needed a new compressor after a few years I would not touch one again, have now got a Bosch frost free fridge/freezer that has never given any problems.

kwatt

I wouldn't go near a Samsung with a very long pole.

But then, I have a folder full of photos of them with split liners, busted evap fans, fire damage and a host of other things along with the service bulletins to go with that. Much of it they were supposed to have put right by now, but haven't.

Frost free is fine, if it's done right and corners as well as costs aren't cut. Then it's used correctly.

But cheap and frost free don't sit well together. So that rules out anything Indesit do, including Hotpoint a brand that they own. We're never done sending out thermistors for the things.

K.

icefall

I have had my LG frost free fridge freezer for 7 years and it has not once had ice build up. Its still going strong, I could never go back to a normal fridge freezer.

Might be an idea to try another make other than Hotpoint, and maybe check out any online reviews of fridge freezers you are considering, that could also help.

wazza

sillygoose wrote: »

Normal freezer? no way, life is too short. I am a bit surprised at your statements above? Why continue with a brand that let you down? Personally I think Hotpoint appliances are diabolical and have been for many, many years.

.........

Family has hotpoint products over 20 years. Sister has the same model and hers has been troublefree. Mine is the only hotpoint fridge which has been a lemon. Others in the family lasted over 10 years before, if any, started giving trouble.

kwatt

Yes, but Indesit bought Hotpoint in 2005.

It's no longer Hotpoint, just an Indesit clone.

K.

McKneff

Ive had an Ocean frost free ff for about 15 years, but i remember the time before that defrosting the old one, hated it with a vengence.

Life is too short for defrosting, get yourself another frost free one.

sunshinetours

As others have said just don't buy a cheap frost free one

I would avoid Hotpoint like the plague these days aswell