29 replies to this topic

[kdog]

Worked with a fellow tech. today and we came across a btm mount Amana fridge whose DTS has blown it's top months ago. Turns out the lady who owns it noticed the ice forming on the rear panel and on several occasions took it upon herself to defrost it with a hair dryer. This was done without removing the rear panel, so only the visible frost was removed. Since much of her food has been spoiling, she decided to have it looked at to see why this keeps occurring.

Needless to say, the bottom door (drawer) was practically popping open when we arrived. The other tech ran out to his truck and reappeared with a small sachille containing a Steamer - We proceeded to melt the ensuing glacier using the forced steam vapor from this hand held "genie bottle". It worked fantastic!! did not cause the freezer liner to melt, and were able to control most of the runoff so as not to flood the kitchen via the drain pan.

If you haven't seen one of these babies in action, you may never use your heatgun again (at least for this purpose)

Attached Files

•  steamer.jpg   922bytes   38 downloads

[nickfixit]

Right you are Kdog! It's a great thing to have in the truck. It's perfect for clearing the frost from the air ducts on a SXS unit.

[ROBBYRIG]

I've tried them in the past, but didn't like the significant amount of additional water that it produced.  I guess I'm still living in the stone age with my hair dryer.

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•  hairgun.jpg   24.64K   213 downloads
•  hairgun.jpg   24.64K   213 downloads

[bcippola]

Now that's a Hairdryer. LOL

[J5]

aditional water ?

there isnt that much water , maybe a half a litre

one fill of mine usually does the whole job

if the cust has been that stupid to leave it 2 months i tell them to turn it off and see them in a couple of days

[bcippola]

Can someone post a link where I can get a steamer for a reasonable price?

Thanks

[KurtiusInterupptus]

You lookin for more reasonable than $30-35 at target?

[Bob Scott]

[user=34365]ROBBYRIG[/user] wrote:

I've tried them in the past, but didn't like the significant amount of additional water that it produced.  I guess I'm still living in the stone age with my hair dryer.

WOW! Where do I buy one of those hair guns?

Bob

-=VA7KOR=-

[RegUS_PatOff]

[user=51236]Bob Scott[/user] wrote:

WOW! Where do I buy one of those hair guns?

You could KILL yourself with one of those ...

(no GFI)

[MARSfixinit]

My company has been using steamers for about a year. Before that we were using hairdryers. I think there's probably less water and you defrost in a third of the time.

Nothing new being said here, just reinforcing the fact that the steamer is the way to go. Walgreens or CVS stores have `em also. Average $40 or so.

[jwlowe]

I'm going to give the steamer a try. Thanks.

[appl.tech.29501]

once you learn it you wont be sorry...one of the best tools you can have.

[BrntToast]

the job nobody mentioned where a steamer really shines is frozen drain tubes, like on the LG top mount

you wont get anywhere with a hair dryer for that job, and a steamer its done in seconds 

 

[kdog]

[user=20728]BrntToast[/user] wrote:

the job nobody mentioned where a steamer really shines is frozen drain tubes, like on the LG top mount

you wont get anywhere with a hair dryer for that job, and a steamer its done in seconds 

 

Unless of course the foamed in drain line is plugged with paint chips from the evaporator tray and the steam vapor you are blasting is is coming out the back of the fridge interior and around the front mullion!

[Dr Freeze 40]

Hair dryer users!! keep using your hair dryers ,let us also know when you melt a fridge linner ))

[chrisabaker12]

I buy mine at walgreens in the small appliance section usually 20-30 bucks. One of my co-workers uses a larger one like for steaming clothes, have not tried it myself but he says it is much faster than the handheld

[DurhamAppliance]

I have been using the steamer for about a year now. It's fast and does a great job on those drain lines. However, the other day I had to defrost a fridge that had a 4 inch build up of solid ice and that's before I removed the back panel. I told the customer's tenant I needed a bigger gun. I think I read it on davesrepair but I kept a small 1 gallon pump sprayer and an electric kettle in my truck. I boiled the water in the kettle while I was steaming, then once water was ready, poured it in the cheapie pump sprayer and melted the ice in no time at all. The advice that I read regarding this said to use a shop vac to vacuum the water. I didn't have one but did have about 8 chamois. I love my steamer but if I didn't have the pump I think I'd still be defrosting that fridge. The hot water and pump is an extreme measure and not to be used around water sensitive wood floors unless you have a shop vac. BTW tenant said she'd been complaining to the landlord for nearly 4 months about the fridge problem. And all this time it was a simple defrost limit. As they say, pay me now or pay me later.

[appl.tech.29501]

Got me a new steamer on the way and she looks like this.
I'll let you guys know how it works.

SteamFast's McCulloch MC-1235 Handheld Steamer

• Steam Power: 1350 Watts
• Water Capacity: 10 oz.
• Steam Time: 8-14 minutes
• Product Dimensions: 8.7" x 5.5" x 7.9"
• Product Weight: 2.1 lbs.
• Safety Rating: UL Listed
• Continuous-fill water tank: refill as you clean; no time wasted on cool-down & warm-up
• 30-second warm-up: ready to clean when you are
• Adjustable steam: efficient for delicate AND hard-to-clean surfaces

[KurtiusInterupptus]

That looks uber-cool jerry...just in time for the summer defrost rush! Def let us know how it works...after 2 duct tape repairs my shark is on its last leg...

[appl.tech.29501]

Haven't had to defrost a unit yet but I used it to thaw out the fill tube on a IDI unit...cleared it out in 5 seconds flat! This unit is a little different that the other steamers as it has a pulsing pump. The fact that its ready in about 30 sec. And is fillable while using is a winner winner chicken dinner!