Hotpoint FFP187

Hi, I’m hoping someone can give me some advice about my new Frost Free Freezer. Bought it in November, and gradually it became more of a worry, didn’t seem to freeze properly at the top part, turning the dial up didn’t make any difference, then last week food actually began defrosting. Rang Hotpoint, and had to wait a week for an engineer, by now the freezer had stopped freezing altogether, bought a thermometer which gave a reading of +5, same as the fridge! The engineer removed the rear panel and said “there’s your problem” – there was a thick build up of ice. He asked did we open and close the fridge door a lot (not particularly, there’s only the two of us), do we leave it open (no) because he said if you open/close it often and/or leave the door open (we don’t) it sends the freezer into overdrive which then causes the build up of ice. He muttered something about not liking these frost free freezers, defrosted the ice with a hairdryer and off he went.

The freezer is working again now, haven’t filled it back up with food yet, doing that later today, and is reading -25. Has anyone else been told this by an engineer? I find it hard to believe that I’ve been opening/closing the door too often! There’s only the two of us here.

I know it’s a cliche, but my last f/f lasted 15 years, the one before that 20 years, and I never had an engineer to either. I don’t feel confident that this new frost free one is going to have a very long life.

Hope someone can throw some light on this please?

Auntielala (trying to get milk out for coffee at super-lightning speed so as not to upset new fancypants f/f 😆 )