The need for general cleaning or defrosting often forces refrigerator owners Atlant face the issue of dismantling internal equipment. The freezer is an area where ice regularly accumulates, and for effective cleaning, access to the walls must be maximum. Simply removing the contents is not enough; you need to carefully remove all the partitions and drawers.
Owners often worry that the glass will crack due to temperature changes or the plastic will burst in the cold. These fears are not unfounded, since materials become more fragile at low temperatures. However, knowing the correct sequence of actions and the design features of a particular model, you can avoid damage. Safe dismantling requires an understanding of exactly how the elements are fixed in your unit.
Modern models of the Belarusian manufacturer are equipped with different types of fastenings: from classic shelf-grids to complex guide systems. In some cases, it is enough to simply lift the part, in others you need to press hidden latches. It is important not to use excessive physical force so as not to break plastic stops or break the tempered glass.
Preparation for dismantling the freezer compartment elements
Before starting any manipulations, you must empty the freezer compartment of food. If you plan to simply clean the shelves, they can be removed quickly while the food is transferred to a bowl of ice. For deep cleaning with defrosting, you will need to completely unplug the device. Defrosting - a key step that is often ignored when trying to tear off frozen parts by force.
Why can’t you remove shelves if they are covered with ice? The ice crust acts like glue, bonding the glass or plastic to the chamber walls and metal guides. Trying to jerk out a frozen part is almost guaranteed to lead to failure. The glass may burst from stress, and the plastic slides may crack.
Wait until the ice has completely melted, or carefully remove it using a hair dryer aimed at the joints (but without heating the shelf itself directly). Make sure the chamber is dry. It is also worth preparing a soft cloth or towel to cover the floor in front of the refrigerator. This will protect the flooring from water and will serve you if you suddenly drop a heavy glass shelf.
⚠️ Attention: Never use sharp metal objects (knives, screwdrivers) to chip ice around the shelf fastenings. One wrong move can damage the cooling circuit, leading to a freon leak and costly repairs.
Removing glass shelves and racks in the freezer
In the freezers of refrigerators Atlant glass shelves are less common than in the refrigerator compartment, but in some models they are present. This is usually thick tempered glass mounted on plastic or metal guides. The main difficulty is that such shelves often do not have handles and fit tightly to the walls.
The removal process begins with assessing the type of fastening. If the shelf is simply lying on plastic sides, you need to slightly lift it on one side, then on the other and smoothly pull it towards you. If the end of the glass rests on a special groove in the chamber wall, you need to act more carefully. In this case, the glass first moves forward until it stops, and then its front edge is raised and disengaged.
Pay special attention to the temperature of the glass. If you have just defrosted the camera, the glass may be cold, but no longer slippery from condensation. If you wash the shelf with hot water, allow it to cool to room temperature before replacing it. A sudden temperature change for tempered glass is less dangerous than for a regular one, but it is not worth risking the integrity of an expensive element.
- 🧊 Make sure that the side guides are completely clear of ice and frost.
- 👐 Take glass shelf with both hands on the sides, avoiding grabbing the center if it is large.
- 📏 Remember the orientation of the shelf, as some models have an asymmetrical shape.
☑️ Algorithm for removing the glass shelf
Removing plastic boxes and baskets
Plastic drawers are the most common storage element in freezers Atlant. They can be transparent or matte, deep or shallow. Structurally, they are divided into pull-out (on guides) and composite (where the bottom drawer stands on the bottom and the top one rests on it). Removing the top drawer usually does not cause problems if it is not frozen to the walls.
To remove deep drawers on guides, it is often necessary to overcome the resistance of plastic stoppers. In some models Atlant (especially series with the No Frost system), the box needs to be slightly lifted to remove its hooks from the grooves of the rails. This should be done evenly on both sides. If you pull the box by only one handle, there is a risk of warping the structure and breaking plastic runners.
If the box is composite (one stands inside the other or rests on the lower one), then the upper element is removed first. Only after this does access to the lower one open. Sometimes ice bridges form between the boxes. In this case, do not yank the upper basket upward - you may rip the bottom out of the lower one. Wait for the ice to thaw.
⚠️ Attention: Plastic becomes very fragile at temperatures below -15°C. If you plan to wash the drawers, let them sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before washing to avoid microcracks.
What to do if the drawer handle breaks?
If the handle breaks off, do not try to pull the drawer by the edges of the plastic - it may burst. Gently pry the base of the drawer with a flat spatula (wrapped in fabric) and pull it out, holding the sides. To repair the handle, you can use epoxy glue or order a new spare part using the catalog number.
Features of removing shelves in the No Frost system
Refrigerators Atlant with the system No Frost (or Low Frost) have a more complex internal architecture. Here the shelves are often integrated into the overall air circulation system. In the freezer of such models, the shelves can be part of a modular system where the elements are interconnected.
In models with a retractable system (telescopic guides), the shelf or drawer is removed by moving it all the way, after which you need to press special latches (usually the tabs on the sides of the guides) to unlock the full exit mechanism. Without pressing these latches, you will not be able to pull out the element completely.
Also in the No Frost system, it is important not to damage the back wall, behind which the evaporator is located. When removing shelves, control your movements so that the rear edge of the glass or plastic does not scratch the back wall of the chamber. Scratches on the plastic of the rear wall can break the tightness of the thermal insulation or damage the air supply channels.
| Mounting type | Atlant models | Dismantling method | Risks |
|---|---|---|---|
| On stops (sides) | KSh 268, 256, etc. | Lift and pull | Sliding, falling |
| In grooves (without handles) | Old models | Pull out, lift, remove | Glass splits when skewed |
| Telescopic guides | No Frost series | Press the rail clamps | Breakage of plastic fasteners |
| Multiple drawers | Models with 3-4 tiers | Remove strictly from top to bottom | Rip in the bottom of the bottom drawer |
Solving problems with frozen parts
The situation when a shelf or drawer is frozen tightly to the walls is the most common. This often happens if the refrigerator door was not tightly closed, and moist air got inside, which condensed and froze. The cause may also be a spilled liquid that has flowed under the shelf and solidified.
The first rule: do not use force. If the element does not move, it means that the ice is holding it. Using boiling water to defrost locally is possible, but requires caution. You cannot pour boiling water directly onto glass - it will burst. It is better to use warm water (about 40-50 degrees) and direct the stream from a syringe or syringe without a needle exactly into the gap between the shelf and the wall.
An alternative method is to use a hair dryer. Turn on the hairdryer to the minimum temperature and warm up the area where the shelf and wall meet, constantly moving the air flow. Do not hold the hair dryer at one point for a long time. As soon as the ice melts, carefully try to loosen the shelf. If it is on metal guides, you can try to warm up the metal - it conducts heat better than plastic and will melt the ice plug faster.
- 💧 Use a syringe to supply warm water into hard-to-reach cracks.
- 💨 Use a hair dryer only on the warm (not hot) air setting.
- ⏳ Give the ice time to melt on its own, if you can postpone cleaning.
⚠️ Attention: If you use a hairdryer, make sure that hot air does not hit the rubber seal of the door located nearby. The rubber may become deformed, and the refrigerator will no longer keep cold.
Caring for shelves and common errors during assembly
After you have managed to remove the shelves in the refrigerator Atlant in the freezer, they need to be washed. Use a soft sponge and neutral detergents. Abrasive powders can scratch the plastic or make the glass cloudy, making it difficult to see the contents. Rinse the parts thoroughly and, most importantly, wipe them dry before installing.
A wet shelf placed back in the freezer will turn into an icy monolith in a couple of days. Water remaining on the surface or in the fastening grooves will freeze and firmly glue the shelf to the body. Therefore drying is a critical stage of care.
When reassembling, make sure that the installation is correct. The drawers should fit into the guides with a slight click or a characteristic sound of entering the groove. If you feel strong resistance, then you have violated the geometry of the installation. Do not force parts in. Glass shelves must lie flat, without distortions, otherwise the glass may burst under the weight of food.
How to remove odors from plastic boxes?
If the boxes have absorbed the smell of fish or meat, wipe them with a solution of citric acid or vinegar (1 tablespoon per liter of water). Activated carbon, left in a closed box for a day, also helps effectively.
Regular cleaning and proper dismantling extend the life of the internal equipment of the refrigerator. The plastic remains transparent and elastic, and the glass remains intact. Following simple operating rules allows you to avoid situations where you have to look for rare spare parts to replace a broken shelf.
Can the shelves be washed in the dishwasher?
The manufacturer Atlant does not recommend washing plastic parts in the dishwasher at high temperatures. Hot water (above 60°C) can deform the thin plastic of the drawers. Glass shelves can be washed, but only in a delicate washing mode and without using aggressive agents, so as not to damage the protective coating or markings.
What to do if the shelf is cracked?
Operating a refrigerator with a cracked shelf in the freezer is dangerous. The crack may expand and the shelf will collapse under the weight of the food, damaging the evaporator or condensate drainage system. It is better to immediately order a new original spare part. Temporarily, you can use thick cardboard or plywood cut to size, but this is only a short-term solution.
How to lubricate drawer runners if they do not move well?
You cannot use regular machine oil or WD-40 in the refrigerator - this is food-grade equipment. If the drawers are sticking due to dry plastic, you can use food-grade silicone lubricant (spray). It is safe, odorless and does not freeze at low temperatures, providing easy sliding.
Why does the shelf fall out when the door is closed?
Most likely, the shelf is installed incorrectly or upside down. Check whether the protrusions on the ends of the shelf correspond to the grooves in the chamber. The cause may also be deformation of the shelf itself due to overload or temperature changes. In some cases, a skewed refrigerator door touches the protruding parts of the shelves, knocking them out.