What is typically the first step in the gas defrost process?

The first step in the gas defrost process is to put the system into refrigeration mode. This step is crucial because it prepares the system for the defrost cycle by allowing it to operate in a controlled manner. By moving into refrigeration mode, the system stabilizes the conditions within the evaporator and allows for the efficient removal of frost without compromising the overall performance of the cooling system.

During this phase, the system can maintain proper temperatures in the areas that require cooling while initiating the necessary adjustments for the pending defrost cycle. This ensures that the defrost process, when it begins, will be effective in reducing ice buildup without negatively impacting the product or space being cooled.

Choosing other options first would not facilitate an efficient defrost cycle; for example, initiating defrost without transitioning the system to refrigeration mode could lead to suboptimal results or further issues related to ice and frost buildup. Therefore, entering refrigeration mode as the first step is the most logical and effective approach in the gas defrost process.