Tips On Cleaning Your Refrigerator’s Condenser Coils

In order to keep the inside of your fridge cool, the heat needs to go somewhere. The job of the condenser coils on your refrigerator is to provide heat with a way out. Unfortunately, due to the location of the condenser coils, they often become covered in dirt and dust which can inhibit their function and cause your fridge to run at a higher temperature than it should. If not remedied, these dirty coils can even cause the compressor to overheat and stop working. In order to prevent this from happening, here are some tips to ensure that your refrigerator’s condenser coils are kept perfectly clean.

Locating the condenser coils

Depending on the make and model of your fridge, the condenser coils could be located on the back of the appliance, on top or even under the fridge. You may have to move your fridge in order to locate and thoroughly clean these coils.

Cleaning condenser coils on the bottom of the fridge:

• Unplug your refrigerator.
• If necessary, remove the base grill.
• Remove dust, pet hair and other loose dirt with a refrigerator coil brush. Make sure that you use a brush that has bristles that are long enough to perform a thorough clean.
• Clean up any dirt on the floor.
• Fit the base grille.
• Plug in the fridge.

Cleaning condenser coils on the back of the fridge:

• Unplug your fridge.
• Move the fridge away from the wall.
• Use a coil brush to clean the coils on the back of your fridge. Work from top to bottom.
• Clean up any dirt that has fallen on the floor.
• Move your fridge back.
• Plug your fridge in again.

Cleaning condenser coils on the top of the fridge:

• Unplug your fridge.
• Rise the grille panel on top of the fridge. Take care when doing so because the condenser fins are known to have sharp edges. Wear gloves to protect your hands.
• The condenser is at the back of the machine compartment; behind the compressor.
• Use a soft brush to clean the dirt out and vacuum the area to suck up heavy debris.
• Plug in your fridge again.

How often should I clean the condenser coils on my fridge?

This is a common question and there are few things to consider. Under normal circumstances, you should clean them every 6 months to prevent dirt from building up. Once dirt takes hold, it can be more difficult to remove. If you have pets, you might want to clean more often since pet hair is notorious for finding its way into such areas of household appliances. Also, if your fridge is in a dusty area, like a garage, you should also clean it more often since these spaces are not like the inside of your home and dust is ever-present.

Do all coils need cleaning?

In most standard models, you will need to clean the condenser coils regularly. Certain, more recent models, have something called a NeverClean™ Condenser. As the name suggests, these condenser coils do not need to be cleaned.

By keeping the condenser coils on your fridge clean, you are ensuring greater energy efficiency and extending the life of your appliance. Your fridge does not need to work nearly as hard when these coils are clean which means that all of those important working parts will not be placed under any unnecessary strain. If you notice that your fridge is not performing quite as it should, remember, Express Appliance Repair is just a phone call away at (647) 492-7773. Thanks to our speedy and professional service, your fridge will be running again before you know it!