Introduction
Cleaning the condenser coils and a few key parts of your fridge will go a long way toward making sure it runs efficiently for a long time. Read on to ensure you don’t overlook these simple tasks!
Step by step
The condenser coils on your refrigerator expel the heat from the inside to the outside. If these coils aren’t cleaned regularly dirt, dust, and pet hair start to coat them and acts as an insulating blanket. This makes your refrigerator work harder and use more energy. We’ll start by cleaning these out.
- Unplug
Start by unplugging the fridge. If you have a built-in fridge you may need to disconnect the breaker. Risk of shock is low, but better safe than sorry! - Access coils
Coils are usually behind or under the fridge, although some models are above. You may need to remove an access panel or two in order to access but once you see the coil you’ll know what it is. - Clean coils with brush
Using a coil brush (see Tools section), gently cleaning between the coils. This will remove most of the large build up and break up any stuff that is stuck between fins.
- Vacuum
Use your vacuum with a corner attachment and brush attachment to vacuum up any remaining debris on or behind the coil. Get inside any accessible vents or fan openings as well to remove as much lint as possible.
After cleaning the condenser coils on the exterior, we’ll clean some key parts of the interior and service/replace a couple items.
- Wipe down door seals
Using a damp paper towel, wipe down all the door seals. It only takes a minute but will help prevent a bad seal that will lead to wasted energy and/or spoiled food. - Clear Drain Hole and Drip Pan
As your fridge does its job, it produces water in the form of condensation. This condensation needs to drip down and out as designed so it can be evaporated. Locate the drain hole and give it a good cleaning with paper towel and a tooth brush. Check the drip pan as well and make sure it is clean while you’re at it. - Replace Ice
Depending on how often you use your ice maker, you may want to do this more than every 6 months. Old ice starts to stick together and pick up the odors of food in the fridge. The last thing you want is a stale smell added to your whiskey, right?
Remove the ice bin and empty in to the sink. If the ice is stuck together you may need to run some hot water over it to break it up. Replace and in a few hours you’ll have a bin of fresh ice ready to go. - Clear freezer vents
Check to make sure items in the freezer aren’t blocking any of the vents. Rearrange food as needed to give plenty of space for your freezer to breathe. - Change water filter
If you have a unit with an ice maker or water dispenser, it most likely has a water filter. This filter will be dependent on the exact make and model of your fridge so order off of Amazon based on your specific model or part number. Every 6 months is a good guideline to replace this so you may want to subscribe on Amazon or buy a multi-pack to save money and make sure you have this on hand for next time. - Check Temperature
Having your fridge and freezer set too low will use more energy and put extra strain on the compressor. Make sure your fridge portion is set to about 37 degF and freezer is 0 degF. Since what you set your fridge at isn’t always what it actually maintains, consider placing a separate thermometer inside each compartment for a day or so to make sure your settings are accurate. - Deodorize
If your fridge or freezer could use some freshening up, consider using a deodorizer as listed in our Material section. These products are more effective than baking soda and can last up to 2 years.
You should also consider putting one of these in the freezer if your ice was smelling a little stale. - Put back in place
Now that all the maintenance is done, put everything back together and plug in. - Mark Complete
Who knew there was so much to taking care of your fridge? Even though this seems like a lot of work, it is well worth the investment in time to keep your food fresh and safe and fridge and freezer running for years to come. Mark complete in your Propsee profile and we’ll remind you to complete again in 6 months!