We often forget about what it takes to keep our appliances in good working order. Sure, we’re good about wiping out our refrigerator shelves and drawers, and emptying the ice bin once in a while, but there is more to regular maintenance than just cleaning out the inside. Your fridge needs a little TLC on the outside as well as with the components you can’t see.
In particular, the coils that make up your refrigerators cooling system need some attention a few times every year. If you have a household pet that sheds a lot, you may want to clean the coils more frequently. The good news is that this is an easy task and takes less than 30 minutes. Add cleaning your refrigerator coils to your quarterly cleaning schedule and improve the longevity of your refrigerator.
At CS Appliance Service, we’re experts at refrigerator repair and happy to share some of our tips in refrigerator maintenance. To clean your coils, follow these simple steps:
- Unplug your refrigerator from the outlet to eliminate the risk of electrical shock.
- Locate the coils on your appliance. In most cases they are located at the front of the appliance below the door, or on the back of the appliance. Simply look for the refrigerators vents and remove the vent to access the coils. For instances when the coils are located on the back, you will need to pull the unit away from the wall. Placing furniture sliders beneath your refrigerator will help avoid damaging your flooring.
- After you remove the vent grates, you’ll be able to see the coils. They are metal bars that are thin and spaced an inch apart from one another.
- Using a soft, clean paint brush or rag, gently brush off debris and dust. Work side to side and up and down in long strokes.
- Next, use a vacuum hose to suck up the debris you’ve knocked loose.
- Plug the refrigerator back in and place it back against the wall.
That’s it! While you’re taking care of this project, we recommend using a long vacuum attachment to get at any extra pet hair or debris under the refrigerator so it doesn’t get sucked back up into the unit. This way you’ll have a clean floor underneath the fridge as well as clean coils.
The benefit of cleaning your coils at least two times each year is to help your appliance work more efficiently. The easier it can do its job, the longer it will last. When the coils are gummed up with debris, dust, and hair, they have to work overtime to keep your refrigerator performing well.
If your fridge isn’t cooling your foods like it used to, try cleaning your coils first. If this doesn’t do the job, then give us a call at CS Appliance Services. Our Refrigerator Repair Service team will evaluate your situation and take steps to fix the problem. Call us at 781-953-9600 to schedule an appointment or if you need your coils cleaned. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CSApplianceService/ for tips on extending the life of your appliances and for Refrigerator Repair topics.