Manufacturers say that most people don’t need to regularly clean their refrigerators’ condenser coils.
But, you should clean the condenser coils on refrigerators in greasy, dusty environments – and homes with “significant pet traffic” (which just sounds like a kitten parade, right?) – every two or three months.
What’s that? Cleaning stuff is a pain in the butt? Yeah, well so is replacing stuff. Regular maintenance not only ensures your refrigerator runs efficiently (aka for less money) but it will help it run for longer.
I’m betting it’s been about the suggested time span (times 10?) since you have cleared out what lies beneath, so here’s a refresher course:
How To Clean Refrigerator Condenser Coils
1. Unplug refrigerator or disconnect power. (We don’t need any heroes, people.)
2. Take off the kick plate, or “grille.” How you do this depends on the configuration of your fridge (e.g. top freezer, side by side), but the “wiggle and pull” method seems pretty universal. For more help, consult your Use & Care manual.
3. Clean the kick plate, the open area behind it and the front surface area using either a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment.
You are incredibly timely. Our fridge in our apartment just went out and we were told it was not even a year old. Since we live in high traffic pet apartments it makes me wonder if that could be the reason… Good to know.
I’m sorry to hear that! I know that every time I think my fridge is struggling, I clean my coils and it seems to bounce back. Lesson learned, eh?