A functioning refrigerator can be the difference between whether or not you’re able to feed yourself. For this reason, keeping up with refrigerator maintenance is of the utmost importance. This maintenance involves staying on top of the many parts of your refrigerator, including the refrigerator coils.
These coils contain refrigerant that keeps the refrigerator cool. As a result, cleaning refrigerator coils is one of the most important tasks in any refrigerator maintenance checklist. If you’re curious about the steps required for cleaning refrigerator coils and what neglecting them could do, keep reading this blog.
The Importance of Cleaning Refrigerator Coils
Every large appliance requires periodic maintenance to stay in shape; the refrigerator is no exception. Regarding how often refrigerator coils need cleaning, experts recommend doing so every six months or once a year. You should also be on the lookout for any signs that your refrigerator isn’t operating as usual, specifically if there’s excessive debris surrounding the coils or your fridge isn’t cooling properly. Failing to follow through with cleaning refrigerator coils can result in a high energy bill and spoiled food.
A Step-By-Step Guide To Cleaning Refrigerator Coils
Now that you know the importance of cleaning refrigerator coils, it’s time to learn how to maintain them. This step-by-step guide to cleaning refrigerator coils will help you complete this task successfully. The following instructions serve as a general guide for maintaining your refrigerator’s coils, so be sure to check the appropriate user manual when completing this task.
1. Gather The Supplies
The first step in cleaning refrigerator coils is gathering the correct supplies for the job. Ensure you already have a coil brush, a vacuum, a dust mask, a flashlight, and some baby wipes. Obtain whatever supplies you don’t already have as soon as possible. Once you have them all, you can get started.
2. Turn Off And Unplug The Fridge
After getting ahold of the correct supplies, turn off your fridge. Cleaning the refrigerator coils shouldn’t take very long, so you don’t need to remove any perishable items from your fridge. However, you are more than welcome to do so if you prefer to err on the side of caution. To avoid any accidents, unplug the refrigerator as well.
3. Move The Fridge
Because most refrigerator coils are behind the unit, you’ll need to move the refrigerator to allow you to access the coils easily. Ensure that there is enough space to move the refrigerator safely, and have at least one other person with you to assist. Be aware that, depending on the layout and surroundings of your refrigerator, you might need to call a professional to complete the rest of this process for the sake of your safety.
4. Clean The Coils And Surroundings
Once you have access to the coils, you can start cleaning the refrigerator coils by brushing off any dust and debris with the coil brush. After brushing, remove any additional debris that’s more difficult to reach with a vacuum. If necessary, you may use baby wipes to remove any stubborn pieces of debris that the brush and vacuum aren’t able to reach.
5. Reposition The Fridge
You can return your refrigerator to its original position as soon as you’ve brushed and vacuumed away any debris from its coils. Before doing so, ensure that the area it goes into is also thoroughly cleaned so the coils don’t reaccumulate any dirt or dust. Again, you’ll likely need assistance with this step.
6. Reconnect And Turn On The Fridge
Now you can reconnect your refrigerator by plugging it back in and turning it on again. If any perishable items were removed from your refrigerator before cleaning the coils, you should be able to put them back inside right away.
Keep Your Refrigerator Clean With Appliance Repair Kingwood!
We hope this guide to cleaning refrigerator coils will make completing this essential maintenance task feel nice and easy. If you’re experiencing additional problems with your refrigerator or other major kitchen appliances, our technicians are only a phone call away. Contact us at Appliance Repair Kingwood to keep your refrigerator in prime working condition.
