How to Clean Refrigerator Condenser Coils, Step by Step Instructions
You can clean refrigerator condenser coils yourself in 20 to 30 minutes. Difficulty is easy.
- 5 steps, 20 to 30 minutes, easy difficulty.
- Tools you need are coil brush (long flexible bottle brush, ~$10), vacuum with crevice tool, flashlight.
- Parts to buy are none, pure maintenance.
- Unplug the machine before you start.
Unplug the fridge (contents are fine for 30 minutes with doors shut). Don’t stab at the thin condenser fins with hard objects.
Tools
- Coil brush (long flexible bottle brush, ~$10)
- Vacuum with crevice tool
- Flashlight
Parts
- None, pure maintenance
Watch it done
Two minutes of video can beat a page of text, here's the whole job start to finish.
Video: “The Best Way to Clean Your Refrigerator Coils!” by Clean That Up on YouTube.
Step by step
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1 Find the coils
Newer fridges. Behind the front toe grille or accessed from the lower rear panel. Older fridges. The black grid on the back wall. The flashlight will show you a felt blanket of dust if it’s overdue.
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2 Brush and vacuum
Work the coil brush through the coils and fan area while vacuuming what it dislodges. Get the condenser fan blades too, dusty blades move noticeably less air.
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3 Do the floor and grille
Vacuum the drain pan area and the toe grille itself. Pet hair drifts back fast if you leave a supply nearby.
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4 Restore airflow clearance
When pushing the fridge back, keep a couple of inches of breathing room behind and above it, a fridge sealed into its alcove runs hot no matter how clean the coils are.
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5 Repeat on a schedule
Yearly minimum. Every 6 months with shedding pets. Put it on the same calendar entry as your dryer vent.
If the fridge still runs constantly or struggles to hold temperature with clean coils, a real fault (defrost, gasket, charge) is in play, see the runs constantly cost guide and get a diagnosis. If you'd rather skip it entirely, find a refrigerator repair pro near you
Step by step instructions for your exact model
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