There are several areas of a refrigerator that need to be maintained to keep it operating properly. These include:
1. Outside panels and trim
2. The inside shelves, gaskets, and plastic bins
3. The condenser
I will cover number three first because it greatly affects the performance of the system if not maintained. The condenser is a heat exchanger that expels the heat from the inside of the refrigerator to the room. This device is very similar to the radiator in your car that expels the engine heat to the atmosphere. On most refrigerators it is located under the refrigerator, behind the grill. On built-in refrigerators, it is usually on top, and on some smaller models, it is on the back.
The condenser consists of steel tubing with many steel wires welded perpendicular to these tubes. The whole assembly is painted black. The refrigerant passes through these tubes, and room air is drawn over these wires and tubes by a fan, where it picks up the heat. This air then passes through the condenser fan and is blown across a shallow plastic pan that holds water from the automatic defrost cycles. This warm, moist air is then blown through the grill into the room.
This condenser has room air passing over it every time the compressor comes on, typically 12 hours out of every 24. This air carries with it dust, pet hair, kitchen grease, and food particles. Some of this debris is deposited on the condenser. This blocks the air flow and does not allow the condenser to expel its heat to the air. This will cause the refrigerator to run longer, consuming electricity and performing poorly.
Cleaning the condenser should be done once a year and more if there are pets in the household. To avoid any contact with live wires under the refrigerator, unplug the refrigerator or trip the circuit breaker that controls the refrigerator. The circuit breaker is located in your electrical panel in the utility room or basement. Remove the grill at the bottom front of the refrigerator. You will see a divider running front to back down the center of this compartment.
The condenser is on one side and the defrost water pan is on the other side. If there is a large amount of dust on the front of the condenser, reach in with your hand and remove the large pieces. Now take your vacuum cleaner with a crevice tool on the wand and use it to remove as much dust as you can get to.
To help prevent odors, leave an open box of baking soda in the refrigerator compartment and another one in the freezer compartment. Clean all the surfaces inside the refrigerator with a warm water and baking soda solution. Mix one tablespoon of baking soda in one quart of water. Be careful not to get any water on switches, lights, or controls. Thoroughly rinse and wipe dry. Use this same baking soda solution to clean the door gaskets, plastic bins, and shelves. Avoid cleaning cold glass shelves with hot water, as the extreme temperature difference can cause them to shatter.
When finished, apply a very thin coat of petroleum jelly to the part of the door gasket that contacts the case on the hinge side of the door to keep the gaskets from sticking and bending out of shape.
The outer surfaces, handles, and trim can be cleaned with a solution of mild liquid dish detergent and water mixed about 50:50. Rinse and dry with a soft cloth. Do not use scouring pads, powder cleaners, or bleach. Clean stainless steel panels with a commercially available stainless steel cleaner, such as Stainless Steel Magic.
Performing these simple maintenance tasks will keep your refrigerator running longer and more efficiently.
If you have suggestions for future tips or have questions about maintenance around your home, submit them to ask.the.woodchucks@gmail.com.
