Refrigerators are some of the most common appliances in every household. As with any appliance, maintenance is necessary.
When it comes to fridges cleaning may be one of the most essential maintenance steps to take. Cleaning should not be limited to just the compartments but should also extend to some of its internal components.
A fridge’s design means that some of its functional components are exposed and as with any exposed component will lead up to dust build-up. This will mainly occur on the back panel cover and the coils.
So how can you clean your fridge coils without the most necessary tool, a brush? You can use your other favorite appliance, the vacuum.
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How To Clean Refrigerator Coils.
- Wear a protective mask. Fridges are some of the dustiest appliances you can find in a home. Their coils are particularly the dustiest. A mask may come in handy when cleaning the coils especially if you have breathing problems like asthma.
- Unplug your fridge from the power source. This should always be your first step when working with any appliance that uses electricity. Safety should always be your priority. Always switch off the socket before attempting to unplug. This should effectively keep you safe from any stray electrocution by damaged cords(which you should always check to replace).
- Pull and turn your fridge 180 degrees to access the coils from the back. Most fridges will come with wheels which can be used by slightly tilting the fridge. Proceed to rotate your fridge by 180 degrees in a position that has the back facing you. Fridge coils are always accessible from the back.
- Unclamp the back panel for fridges that come with a panel. If your fridge has a protective back panel, unclamp it or unscrew it whichever is the case. Some fridges may lack this back panel and this should not alarm you.
- Use a vacuum to suck up the dust. In most cases, the fridge coils will always be dusty. The first step should be to use a vacuum cleaner to suck the loose dust. This should reduce the dust that you may end up inhaling accidentally.
- You can use a compressed air blower. The vacuuming step can also be done with a compressed air blower. You should however ensure you are doing so in an open ventilated space for the dust to leave. Also wear a mask to avoid inhaling the mask. It may not be advisable to try this method if you have respiratory problems like asthma.
- Plug your fridge back in. Once you are done with your cleaning you can plug your fridge back in. Your fridge should get back to the required temperature in a few hours.
Why You Should Clean Your Fridge Coils Regularly.
Fridges coils are some of the most functional components in a fridge. Without the coils your fridge is useless.
Fridge coils are made up of thin-walled copper pipes that have the fridge coolant circulating in them. The fridge coils act as heat exchangers. It is the point where the fridge loses the heat it takes away from the contents in the fridge.
Dirty coils reduce the effectiveness of a fridge. With dirty coils, you will find out that your fridge takes longer to cool down or get to the required temperature which may cause mold. Dirty coils may also increase your electricity bill as it takes more energy to get down to temperature with reduced efficiency.
In conclusion, cleaning your fridge coils:
- Reduces your Electricity consumption.
- Maintains your fridge’s efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use compressed air to clean refrigerator coils?
Yes, you can use compressed air to clean refrigerator coils. Compressed air will effectively clean your refrigerator coils without causing any damage to the coils. It is a recommended substitute when you don’t have other cleaning tools like a brush.
Why is my fridge running but not cooling?
This may be because of dirty refrigerator coils. Cleaning clogged refrigerator coils should improve the efficiency of your fridge. Clogged coils may inhibit your fridge’s ability to lose heat and cool down.
