Your refrigerator moves heat out of the box and releases it through the condenser coils. When those coils are packed with dust, pet hair and lint, the heat can't get out. The fridge runs longer, the compressor works harder, and parts wear out sooner. Cleaning the coils is the single easiest maintenance job you can do on a refrigerator.
Where are the coils on my fridge?
- Behind the bottom grille (most newer fridges). Pull off the kick plate at the bottom front. The coils run under the fridge, often next to a small fan.
- On the back (older and some top-freezer fridges). A black grid of tubes on the back of the cabinet.
- On top, behind a grille (built-in fridges like Sub-Zero). The grille above the doors flips up or comes off with a couple of screws.
What you'll need
- A refrigerator coil brush (long, skinny brush — a few dollars at a hardware store)
- A vacuum with a crevice tool
- A flashlight
- Gloves (the fins can be sharp)
Step by step
- Unplug the fridge or switch off its breaker. Never clean near the fan while it can turn on.
- Remove the grille at the bottom front, or pull the fridge out to reach the back. Protect your floor when you slide it.
- Vacuum the loose dust you can see first.
- Brush the coils gently, working the brush between the tubes and pulling dust toward you. Vacuum as you go.
- Clean the condenser fan blades (if your fridge has one) with a dry cloth.
- Put the grille back, plug in and push the fridge back, leaving an inch or two of space at the back for airflow.
How often should I clean them?
About once or twice a year for most homes. If you have dogs or cats, or the fridge sits in a dusty garage, check every few months. In Sacramento summers a fridge in the garage works especially hard, so clean coils matter even more.
When cleaning won't fix it
If your fridge is still warm after cleaning the coils, the problem is usually elsewhere — a fan motor, the defrost system, a control board or a sealed-system issue. See refrigerator not cooling, or book a visit. Our service call is $55 and it's applied to the repair.
Common questions
Can dirty condenser coils stop a fridge from cooling?
Yes. Heavily clogged coils can make a fridge run warm and run constantly. Cleaning them is the first thing to check.
Can I use a leaf blower or compressed air?
It can work, but it blows dust all over your kitchen and into the fridge's fan. A coil brush and vacuum is cleaner and safer.
Written by The PFC Team — PFC Appliance Repair, Antelope, CA. CA BHGS #A50656.