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Refrigerator Maintenance Tips from Repair Clinic



This free troubleshooting video shows quick maintenance tips including cleaning the door gaskets, cleaning the condenser coils, and using a deodorizer for keeping your refrigerator working safely and efficiently.

Manual-defrost refrigerator/freezers:

Manual defrost refrigerator/freezers require very little maintenance.

When frost has accumulated on the inside walls of the freezer to a thickness of ½ inch or so, remove the food from the refrigerator/freezer, turn off the thermostat or unplug the unit, and allow all of the frost to melt. Once the frost has melted completely, turn the unit back on, wait for it to reach its operating temperature, and restock it with food.

Self-defrosting refrigerator/freezers

You don't need to manually defrost your self-defrosting refrigerator/freezer. Every 6 to 8 hours, it heats up its cooling coils slightly and melts any frost accumulation on the coils. The resulting water drains into a shallow pan at the bottom of the refrigerator/freezer. There's no need to empty the pan. The water in it will evaporate. But it may begin to smell bad over time. You may be able to remove it for periodic cleaning by detaching the lower grill and sliding the pan out the front of the refrigerator/freezer.

Note... When mold grows in the drain pan, it is sometimes considered to be a health concern. If your drain pan is removable, and if you're sensitive to mold, consider cleaning the drain pan periodically.

Under your refrigerator/freezer is a set of coils and a cooling fan that you need to clean at least once a year. The coils may look like a grate or like a wide radiator. Unplug the refrigerator/freezer and use a Refrigerator Condenser Brush (available in the parts section of our website), and your vacuum cleaner to clean any lint, pet hair, and so on from the coils.

If the gasket or interior of the refrigerator/freezer needs cleaning, try Refrigerator Cleaner to clean the surfaces. You can find this useful product in our parts section.

If you're unable to find the information you need on our website, we suggest that you use a search online to find a reliable online repair forum. It's likely that your question has already been answered there. We also recommend contacting your product's manufacturer or calling a local repair technician.

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How your refrigerator works:

For additional repair advice and help finding your model number visit the repair help section of our website: Refrigerator repair help