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Choosing Appliances You Will Adore

When it comes to appliances, most people have a tendency to pay more attention to anything else when they shop: price. Unfortunately, finding cheap appliances doesn't always mean you will find good appliances. As an income property owner, I have purchased several different appliances over the years, and I can tell you first hand that not all brands are created equal. My blog is dedicated to helping you to find appliances that you will actually be able to use, abuse, and love for a long time. Check out my blog for information on what to look for, how to shop, and where to get great deals.

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Choosing Appliances You Will Adore

Dirty Condenser Coils – The Problems It Can Cause With Your Refrigerator

by Melanie Hanson

How long has it been since you cleaned the condenser coil on your refrigerator? When the condenser coil becomes covered with dirt, the heat cannot escape and the temperature of the refrigerator increases. So what problems could this cause and how do you resolve the problem?

Problems Caused by a Dirty Condenser Coil

  • The lights inside the refrigerator turn on, but the unit isn't cooling.
  • The refrigerator kicks on and turns off way more than it used to.
  • The temperature fluctuates.
  • The refrigerator continues to run without shutting off.

If you have noticed any, or a combination of these issues, you may be able to fix the problem with a quick cleaning of the condenser coils.

How to Clean the Condenser Coil

  1. To access the condenser coil, you must pull the refrigerator away from the wall. To do this safely, ask someone for help. Attempting to move a full refrigerator yourself could result in injuries, damage to your home or the tipping and crashing of the unit.
    • Tip: Moving a refrigerator can be made a little easier by using plastic furniture moving sliders. Tip the refrigerator back far enough to slide a slider under each of the front two feet. When you go to pull the unit away from the wall, pull from the top to put most of the weight on the front feet with the sliders underneath. This will protect your flooring and make the move much easier physically.
  2. Now, unplug the unit to eliminate the risk of electrical shock during the cleaning process. Put a brush attachment on your vacuum and gently suck all of the loose dirt and dust off of the coils. Some dirt may be caked on and will require the use of soapy water to remove it. Simply mix a teaspoon or two of liquid dishwashing soap in a bucket of very hot water. Use a cloth and/or scrub brush to gently scrub the dirt off of the coils.
  3. Wait for the coils to dry and plug your unit back in. Slide it back into place and keep an eye on how things work for a while.

If cleaning the coils didn't help to fix the problems that you have been experiencing, contact your local appliance repair technician for assistance. He or she will examine the unit and make the necessary repairs to keep your foods at safe temperatures and improve the efficiency of the unit.

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