How To Keep Your Refrigerator Functioning Well, Avoid Damage And Save Money
Posted: Wednesday, January 06, 2010
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
Due to the fact that most modern refrigerators are self defrosting, self evaporating of condensation and virtually all working mechanical parts are not exposed and visible...much expense, heartache and problems can arise completely unexpected by the owners. For a number of years, I had as a side self-employment of repairing airconditioning and refrigeration equipment. What you are about to learn was the most frequent problem I encountered and all could have been avoided if a man or woman of the house had even a very small amount of mechanical ability.
1. Identifying the problem
Underneath virtually all of todays refrigerators is found a condensing coil, often almost covering the entire bottom side of the unit. In addition to this coil, there is the compressor which is a hermetically sealed canister with an electric motor and pump inside. There is also a very small fan which is positioned to move air across the compressor as well as the main part of the coil to disperse the heat out into the room. Often one may feel this warm air coming from beneath the refrigerator.
Underneath virtually all of todays refrigerators is found a condensing coil, often almost covering the entire bottom side of the unit. In addition to this coil, there is the compressor which is a hermetically sealed canister with an electric motor and pump inside. There is also a very small fan which is positioned to move air across the compressor as well as the main part of the coil to disperse the heat out into the room. Often one may feel this warm air coming from beneath the refrigerator.
This condensing coil, with the air constantly moving across it, is notorious for it's accumulation of household dust and fuzz. Once the coil becomes thoroughly covered with this material, it's capacity to expel the heat is impaired and therefore it becomes less efficient. Needless to say, the more it accumulates, the more it becomes inefficient. And it will reach a point that, eventhough the refrigerator runs constantly or almost so, it cannot remove the heat from the refrigerator cooling section, or the freezer.
This is usually the first sympton most families detect. If left without attention, it will grow worse and things will begin to spoil in your refrigerator. This besides the extra electricity being used for the constant running of the refrigerator and the damage the heat build up is doing to your compressor and fan. And, eventhough I have not known of it personally, it seems to me that this extreme heat could ignite some of the fuzz or other flamable materials causing a catastropic fire. One instance I found had a slightly charred spot directly underneath where the compressor had been.
2. Inspecting the refrigerator
No one should wait for symptoms of this problem to appear before inspecting and cleaning the unit. Damage can be done before any symptoms appear. The family whose floor I mentioned above as being charred, informed me they had owned the refrigerator for eight years and had never cleaned the coil. In fact, they said they had never pulled the refrigerator from it's slot between the kitchen cabinets since it was installed.
2. Inspecting the refrigerator
No one should wait for symptoms of this problem to appear before inspecting and cleaning the unit. Damage can be done before any symptoms appear. The family whose floor I mentioned above as being charred, informed me they had owned the refrigerator for eight years and had never cleaned the coil. In fact, they said they had never pulled the refrigerator from it's slot between the kitchen cabinets since it was installed.
The unit should be inspected every six months, and even if in fairly good condition, should be cleaned at that time. In order to inspect the area of the coil, compressor, fan and evaporating pan, you will need to remove the front grill panel across the very bottom of the refrigerator. These panels usually snap on and off with a clip on either end although some have two screws which must be removed. The rear of the box usually has a fiberboard cover across the bottom which may be 14-16 inches in height. This board normally has some 6-8 screws to be removed.
Once these two covers are removed , in order to see the condition of all the underside, it is sometimes necessary to get into a prone position. If this has not been done recently, you will very likely see little other than a heavy accumulation of dust and fuzz. Somewhere, usually near the front of the machine will be a shallow pan which may or may not have water in it at the time. Lift the pan out carefully and empty any water, then wash and dry the pan. Do not replace it at this time
3. Cleaning the unit.
The easiest way to remove the accumulated dust and fuzz is with some type of blower. I have a very small Black and Decker leaf blower (which incidentally is worthless for blowing leaves) which does an excellent job of blowing the accumulation from the coil and compressor area. Needless to say, this is blown out from beneath the refrigerator but it winds up on your kitchen floor. However, it can be readily removed from the floor with a broom or vacuum.
3. Cleaning the unit.
The easiest way to remove the accumulated dust and fuzz is with some type of blower. I have a very small Black and Decker leaf blower (which incidentally is worthless for blowing leaves) which does an excellent job of blowing the accumulation from the coil and compressor area. Needless to say, this is blown out from beneath the refrigerator but it winds up on your kitchen floor. However, it can be readily removed from the floor with a broom or vacuum.
Some vacuum cleaners have a blowing feature also. Even a small compressed air tank can be used, or, a vacuum attachment can be used to vacuum the material into the vacuum bag. A long handled brush similar to a ceiling fan cleaning brush may also be used. A thorough job need s tobe done while involved in the process so it won't need doing sooner again. But a word of caution. be sure to begin with, that the machine is unplugged. Then use extreme caution when pushing a brush or other stiff item underneath, making certain that no pressure is applied to any of the coil or tubing, wiring or fan blades.
Serious damage can be inflicted by puncturing or breaking a coil tube or tubes to the compressor. Also the wiring can easily be broken or disconnected from its joints. The fan blades are also subject to being bent and cause trouble. Once you have completed the cleaning, first, replace the evaporating pan, then replace the two covers. Don't let the explanation of this job appear too daunting. Once you become involved in the chore, you will see that it is quite elementary.
4. Conclusion
Once you have completed cleaning, also make sure there is ample space left between your refrigerator and the wall behind it where plenty of air can freely flow down and into the fan area. I advise anyone to also purchase two refrigeration thermometers and keep one in the freezer and the other in the cooling section. Then by frequent observation, you can adjust the freezer section to keep an almost constant 0 (zero) degrees temperature and the refrigrator section between 32-40 degrees.This takes time and patience, because your refrigerator section will fluctuate considerably from opening the door, putting in warm materials, and also when it goes into defrost mode. This usually takes 20 to 30 minutes and your box temperature will rise to around 40 degrees temporarily, once or twice daily.
4. Conclusion
Once you have completed cleaning, also make sure there is ample space left between your refrigerator and the wall behind it where plenty of air can freely flow down and into the fan area. I advise anyone to also purchase two refrigeration thermometers and keep one in the freezer and the other in the cooling section. Then by frequent observation, you can adjust the freezer section to keep an almost constant 0 (zero) degrees temperature and the refrigrator section between 32-40 degrees.This takes time and patience, because your refrigerator section will fluctuate considerably from opening the door, putting in warm materials, and also when it goes into defrost mode. This usually takes 20 to 30 minutes and your box temperature will rise to around 40 degrees temporarily, once or twice daily.
Now, sit back and enjoy the performance of a great machine without worrying.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Oh, man and with 4 house cats - can you imagine what it will look like and we have been here almost 5 years now.... never moved it. MarijoUh-oh, You really need to get to it Marijo, seriously. It could eliminate your having to replace the refrigerator. And really, it is not so difficult as one might think, it's just a matter of getting to it. Of course, with 4 cats, you may have a little extra to vacuum out or blow out. Refrigerating mechanisms are somewhat delicate but will last a long time when cared for. I bought a new one before I retired (Just as a precaution that I might not could afford one later). That's thirteen years ago and it still keeps the freezer on 0 degrees with lots to spare.It performs as it did when new.Thanks for commenting and good luck with the cats.
i have a red bull commercial grade refrigerator and was wondering if i am possibly doing damage to it because when the compressor kicks on it dims the lights. I have been told before that it can do damage to the motor because it is starved for electricity?I can't be too sure but it sounds as if your house wiring is a little inadequate to carry the load...perhaps. On the other hand, if it only dims the lights for a second and then it returns, that is simply because the starting of your compressor draws a little heavy. In such case, I doubt that it is doing any appreciable harm. I am not familiar with the refrigerator you have but it must be a fairly powerful one. My own refrigerator does not affect the lights or other usages. It might be wise to have someone check to see how many amps the compressor pulls when it starts. One other thing, you might feel of the wire and plug after it has run a while. If it is hot, you may have a dangerous problem.
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