Many refrigerator breakdowns start small: a coil packed with dust, a door that stopped sealing, a refrigerator in the garage that was never built for one. A few habits — some of them specific to Colorado Springs — keep a refrigerator running longer and the repair bill smaller.
Clean the condenser coils twice a year
The coils that get rid of the heat sit behind the kick plate at the bottom front, on the back of the cabinet, or — on built-ins like Sub-Zero — behind the grille at the top. Our dry, dusty air and pet hair coat them faster than you might expect, and a coated coil makes the compressor run hotter and longer. Unplug the refrigerator, then clean the coils and the condenser fan with a coil brush and a vacuum. With shedding pets, do it every three or four months.
Think twice about the garage
A regular refrigerator in an unheated garage gets confused in winter. Its thermostat sits in the fresh-food section; when the garage is near freezing, that section stays cold without any help, the compressor barely runs — and the freezer slowly thaws. In summer the same garage gets hot, and the refrigerator runs nonstop. If you want a second refrigerator out there, choose a model rated for garage use, and keep a thermometer in the freezer to see what’s really going on.
Protect it from storm surges
Summer afternoons here bring frequent thunderstorms, and a power surge can knock out a refrigerator’s main or inverter control board. A plug-in surge protector made for appliances, or a whole-house surge protector put in by an electrician, costs far less than a new board.
Check the door seal
Close the door on a dollar bill at a few spots around the door. If the bill slides out with no resistance, that part of the gasket isn’t sealing. Wipe the gaskets with warm, soapy water — sticky spills tear them — and replace a gasket that’s torn or flattened. A door that doesn’t seal lets in warm air, which ends up as frost in the freezer and water under the crisper drawers.
Change the water filter
Most manufacturers suggest a new water filter about every six months. An old one slows the dispenser and the ice maker, and a cheap filter that doesn’t seat properly can leak. After a move or any kitchen work, check that the water line behind the refrigerator isn’t kinked or dripping.
Move it the right way
With Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base and the Air Force Academy here, plenty of refrigerators make a PCS move. Move yours upright if you can. If it had to ride on its side, stand it up for a few hours before plugging it in so the oil can drain back into the compressor. Give it up to a day to reach temperature before you load it with food, and reconnect the ice maker’s water line before you push it back into place.
Keep a thermometer inside
An inexpensive appliance thermometer tells you more than the dial. The fresh-food section should stay at 40°F or below — 37°F is a good target — and the freezer at 0°F.
When to call a technician
- Water on the floor or under the crisper drawers
- Frost building up in the freezer or on the back wall
- A temperature that won’t stay put
- Food freezing in the fresh-food section
- New clicking, buzzing or grinding, or a compressor that never stops
- A dark display after a storm
Cleaning the coils or flushing a clogged defrost drain is something you can do yourself. Electrical, control board and sealed-system problems need a technician. Best Pro offers same-day refrigerator repair in Colorado Springs with upfront pricing and a 3–6 month warranty on parts and labor.