PSA - Check your refrigerator periodically

[spudman99]

I am on my 4th year with my princess insert. This thread is not about the stove but other maintenance. My family room is open to my kitchen. I load the stove 2 times per day when burning, usually 4 months of the year. Well on Thursday I found my refrigerator was freezing all the vegetables in the drawer and even sauces on the lower level. Did my research and assumed that the fan or the damper in the duct was the problem. Took it all apart, nope, all were working.

The coils on the condenser on the bottom were really clogged. With all the above working, I then cleaned the coils and fan assembly. Refrigerator is working perfectly fine today as it should.

My guess is that smoke and other particulates that escape during reloads can end up on the coils and clog it much faster than normal. This is all anecdotal, but I would recommend that all of us burners regularly check the refrigerator coils every few years. Add this to your regular maintenance burden.

 

[EngTechnow]

I gone through 3 of these as 1 was just Bad Design Frig . Other was in Home - after 2 yrs We Sold it , and Now on
3rd Unit - each 1 has had to be Cleaned every Couple Years - even with Filters Meer 10's ~ 11's etc. Just Traffic . .
Well also 2 Cats , now down to 1 as She Passed at 20yrs , Dam Best Mouser Ever . .
Smarty Cat - wonder She got that . . 😁

In My Rental Properties I sold all those Off Now - same - Thing . . Complete Vac. Out & Wipe Down . .
Use to Spend $1100 & Lasted 30yrs - Not anymore . .

 

[Tron]

When one of our freezers died, the compressor was still working, just not cooling. So a freon leak somewhere.
Except that there was no way to trace it, the whole back of the freezer was a glued-on solid sheet. So no chance to clean the coils, either.
The new one is the same design, there was really none available with exposed coils...not sure if that's progress or just another step to planned obsolescence...

 

[Highbeam]

My current fridge, a GE, has the external heat dump coils all folded up with a fan blowing on them beside the compressor on the bottom. Not like the old back of fridge type or the ones built into the walls. External coils do clog up with dust, pet hair, and just the other funk of living.