Could Fridge Problems Be Traced to Dirty Condenser Coils?

Construction & Contractors Blog

Have you noticed that your refrigerator will "run" for longer than it used to? Alternatively, does the fridge switch off or need to switch back on shortly thereafter? This indicates a system that is labouring more than it should be, and you need to take action to fix this before the fridge shuts down altogether. What is one of the most common issues here?

How Your Fridge Should Work

A device like this relies on refrigerant, a chemical substance that changes its state from a fluid to a gas. It's able to transfer heat from one environment to another according to a different pressure differential and is very effective. The refrigerant will absorb the heat you typically find within your fridge and transfer that heat to a separate location. It will then flow through a number of coils situated on the back of your fridge, where the heat will dissipate to the surrounding air.

Dirty Condenser Coils

The problem here is that those coils are out of sight and out of mind. As they will typically sit towards the bottom of the refrigerator casing, they're in an area where dust, dirt or pet hair can accumulate. As the outside of each coil may be somewhat moist, this dirt can easily stick, and as it does so, it will compromise the working efficiency of the fridge. In short, that dirt will create a barrier which means that the refrigerant will not be able to dissipate the heat. In turn, the compressor will need to work harder, and your fridge will run for a lot longer than it should.

Worsening Problems

As this problem gets worse, the compressor will begin to degrade. It'll wear out far more quickly than it ought to, and soon, the fridge will stop working altogether.

Cleaning the Condenser Coils

So, if you have dirty condenser coils, you need to clean them as soon as possible. You can do this by sweeping up all the debris with a broom or using a vacuum cleaner. You may have to wipe the surface of each coil with a damp cloth, but you should always unplug the fridge before you do anything here.

Getting Additional Help

If your fridge continues to malfunction after your work, you may have to call in a technician. Either the condenser or the compressor (or both) could have developed a fault linked to overuse and the parts may need to be replaced. 

For more information, contact a local refrigeration repair company. 

Share

23 June 2022