Why Your Refrigerator Compressor Needs Regular Cleaning
Welcome to our blog! Today, we’re diving into a topic that often gets overlooked but plays a crucial role in keeping your refrigerator running efficiently: cleaning the compressor. While many of us diligently clean the inside of our fridge, most of us neglect to maintain the essential component that keeps everything cold—the compressor. Let’s examine why regular compressor cleaning is vital for the longevity and efficiency of your refrigerator.
Why Does the Compressor Need Cleaning? The compressor in your refrigerator works continuously to keep your food fresh and your beverages cold. However, over time, dust, dirt, and other debris can accumulate on the compressor coils. This buildup insulates the coils, preventing them from dissipating heat effectively. As a result, the compressor has to work harder to maintain the desired temperature inside the fridge, leading to increased energy consumption and potential wear and tear on the unit.
Benefits of Regular Compressor Cleaning:
- Improved Efficiency: Removing the layer of dirt and dust from the compressor coils allows for better heat transfer, resulting in improved efficiency. A clean compressor operates more effectively, reducing energy consumption and lowering utility bills.
- Extended Lifespan: Just like any other appliance, your refrigerator has a finite lifespan. However, by having the compressor cleaned regularly, you will extend its longevity. When the compressor doesn’t have to work as hard to cool the refrigerator, it experiences less strain, reducing the likelihood of premature breakdowns and expensive repairs.
- Prevention of Malfunctions: A dirty compressor is more prone to overheating, which can lead to malfunctions and system failures. By keeping the compressor clean, you reduce the risk of unexpected breakdowns, ensuring that your refrigerator continues to run smoothly.
How We Clean Refrigerator Compressors: Cleaning the compressor coils can be a relatively complicated task, because it often involves moving your refrigerator to get access to the compressor, and works best if you have the proper tools and training. Here’s how our No Worry Home technicians tackle this problem:
- Turn Off the Power: Before we begin cleaning, we make sure to unplug your refrigerator to avoid any risk of electric shock.
- Locate the Compressor: The compressor is typically located at the back or bottom of the refrigerator. It’s a large, usually black, cylindrical component with coils wrapped around it.
- Vacuum or Brush Away Debris: We use our specialty vacuum cleaners with a brush attachment to gently remove any dust, dirt, or debris from the compressor coils, being careful not to bend or damage the coils during cleaning.
- Wipe Down the Exterior: After cleaning the coils, we wipe down the exterior of the compressor and the surrounding area with a damp cloth to remove any remaining dirt or grime.
- Plug It Back In: Once we’ve finished cleaning, we will plug your refrigerator back in and allow it to resume normal operation.
As with so many other critical appliances and systems in your home, regular maintenance is key to ensuring that your refrigerator continues to perform optimally for years to come. By making sure to have your compressor coils cleaned every few months, you will improve efficiency, extend the lifespan of your appliance, and prevent costly repairs.
Our No Worry Home team of experts helps keep your home running smoothly by performing dozens of preventative maintenance and inspection tasks on each quarterly visit to your home. Sign up for membership today!