How To Keep Your Refrigerator Evaporator Clean

The evaporator is one of the most important elements of any modern refrigerator. It is partly responsible for the circulation of refrigerant throughout the unit. Over time, if your evaporator is not serviced, your refrigerator will use more energy and struggle to maintain a constant, cool temperature. This is why normal service of your refrigerator is so vital. This article will focus on how to clean your evaporator coils. Cleaning the evaporator is generally easier than cleaning the condenser, so this is a good place to start.

Prepping and Locating the Evaporator

First, you need to unplug your refrigerator. Of course, this means you will need to plan ahead when it comes to preserving the food in your refrigerator. Next, you need to find the actual evaporator. It is usually on the backside of the unit and can only be accessed from the inner compartment. Often, the evaporator will actually be in the back of the freezer section of your refrigerator. You just need to remove a few screws to take off the panel and have full access to the coils. The coils are easy to identify because they are usually copper and they look like an oven rack.

Cleaning the Evaporator Coils

Is your coils are packed with ice, you might need to let them defrost a bit before you can effectively clean them. As you wipe up the melting ice, you will also be able to wipe up any dust or dirt in between the coils. The most useful tool for this job is a wet dry vac that allows you to suck up any moisture, ice and dust. There will also be a fan inside the access panel. Vacuum this out as well to make sure it is not blowing dust into the coils. If your fan is dirty, there is a good chance their your coils will be too.

Of course, it is important to do this job as quickly as possible. If you work quickly, you can probably do it within an hour. And, if your access panel is inside the freezer, everything in the fridge will be fine, as long as you keep the doors closed. You can put your freezer food into the refrigerator section (or a cooler with ice) to reduce melting. This is a great maintenance project that you should repeat at least once a year to ensure that your refrigerator unit remains energy efficient and cold over the years.

For assistance, talk to a professional like ASAP Appliance Repair, Inc.