- A lot of people are already aware of the fact that the refrigerator doesn’t just work out of the blue. It is made up of so many components that combine well to make sure that it, at least, fulfill its fundamental obligation, which is to keep your food items fresher for longer. Modern refrigerators do more than that, though. Some of these other important components that keep the refrigerator functioning as it should, must be well known and well taken care of. A lot of people make the mistake of not getting themselves familiar with these components not until they start developing issues and affecting the functionality of the refrigerator. Coils are an important part of the refrigerator, and they play an important role in keeping the unit functioning properly. This article is a detailed guide on the best refrigerator coil cleaner sprays you can purchase to regularly clean your refrigerator coils so they stay in a good shape.
- What we’re also going to be discussing in this article are the functions of refrigerator coils. Because they’re an integral part of the refrigerator, they seem to cause a lot of dysfunction when they break down. In this article, we’re also going to be discussing some of the problems your refrigerator is likely to develop when its coils are not functioning as they should.
The importance of the refrigerator in the house cannot be overemphasized. Since the Stone Age, refrigerators have served as an important part of every household across the United States. Today, it is one of the most commonly used appliances in every household. A lot of households in the United States believe that’s the most important appliance to have in the house, especially for people with large families. A refrigerator does more than just keeping food items fresh, but even that is its most valuable asset. With people now wanting to focus on other aspects of life, it is important that they do things that will help put, not just their time, but also their money to good use.
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ToggleIt’s just hard to imagine a household without a refrigerator. How do they preserve their food items? How do they get cold drinks? How do they save themselves the stress of having to go to the grocery store every day? The answers to these questions highlight the importance of the refrigerator in every household in the United States, and that’s why in the country, almost 100% of the households own a refrigerator. This claim is backed by the statistics provided by the United States government that over 99% of households have at least one refrigerator. It is now understandable why many people invest heavily in refrigerators because they know they will be served right, and at the end of the day, it’ll be worth their money.
It’s even better now that we have smart refrigerators. Things that humans couldn’t have thought were possible have now been made possible, thanks to technology. We now have refrigerators that do more than just their fundamental functionalities. The convenience and comfort that come with these modern refrigerators make them a great choice for every modern home across the country. It’s even safe to say that modern homes are now defined by the modern appliances you can find in them, and that’s how far technology has brought us. Today, we now have refrigerators with dual ice makers. This means that these refrigerators feature two ice makers each, with one in the refrigerator door, which is where you would normally find an ice maker, and the other in the freezer compartment.
We have an article on how to install an ice maker on your LG refrigerator. You can check it out here.
There are other parts of the refrigerator people need to start getting used to, and the coils are just one of those things. A lot of people never check out these components if they need to be cleaned until they break down and affect the functionality of their refrigerators. Leaving stains to build up in these other components without ever checking them out will only cause them to break down, and eventually, damage some things in the refrigerator. All these things can be avoided if you get yourself familiar with these components, and also knowing that they’re important parts of the refrigerator that need to be cleaned regularly, just like the surface of your refrigerator. You have no idea how much money you might be saving by performing these little tasks which sometimes will only require you to do once or twice a year.
Before we get into the best refrigerator coil cleaner sprays you can purchase in the market for your refrigerator coils, let’s take a quick look at the functions of the refrigerator coils in a refrigerator, and the problems they can cause if they are not properly cleaned.
Functions of refrigerator coils
We can’t stress enough how important refrigerator coils are to the functionality of every refrigerator. According to SF Gate, the functionality of a refrigerator lies in how much heat it can remove. As a matter of fact, what keeps your food fresh is not the coldness generated by the refrigerator but the heat energy it removes. SF Gates compares the process of your refrigerator keeping your food items chill to a “small-scale version of a heat pump.”
Two coils are responsible for helping circulate refrigerant of the heat extraction process. Both coils (condenser and evaporator coils) are credited for helping to remove the same substance from the refrigerator but in different ways. Both of these coils do the same thing but do it in different ways, making them dependent on each other, and also huge parts of every refrigerating unit. We’ll be discussing how both sets of coils operate, and how they help keep the refrigerator functioning as it should. Both coils play a huge role in keeping the refrigerator working like a refrigerator, and the sooner people know that the sooner they can start looking after them and seeing them as an important part of the refrigerator.
Condenser coil
The condenser coil plays a huge role in releasing heat from the refrigerator, keeping the refrigerator functioning just as it should. It absorbs the refrigerator vapor that is pressurized by the compressor and turns it into liquid. Usually located at the back of the unit, the job of the condenser coil is to help release the heat absorbed inside the refrigerator. The basic function of a condenser coil would be to help cool the unit by dispersing heat. If you keep dirty coils in your refrigerator, you should be prepared to pay the consequences which may be so serious that you might have to replace the refrigerator at the end of the day. They are most likely to get dirty because they are always placed where they will most likely not be remembered to be cleaned even if you have a regular cleaning routine. It takes conscious efforts to get to the back of the refrigerator where they’re located and want to clean them.
Your refrigerator can only produce cold air if the condenser coils are functioning properly. The process of dispersing heat energy from the compressor is a constant process that has to be repeated every time to keep the refrigerator running. Knowing how important the condenser coils are, one must clean them regularly to prevent them from breaking down and affecting the functionality of the refrigerator negatively. This is why you need refrigerator condenser coil cleaner sprays to save you the stress of cleaning for a long time.
Evaporator Coil
We mentioned earlier that both condenser and evaporator coils perform the same function but in different ways. Its job is to absorb heat as it evaporates and send it to the compressor. It is also an important part of the refrigerator that should be taken care of regularly because it does as much as the condenser coil. With these elements, you can’t take chances because, without them, the basic function of a refrigerator will never be fulfilled. A functioning refrigerator should be able to keep your food items fresh and cold, but without these coils, there’s nothing like that.
It’s why we keep stressing that these components combining well to make your refrigerator function properly must also be looked after. Even if you have a regular cleaning routine for your refrigerator, you should try to dedicate about half an hour to cleaning these coils too.
What will happen if you keep dirty condenser coils?
We’ve been talking about how important the condenser coils are in the refrigerator but what’s the worst thing that can happen if one keeps them dirty? Irregularities in the functionality of your refrigerator, and that means spending more money on replacing the coils, or in the worst-case scenario, replacing the refrigerator itself. Because condenser coils help convert high-pressure high-temperature gas into a liquid, they’ll need to be as clean as possible to carry out this conversion in the best possible way. The conversion process requires the condenser coils to disperse heat at the back of the refrigerator where the coils are usually located. Letting the coils get covered in the dirt will result in them not being able to disperse heat properly. The inability of the condenser coils to properly dissipate heat will cause the refrigerator not to work efficiently, and if you don’t pay proper attention to it, it may just stop working completely.
The sad truth is that you’ll feel so bad if your refrigerator gets damaged as a result of you not cleaning the coils when you should have. Thankfully, there are many ways to clean your refrigerator coils apart from investing in refrigerator coil cleaners or coil cleaner sprays. To learn more about the natural/domestic methods of cleaning condenser coils, read our detailed guide here.
Is there any regular maintenance people can perform to better maintain refrigerators?
We do believe that there is a regular maintenance process people can stick to in order to prolong the lifespan of whatever refrigerator they have in their homes, and so does Ron Shimek, the president of Mr. Appliance. He says, “You can solve many common refrigerator issues by giving your fridge a good clean. Dust can be a massive issue in the day-to-day function of your fridge, especially since many people don’t consider cleaning the outside of their unit to be a top priority. Giving your refrigerator a good once-over should be a chore you handle once every six months along with the below tasks.”
The tasks, according to him, include;
Cleaning the refrigerator gasket
A grimy gasket creates air leaks in the door seal, which can cause the fridge to run longer and wear out sooner. Over time, the gasket may become so grimy that it glues the door shut, causing the gasket to tear when you yank the door open. To clean the refrigerator door gasket, simply wipe it with a damp sponge. Avoid using detergents, which can damage the gasket.
Cleaning the refrigerator coils
This is the most important maintenance tip for avoiding fridge and freezer repairs. Over time, the coils collect dirt, hair, grease, grime, and other debris that reduces refrigeration efficiency and could even eventually be one factor in the appliance overheating and breaking down. To access the coils, remove the grill from the bottom or back of the fridge, depending on your appliance’s design. Then, vacuum the coils with the brush attachment to remove any buildup.
Cleaning the refrigerator shelves
Wash these removable items in warm soapy water. Let stubborn stains soak, and then scrub them clean. Rinse and dry the shelves and bins thoroughly before returning them to the fridge. The general recommendation is to do this once every 3 months.
Best Refrigerator Coil Cleaner Spray
Peter Keohane, an electrical expert at JKS Electrical Services, says “Traditionally, people would have used a brush and/or vacuum to clean the coils on their refrigerator, the benefit of using a coil cleaning spray is that they work quickly and liquefies dirt, oil, grease and all of the other gunk that gets lodged behind the fridge.
You should regularly clean your coils, preferably twice a year as to when the coils become clogged with grime they no longer efficiently release heat, leading to your fridge’s compressor working overtime for longer than it was originally designed to do, this, in turn, uses more energy and shortens the lifespan of your fridge.”
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This is one of Peter’s suggestions, and he thinks Nu-Calgon 4171-75 Evaporator Coil Cleaner is “A good spray cleaner would be the Nu-Calgon Evap Foam. It’s a heavy-duty, foaming detergent and is ideal for use on most coils, but it is best suited to cooling or evaporating coils like the ones found on your fridge. This cleaner is also fortified with corrosion inhibitors so you can be safe in the knowledge it won’t damage your unit.”
Frost King ACF19 Foam Coil Cleaner
According to Andre Kazmierski, CEO, Improovy, despite being fairly priced, Frost King ACF19 Foam Coil Cleaner “is profession-grade and works phenomenally well. You are truly getting the best deal for your money with this. It is able to quickly clean small spaces by the foam expanding as soon as it hits the surface. It does have a strong smell, but the product has a light lemon fragrance so it smells fresh.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How often should the water filter in the refrigerator be replaced?
“Replacement of the water filter should be done every six months, especially if your family drinks a lot of water,” according to the president of Mr. Appliance, Ron Shimek.
2. Can I spray water on my refrigerator coils?
It is not advisable because water can get to the electrical parts of the coils and can destroy them. This is why we’ve recommended the best refrigerator coil cleaner sprays to help you get rid of dirt around the evaporator and condenser coils so they can keep functioning properly.
3. How do you clean dirty condenser coils?
There are many ways to clean dirty condenser coils. You can opt for more natural solutions like vinegar and baking soda. You can also opt for commercial refrigerator coil cleaner sprays which do not cost so much to purchase. Whatever product you choose to clean your refrigerator condenser coils with, you’re sure to get the best results.
Final thoughts
Apart from the natural ways of cleaning refrigerator coils, there are some refrigerator coil cleaner sprays that get the job done faster and more efficiently. Since the refrigerator coils play an important role in keeping the overall functionality of the refrigerator at its best, it is only normal that one looks after them properly to prevent them from getting damaged. The two products we’ve discussed in this article, with the help of refrigerator experts, are amazing and highly recommended for domestic use. The whole purpose of regularly cleaning these refrigerator coils is that they stay in good shape and to keep your refrigerator working as it should without complications.
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