June Home Maintenance To Do: Clean Refrigerator Condenser Coils

Ah, June. School’s out, the days are long, and the weather’s getting toasty. Your vacation is calling your name. But before you slather yourself with SPF 75 and reach for a margarita, do yourself a favor and tackle a few maintenance projects. A little pain now means a big gain later—you’ll ensure your home runs smoothly through the dog days of summer.

It should go without saying that your fridge and freezer are most vulnerable in the summer heat. To keep them running smoothly, clean condenser coils—which help the unit stay cool by releasing heat from the compressor—and be sure to remove dirt, pet hair, and any nasty food that’s lodged there. You can make the job super simple by using a vacuum and coil brush.

You should also tackle the door while you’re at it, because a leaky door gasket can mean all that cool fridge air is also attempting to cool your whole kitchen.  To do this, you’ll want to clean the gasket with a mild cleaner, and then check the seal integrity with a solution of soapy water. Or, you could also use the technique experts call “the dollar bill approach.”  Close a dollar bill in the door so it’s half in your fridge. If your gasket isn’t tight enough, it won’t hold the bill firmly in place—the dollar bill will fall out or slide down.

If DIY maintenance isn’t your thing, most appliance repairmen charge by the hour. Depending on the issue, the experts at Home Advisor say a refrigerator repair could cost anywhere from $100 and $200 an hour.

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