Most people clean the inside of their refrigerator regularly — the shelves, the drawers, the mysterious sticky spill from last month. But the coils on the back or bottom? Those get forgotten for years. That neglect costs you money and shortens the life of your appliance.
Dirty refrigerator coils are one of the most overlooked causes of high energy bills in the home. Cleaning them takes about 15 minutes and requires no special tools. Here’s exactly how to do it.
Why Cleaning Refrigerator Coils Matters
Refrigerator coils — called condenser coils — release the heat that your fridge removes from inside the cabinet. When they’re coated in dust, pet hair, and debris, they can’t release heat efficiently. The compressor has to work harder and run longer to keep your food cold.
The result: your electricity bill goes up, your food doesn’t stay as cold, and your refrigerator wears out faster. Studies have shown that dirty coils can increase energy consumption by up to 35%. Cleaning them once or twice a year is one of the highest-return maintenance tasks in your home.
Where Are the Coils on My Refrigerator?
Coil location depends on the age and model of your refrigerator:
Bottom-mounted coils (most modern fridges)
Most refrigerators made after the mid-1990s have coils underneath the unit, behind a removable kick plate (the plastic panel at the very bottom front). You’ll need to pop off this panel to access them.
Back-mounted coils (older fridges)
Older refrigerators — particularly models from the 1970s and 1980s — have a large black coil grid on the back of the unit. These are easier to see and access but require pulling the fridge away from the wall.
If you’re not sure which type you have, check your owner’s manual or pull the fridge slightly away from the wall to look behind it.
What You’ll Need
- Vacuum cleaner with a brush or crevice attachment
- Refrigerator coil cleaning brush (long, flexible — available for a few dollars online or at hardware stores)
- Flashlight
- Screwdriver (to remove the kick plate on some models)
How to Clean Refrigerator Coils — Step by Step
Step 1: Unplug the Refrigerator
Safety first. Pull the fridge slightly away from the wall and unplug it before you start. You won’t be working near any electrical components directly, but it’s good practice — and it means the compressor won’t kick on while you’re working.
Step 2: Locate and Access the Coils
For bottom-mounted coils: snap off or unscrew the kick plate at the base of the front of the fridge. Use your flashlight to see what you’re dealing with. Expect to find a significant accumulation of dust, pet hair, and debris if this is your first cleaning.
For back-mounted coils: pull the fridge fully away from the wall. The coils will be visible as a black grid on the back panel.
Step 3: Brush the Coils
Use the coil cleaning brush to loosen and remove debris from between the coil fins. Work gently — the coil fins are thin metal and can bend. Use a back-and-forth motion, working across the full width of the coils. For bottom-mounted coils, you’ll need to angle the brush up into the cavity.
You’ll be surprised how much comes out — especially in homes with pets.
Step 4: Vacuum Up the Debris
Use the vacuum’s brush attachment to remove the loosened dust and debris. A crevice tool works well for getting into tight spaces. Vacuum the floor area and inside the kick plate cavity too.
Step 5: Clean the Condenser Fan (if accessible)
Near the coils, most refrigerators have a small condenser fan that circulates air across the coils. Wipe the fan blades with a damp cloth and vacuum any debris around the fan housing. A clean fan improves efficiency almost as much as clean coils.
Step 6: Reassemble and Plug Back In
Replace the kick plate, push the fridge back into position, and plug it back in. Give it 15–20 minutes to return to temperature before checking that everything is working normally.
How Often Should You Clean Refrigerator Coils?
For most households: once a year is sufficient. If you have pets that shed heavily, clean every six months — pet hair is the biggest contributor to coil buildup and it accumulates fast.
A good habit: add it to your spring cleaning checklist so it gets done at minimum once annually.
Signs Your Coils Need Cleaning Now
- The compressor runs almost constantly (you can hear it humming non-stop)
- The fridge feels warm on the outside or sides
- Food isn’t staying as cold as it should
- Your electricity bill has crept up without explanation
- It’s been more than a year since the last cleaning
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need a special coil brush, or can I use a regular brush?
A coil brush is purpose-built to be long, thin, and flexible enough to reach between coil fins without bending them. A regular brush won’t reach into tight spaces effectively. Coil brushes cost $5–10 and last for years — worth having.
Can dirty coils damage my refrigerator permanently?
Over time, yes. When the compressor is overworked due to dirty coils, it runs hot and wears out faster. Compressor replacement is expensive — often more than the refrigerator is worth on older models. Regular coil cleaning is cheap insurance against a major repair bill.
My coils look fine but my fridge is still running warm. What else could it be?
Check the door seals — a worn or dirty gasket lets cold air escape and warm air in. Clean the gaskets with warm soapy water and check for tears or gaps. Also make sure the fridge isn’t packed so tightly that air can’t circulate inside.
Is it worth calling a technician to clean the coils?
Not necessary — this is a straightforward DIY task. Save the technician call for actual mechanical issues. Cleaning coils requires no technical knowledge and no disassembly beyond removing a kick plate.
Final Thoughts
Cleaning your refrigerator coils is one of those maintenance tasks that’s easy to skip because the fridge keeps working — just less efficiently, and for a shorter total lifespan. Fifteen minutes once a year keeps your energy bills lower and your appliance running properly for years longer. Add it to your calendar and you’ll never have to think about it again.
