Can refrigerator coils touch the wall?

If your refrigerator has a large black, grid-like device (a.k.a. the ultra important condenser coils!) on the back, give it some space! Leave at least one inch of space between the grid and the wall. If there is no grid on the back, it’s okay to position the unit closer to the wall.

What are the coils attached to the back of a refrigerator?

Condenser coils are located on the back of the fridge or across the bottom. These coils cool and condense the refrigerant. When the coils are clogged with dirt and dust, they can’t efficiently release heat.

Are the coils on the back of the refrigerator supposed to be hot?

The condenser coils should be warm/hot as this is where the refrigerant condenses back from a gas to a liquid (releasing absorbed heat from the fridge / freezer cabinets) before going back into the compressor, to start the cycle again.

Why is it important to keep the coils on the back of your refrigerator clean?

Regular refrigerator maintenance involves vacuuming the condenser coils on the back or the bottom to clear out the dust and gunk about twice a year. These coils are critical to pushing heat out, so removing the dust and dirt will allow them to more efficiently keep the inside of the refrigerator cold.

What happens if fridge is near wall?

Why Do I Need to Leave Room Between the Refrigerator and the Wall? Without adequate ventilation, the refrigerator can overheat, and the unit may display immediate symptoms or slowly deteriorate over the course of time with issues that may include: Insufficient cooling. Unusual or loud operation.

Can you put a refrigerator against a wall?

You should allow for a ½ inch to 1 inch of extra space between the refrigerator and side walls. Allow the same amount of clearance at the top. The refrigerator distance from the back wall should be a bit more, about 1 to 2 inches.

Can dirty refrigerator coil symptoms?

Why You Should Clean Your Refrigerator Coils You may also notice the following symptoms when your condenser coils are dirty: Refrigerator not cooling. Freezer cold but refrigerator warm. Refrigerator runs constantly.

Should a fridge compressor be hot to touch?

the compressor should be warm or hot, and it should vibrate. If the refrigerator is warm, and the compressor is cold, you could have a problem with the components that are used to start the compressor.

How often should refrigerator coils be cleaned?

every six months
To keep your refrigerator humming, you should clean coils every six months to a year, more often if you have shedding pets. It’s a short and easy task, and definitely one you shouldn’t avoid.

How close should a refrigerator be to a wall?

two inches
The refrigerator should be at least two inches from the wall. Top — If you have back coils, you will need at least two inches of top clearance to dissipate heat, but for bottom coils, as little as one inch can be sufficient. Sides — Regardless of coil placement, the sides require the least amount of space.

Do refrigerators need side clearance?

The refrigerator will need minimum clearances of 2-inches from the back wall, 1-inch from the upper cabinet and 1/8-inch on either side of the fridge. Subtract the minimum clearance from initial space measurements to find the maximum dimensions of the refrigerator models you can consider.