Maintenance Tips
for your Refrigerator

Manual-defrost refrigerator/freezers

Manual defrost refrigerator/freezers require very little maintenance.

When frost has accumulated on the inside walls of the freezer to a thickness of ½ inch or so, remove the food from the refrigerator/freezer, turn off the thermostat or unplug the unit, and allow all of the frost to melt.

Once the frost has melted completely, turn the unit back on, wait for it to reach its operating temperature, and restock it with food.

Self-defrosting refrigerator/freezers

You don't need to manually defrost your self-defrosting refrigerator/freezer. Every 6 to 8 hours, it heats up its cooling coils slightly and melts any frost accumulation on the coils. The resulting water drains into a shallow pan at the bottom of the refrigerator/freezer.

There's no need to empty the pan. The water in it will evaporate. But it may begin to smell bad over time. You may be able to remove it for periodic cleaning by detaching the lower grill and sliding the pan out the front of the refrigerator/freezer.

Note… When mold grows in the drain pan, it is sometimes considered to be a health concern. If your drain pan is removable, and if you're sensitive to mold, consider cleaning the drain pan periodically.

Under your refrigerator/freezer is a set of coils and a cooling fan that you need to clean at least once a year. The coils may look like a grate or like a wide radiator. Unplug the refrigerator/freezer and use a Long Handled Bristle Brush and your vacuum cleaner to clean any lint, pet hair, and so on from the coils.

If the gasket or interior of the refrigerator/freezer needs cleaning, try a universal cleaner like Goo Gone Concentrated Spray Cleaner to clean the surfaces.

For odors in the refrigerator/freezer try baking soda or, for tougher odors, try Fridge Aid deodorizer, also available in the parts section of our website.