How Long Does It Take for a Refrigerator to Get Cold After Cleaning Coils

1. How Long Does It Take for a Refrigerator to Get Cold After Cleaning Coils? Having a refrigerator that keeps your food properly cold is very important. If your refrigerator is not cooling well, it can lead to spoiled food and wasted money. One common reason refrigerators have trouble cooling is that the coils are dirty. Cleaning the coils can often get your refrigerator working well again. Moreover, for that, you can also look for professional refrigerator repair in Charlotte NCservices. What are refrigerator coils? Behind and underneath every refrigerator are coils. Refrigerator coils allow the refrigerant chemical to cool properly. There are two main types of coils: ●Condenser Coils: These coils release heat and they are usually located near the back bottom or very bottom of the refrigerator. ●Evaporator Coils: The coils absorb heat to cool the fridge. You know what? They are located inside the section walls of the refrigerator. Both work together to cool the refrigerator. Why clean the coils? Over time, dust, dirt, pet hair, and lint build up on the condenser coils. This buildup makes it harder for the coils to release heat. Therefore, the refrigerator has to work much harder to stay cold. Cleaning the coils allows the refrigerator to work more efficiently. Dirty coils can cause several issues: ●Reduced cooling ability ●Food spoiling more quickly ●The fridge not being cold enough ●Higher electricity bills ●Condenser fan motor overheating ●Compressor failure So, regular coil cleaning helps the refrigerator work correctly and last longer.

2. Coils should be cleaned every 6 months to 2 years depending on usage and condition. How to Clean Refrigerator Coils? Cleaning refrigerator coils is an easy DIY project. Follow these steps: Supplies Needed: ●Vacuum with hose and brush attachments ●Coil cleaning brush or coil cleaning wand ●Flashlight (optional) Steps: 1. Unplug the refrigerator first for safety. 2. Locate condenser coils at the back bottom or underneath. Afterward, remove the outer lower rear panel if needed to access the coils. 3. Use a flashlight to inspect coils. Look for thick dust buildup. 4. Have a vacuum hose and attachment to remove loose dirt and debris from coils. Further, use a coil brush to gently sweep any remaining dirt off the coils. 5. Clean all accessible condenser coil surfaces until visibly clean. However, be gentle not to bend fragile coils. 6. Replace any panels that were removed. 7. Plug the refrigerator back in. The whole cleaning process takes about 15-30 minutes for most refrigerators. How Long Until The Fridge Gets Cold Again? After finishing cleaning the dirty coils, how long does it take for the refrigerator to get fully cold again? Here is a timeline: ●Immediately After Cleaning: The fridge will run continually to try to lower the temperature back down. It will feel slightly cooler but won’t be fully cold yet. ●After 2 Hours: The fridge temperature will be noticeably colder than before cleaning, but still slightly warmer than normal. Milk or juices may still feel cool rather than cold. ●After 4 Hours: Refrigerator temperature should be almost down to normal steady cold temperature again. However, milk or juices will feel colder. ●After 6 Hours: The fridge temp should level off back down to the ideal steady temperature after running this long. Now perishable foods will be properly chilled at safe 40° F or below. The refrigerator compressor and fans will turn on and off at regular intervals again rather than running constantly.

3. So in most cases, expect it to take 4 to 6 hours after cleaning coils for the refrigerator to get back down to the regular set cold temperature. If it takes longer than 8 hours to fully re-cool down, then there may be an additional problem, like low refrigerant. Call an appliance repair company if the fridge is still warmer than normal the next day after cleaning the coils. Tips for Proper Cooling After Cleaning Coils ●Keep doors closed as much of the time as possible in the first hours after cleaning coils. Don’t open doors unnecessarily until it cools down. ●Avoid adding a lot of new warm food items for the first 8 hours. Afterward, wait until coils are fully cold again before loading in unfrozen meats or other perishables. ●Make sure the refrigerator is positioned away from heat sources like ovens, dishwashers, or direct sunlight which can rewarm the fridge. ●Check that refrigerator door seals are intact. Faulty seals can let out the newly cooling air. ●Clean fridge and freezer interior. Removing dirt, spills, and clutter allows air to circulate better for even cooling. ●Replace air filters if your refrigerator has them. Clean filters aid proper airflow. ●Have the freezer set at 0° F and the fridge section set at 37° to 40° F for efficient cooling after cleaning coils. When to Call for Service? If the refrigerator fails to get back down to full cold temperature even a day after deep cleaning the condenser coils, then professional repair is needed. An appliance repair technician can check for issues like: ●Refrigerant leaks ●Compressor failure ●Control board issues ●Condenser fan problems Getting prompt repairs for any problems beyond dirty coils can restore full cooling capacity. Bottom Line Dirty refrigerator coils severely reduce cooling capacity but cleaning them restores proper operation. To maintain safe food storage, it's best to clean condenser coils at least every 2 years or whenever there is thick dust buildup visible. When your freezer stops working properly, count on the experienced technicians at CLT Appliance Repair to get it fixed right. We have been providing outstanding freezer repairs in Charlotte for over a decade.

4. FAQs Why is it important to clean the coils at the back of the refrigerator? The coils allow the refrigerator coolant to work properly. Over time, dust builds up on the coils which makes it harder for the refrigerator to stay cold inside. Cleaning the dirty coils helps the refrigerator work better so your food stays cold. How long does it take to clean the coils? It usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes to thoroughly vacuum and brush all the dirt and debris off the refrigerator coils.