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UpkeepRefrigerator Repair

How do I clean refrigerator condenser coils?

Unplug the refrigerator, pull the base grille or move it off the wall, brush the dust and pet hair off the coils and vacuum it up, then plug it back in. Check your manual first: most models made since 2001 have coils that need no cleaning. With pets or dust, check every 3 to 6 months.

Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.

By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished

Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.

Step by step

Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.

  1. Step 1: Check your manual first

    Look in the owner's manual for where the coils are and whether they need cleaning at all; some models do not, and others can be cleaned only by a certified technician.[2]

  2. Step 2: Gather tools

    Get a vacuum with a soft brush or crevice attachment and a long, narrow refrigerator coil brush.[2]

  3. Step 3: Unplug the refrigerator

    Unplug it or switch off its circuit breaker, and leave the water line for any ice maker or dispenser alone.[2]

  4. Step 4: Open up the coils

    For coils at the bottom, pull off the base grille; for coils on the back, pull the refrigerator out from the wall.[1]

  5. Step 5: Brush the coils

    Brush loose dirt, dust and pet hair off the coils, taking care not to bend the fins or tubing.[2]

  6. Step 6: Vacuum it up

    Vacuum the grille, the open area behind it and the coil surface, then sweep or vacuum the floor.[2]

  7. Step 7: Put it back

    Snap the grille back on, push the refrigerator back without running over its cord, and plug it in.[1]

Unplug, brush, vacuum

Cleaning the condenser coils means unplugging the refrigerator, loosening the dust and pet hair on the coils with a long coil brush, and vacuuming it away. First, find out whether your model needs it at all.

Does your refrigerator need this?

Not every refrigerator has coils you can reach, or coils that need cleaning. Whirlpool says some models do not require the condenser coils to be cleaned; others can only be cleaned by a certified technician.[2] GE says most refrigerator models manufactured since 2001 have a NeverClean condenser that does not require cleaning.[1] Check the owner's manual, and if it says the coils are sealed away, skip this job.

If you do have reachable coils, they are in one of three places: the condenser coils are located either under the refrigerator behind the base grille, on the back of the refrigerator or on the top of the refrigerator.[1]

A data logger cable running through the door gasket of a refrigerator, leaving a gap
Photo: Lizlemonhead, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How often

In a normal home operating environment, routine condenser cleaning is not typically needed.[2] Households with pets, heavy kitchen traffic, or dust from construction should inspect and clean every 3 to 6 months.[2] GE says cleaning is needed more often if you have pets that shed or if the area where the refrigerator is located is particularly dusty, such as a garage.[1] ENERGY STAR advises: "Leave a few inches between the wall and the refrigerator or cooler, and keep the condenser coils clean if you have an older model."[3]

What you need

A vacuum with a soft brush or crevice attachment, and a refrigerator coil brush, a long narrow brush made for the gap behind a grille. GE's brush, part PM14X51, is 27 1/2 inches long, 12 inches of it bristles.[1] Gloves, a long-sleeved shirt and safety glasses are worth wearing.

Step by step

  1. Power off. Unplug the refrigerator or switch off the circuit breaker before cleaning. Do not disturb water lines for ice or water dispensers. Wear safety glasses, avoid bending fins or tubing.[2]
  2. Get access. For bottom coils, open both doors and pull the base grille off; for back coils, ease the refrigerator away from the wall. For top coils, lift the front grille panel at the top of the refrigerator.[1]
  3. Brush. Loosen the dust, dirt and pet hair with the coil brush, working in the direction of the fins.
  4. Vacuum. Use the soft brush to clean the grille, the open area behind it and the front surface of the coils.[2] Sweep or vacuum the floor too.
  5. Reassemble. Snap the grille back into place, push the refrigerator back without running over its cord or any tubing, and plug it in.

On top-mounted coils the condenser fins have sharp edges, so wear a long-sleeved shirt and gloves.[1]

What to expect afterward

Clean coils shed heat more easily, so the compressor should run less and the cabinet hold temperature better. The change is gradual: check the temperature after a day. GE's advice is that if your refrigerator runs but is not cold enough, you may need to clean the condenser coils,[1] but if cleaning changes nothing, read why the refrigerator is warm when the freezer is cold. A cracked door seal is another common reason; see how to replace a refrigerator door gasket.

Stop and call a pro if

  • You cannot reach the coils without removing panels, or the manual says a technician must do it.[2]
  • Wiring or the compressor compartment is exposed. Do not go further; switch the power off and call.
  • A fan blade is damaged or a tube is bent or oily. Oil can mean a refrigerant leak, and EPA rules require that technicians who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of equipment that could release ozone depleting refrigerants into the atmosphere must be certified.[4]
  • The refrigerator is still warm after cleaning. The fault is likely elsewhere; get a technician's diagnosis, and weigh it using what refrigerator repair costs in Virginia and whether to repair or replace.

Getting help in Virginia

See more appliance repair answers or refrigerator repair businesses on Loclis.

When you are ready, describe the refrigerator problem once and local repair pros will quote it.

Common questions

How often should I clean refrigerator coils?
In a normal home, Whirlpool says routine cleaning is not typically needed, but households with pets, heavy kitchen traffic or construction dust should inspect and clean every 3 to 6 months. GE adds that a dusty location such as a garage calls for more frequent cleaning.
Do all refrigerators have coils I can clean?
No. GE says most models made since 2001 have a NeverClean condenser that does not require cleaning, and Whirlpool says some models do not need coil cleaning while others can be cleaned only by a certified technician. Check the manual for your model.
Where are the condenser coils?
Under the refrigerator behind the base grille, on the back, or on the top, according to GE. Your manual shows which applies.
Can dirty coils make the refrigerator warm?
They can. GE says that if the refrigerator runs but is not cold enough, you may need to clean the condenser coils. If cleaning does not help, see [why the refrigerator is warm when the freezer is cold](/answers/why-is-refrigerator-not-cooling-when-freezer-is-cold).
Should I use a vacuum or a brush?
Both. A coil brush loosens the dirt and a vacuum with a soft brush attachment takes it away. Go gently so you do not bend the fins.

Sources

  1. [1] Refrigerator - Cleaning Condenser Coils, GE Appliances. Checked October 28, 2026.
  2. [2] How and When to Safely Clean the Condenser Coils, Whirlpool Product Help. Checked October 28, 2026.
  3. [3] Refrigerators, ENERGY STAR, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked October 28, 2026.
  4. [4] Section 608 Technician Certification, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked October 28, 2026.

Want a pro to handle it?

Describe the job once. Licensed local businesses send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.