Refrigerator Maintenance Checklist: 8 Tasks That Prevent Costly Repairs

Your refrigerator is the one appliance that never gets a day off. A little routine care keeps it cold, cuts energy use, and prevents the most common service calls: a refrigerator that runs constantly, a freezer full of frost, or water on the floor. Here is the checklist, with how often to do each task.

Quick reference

Task	How often
Check fridge and freezer temperatures	Monthly
Wipe spills and toss expired food	Weekly
Clean and test door gaskets	Every 3 months
Replace the water filter (if equipped)	Per filter rating, often about 6 months
Clean condenser coils	1 to 2 times a year (more with pets)
Check the defrost drain and drip pan	Twice a year
Check level and clearances	Once a year, or after moving it
Replace the ice maker supply line if cracked or brittle	When inspecting

1. Set (and verify) the right temperatures

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends keeping your refrigerator at or below 40°F (4°C) and your freezer at 0°F (-18°C). The numbers on a control dial are not temperatures, so put an inexpensive appliance thermometer in each compartment and check after 24 hours. Adjust a little at a time.

2. Clean the condenser coils

The condenser coils release the heat removed from inside the refrigerator. When they are coated in dust and pet hair, the compressor has to run longer to do the same job.

• Where they are: on most modern refrigerators, behind the front kick plate at the bottom; on some older models, on the back.
• How: unplug the refrigerator, remove the kick plate (it usually pulls straight off), and use a long coil brush to loosen dust, then vacuum it up. Be gentle around the fan and the thin coil tubing.

3. Clean and test the door gaskets

Wipe the rubber door seals with warm water and mild dish soap, getting into the folds where crumbs collect, and dry them. Then do the dollar-bill test: close the door on a bill in several places around the door. If it pulls out with no resistance, the gasket is not sealing there. A torn or flattened gasket should be replaced; it is a common, model-specific part.

4. Replace the water filter

If your refrigerator has a water or ice dispenser, it probably has a filter. Most are rated for about six months or a set number of gallons. Whirlpool, for example, rates its everydrop filters for 6 months or 200 gallons. After installing a new filter, run several gallons through the dispenser to flush out air and loose carbon, and reset the filter light if your model has one.

Use the exact filter model your refrigerator calls for. A filter that does not seal properly can leak or let water bypass the filter.

5. Keep the defrost drain clear

Frost-free refrigerators melt frost off the evaporator coil and send the water down a drain to a pan under the unit, where it evaporates. If that drain clogs, you may see water under the crisper drawers or ice on the back wall of the fresh-food section. Some drains can be cleared with warm water; others need the back panel removed, which is a good point to call a technician.

6. Check level and clearance

A refrigerator that is not level can keep its doors from sealing. Most manufacturers recommend a slight backward tilt so the doors swing closed on their own; check your manual for the exact setup. Also make sure you have left the clearances your manual calls for around the sides and back and that nothing blocks the front grille.

7. Don’t overpack (or underpack) it

Cold air needs to circulate. Blocking the vents between the freezer and fresh-food compartments with food is a common cause of a warm refrigerator with a cold freezer.

8. Inspect the water line

If your refrigerator has an ice maker, inspect the supply line behind it when you clean the coils. Replace plastic lines that look brittle, cracked, or kinked; braided lines are more durable.

Signs it is time for a repair, not more maintenance

• The refrigerator is warm even though the coils are clean and the doors seal
• The compressor clicks on and off repeatedly, or never stops
• Heavy frost builds up on the evaporator panel in the freezer
• You hear loud grinding or buzzing from the back or the freezer fan
• Water keeps pooling under the unit after you have checked the drain and supply line

Problems involving the sealed refrigerant system (compressor, evaporator, condenser, refrigerant) require a certified technician. For the full-home view, see our appliance maintenance calendar.