What Is a Fridge Condenser?

Appearance

• Refrigerator condensers can look significantly different from one model to the next. In many cases, the condenser is a large black grid of tubes and fins on the back of the appliance. It may also look like a series of coiled or folded tubes under the refrigerator or near the compressor. In some cases, you won't see the condenser at all because it's integrated into the refrigerator's case. Any time your condenser isn't large and mounted on the back of the unit, it will have a cooling fan located somewhere nearby.

Function

• The condenser motor pushes the coolant inside your fridge through the tubes of the condenser, where it sheds the heat it absorbed from the refrigerator's cooling compartment. The large surface area of condenser tubes makes them more efficient at shedding heat than a few, large-diameter pipes would be. Once the coolant leaves the condenser, it enters the compressor, which applies pressure to the coolant, causing its temperature to drop even more.

Troubleshooting

• If the condenser isn't working correctly, your fridge may not cool food correctly. The cooling compartment inside the refrigerator may never reach the proper temperature, causing the fridge to run constantly. In some cases, the condenser can fail almost completely, and the inside of the refrigerator can be almost as warm as the room outside. This situation is dangerous and can encourage food spoilage.

Maintenance

• Routine maintenance and correct positioning can keep your fridge's condenser coils working properly. Make sure you keep the fridge at least 2 inches away from the wall, especially if it has a rear-mounted condenser. The coils should never touch the wall or any other appliance. Clean your condenser at least twice a year, or more often if you have pets. Unplug the refrigerator and move it into an open area, then use a brush to remove dust and hair from the coils. Refrigerators with internal condensers usually suffer less from dust buildup and require less frequent cleaning but are harder to clean when they do require maintenance.