Two small maintenance habits — checking the door seals and clearing dust off the condenser coils — head off a large share of the refrigeration service calls we get, and neither takes more than a few minutes.
Give the Seals a Monthly Wipe
Food residue and general grime on a door or drawer gasket accelerate how quickly the rubber hardens and cracks. A warm, soapy cloth run along the seal once a month keeps it flexible far longer than leaving it alone.
A Quick Way to Test the Seal
Shut the door on a dollar bill or a strip of paper so it’s gripped by the gasket, then pull. Real resistance means a good seal; if it slides free with little effort, that section isn’t sealing and the compressor is compensating for the leak.
Coils Need Attention Too — Just Less Often
Dust and pet hair coat the condenser coils over months and act like a blanket, forcing the compressor to work harder to shed heat. Vacuuming or brushing them out roughly twice a year (check your installation guide for their location) keeps the system running efficiently.
Climate Changes the Math
Humid environments are noticeably harder on rubber gaskets than dry ones, so if you’re somewhere with sticky summers, check seals a bit more often than the monthly baseline. Book a refrigerator inspection if a seal looks cracked or the unit runs warm despite clean coils.