How often should you clean a fridge's coils and replace its water filter?

The short answer

There is no single figure, because manufacturers disagree. For the condenser coils (the dust-prone coils at the back or under the fridge), Bosch suggests cleaning every 6–12 months, LG says once or twice a year, and Whirlpool says that in a normal home 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. For a water filter on a dispenser model, Samsung recommends replacing it every six months. Models without a water dispenser have no filter to change.

Condenser coils

The coils release heat from the refrigerant. Bosch explains that when dust builds up on them the refrigerant is not cooled properly and the fridge's internal temperature can rise, so a clean can help restore its temperature. The three manufacturers above all describe the same basic job: switch the fridge off and unplug it, find the coils (often behind a grille at the bottom front or on the back), and vacuum the dust off with a narrow attachment.

Whirlpool and LG both tell you to check your own model's manual for where the coils are and how to reach them. Some models are built differently, so follow the manual rather than a general guide.

Water filter

Samsung's support page recommends replacing the water filter every six months, and says the filter indicator light on the fridge is a reminder to reset each time you fit a new one. This applies to models with a water dispenser or ice maker connected to the mains. Other brands set their own interval, so use the one in your manual.

Door seals

LG's maintenance advice is to wipe shelves, drawers and door seals regularly with a mild, food-safe cleaner so spills do not build up. None of the sources above gives a replacement interval for the seals, so this guide does not either.

Before you rely on this

These are the figures four manufacturers publish for their own products, not a legal requirement and not a universal rule. Your model's manual is the figure that applies to you. If your fridge is under guarantee, keeping a note of when you did each job is useful if you ever need to show the appliance was looked after.

Track it in Epimeleia

Add the fridge as an item and set two reminders: one for the coil clean (every 6 months is a reasonable default if you have pets or a dusty home, otherwise whatever your manual says) and one for the water filter if it has one (Samsung's figure is six months). Attach the manual to the item so the right interval is one tap away.