Cleaning the Grille and Condenser Area of Your JennAir Built-In Refrigerator

A built-in refrigerator pushes the heat it removes from your food out through a grille at the bottom front. When that area is coated in dust, the unit has to run longer to stay cold, and that adds wear in a kitchen that already fights Houston summer temperatures.

How often to clean

Twice a year is a good rhythm for most homes. Households with shedding pets, a nearby garage door or a lot of cooking should look every three or four months. A good reminder is the start of summer and the start of the holidays.

A safe cleaning routine

1. Open the door and locate the toe grille at the bottom front.
2. Release the grille following the instructions in your use and care guide. Most simply lift or pull forward.
3. Use a soft brush and a vacuum with a brush attachment to lift dust from the opening and from any visible coil surfaces.
4. Wipe the grille itself with a damp cloth and let it dry before you put it back.
5. Check that nothing is stored against the grille or blocking airflow around the sides and top of the cabinet.

What to avoid

Do not use a wire brush, a pressure washer or compressed air that blows dust deeper into the cabinet. Do not bend any thin metal fins, and leave the back panels alone. If you can see oily grime or rust, or the grille opening is much deeper than you can reach, that job is better left to a technician.

Signs you waited too long

The grille area feels hot to the touch, the compressor seems to run nearly all day, the refrigerator is only cool rather than cold, or the electric bill creeps up without a reason. Any of these is worth a closer look.

During a maintenance visit we clean the coil area properly, check the fans and confirm temperatures. Everything is quoted in writing before we start and backed by a 30-day workmanship warranty.

Want the coil area checked by a professional before summer peaks? Visit our refrigerator repair page and book a three-hour window anywhere in the Greater Houston area.