Coil and Seal Care for a Bertazzoni Refrigerator

Refrigeration is one of the few kitchen systems that runs every hour of every day, which means small inefficiencies compound quietly over months rather than announcing themselves right away.

Two habits address most of that drift before it becomes a service call: keeping the door seals clean and making sure air can move where the design intends it to.

Door seals do more than they get credit for

A gasket with crumbs, sticky residue, or a soft gap along one edge lets warm room air leak in continuously, which forces the compressor to run more than it should to hold temperature.

Wipe gaskets monthly with a mild cleaner and a soft cloth, and check for a gap by closing the door on a piece of paper — if it slides out too easily along any section, that area deserves a closer look.

• Wipe gaskets monthly with mild soap and water
• Check for gaps with the paper test
• Avoid abrasive cloths or sharp tools near the seal

Airflow around and behind the cabinet

Built-in and freestanding refrigerators both rely on clearance for air to move around the condenser area; furniture, decorative panels, or stored items pushed too close can trap heat that the unit then struggles to shed.

Dust that collects on an accessible grille or vent restricts that airflow further over time, and a light seasonal wipe with a soft brush is usually enough to keep it clear.

Neither of these habits takes more than a few minutes, but together they keep a refrigerator working the way it was designed to, rather than compensating for a leak or a blocked vent. Anything beyond the accessible exterior — coils, refrigerant lines, compressor — belongs to a qualified technician.