Does Unplugging a Refrigerator Damage it


Most appliances can be disconnected without any effect, but this may not be the case with refrigerators. Refrigerators keep food fresh and fresh 24/7.

But what if you want to go on vacation and don’t want to plug in your device? If you are less than 4 weeks old, you don’t need to unpack the refrigerator.

However, if you plan to stay longer than a month, you will need to unpack the refrigerator.

But is it really bad to turn off the refrigerator for a long time?

You may have heard that plugging in a full refrigerator helps to improve its operation. So the question is whether unpacking the refrigerator will damage it?

In this article, I will tell you about what happens when your refrigerator is unplugged, as well as precautions to take when unpacking it.

What happens if you unpack the refrigerator?

When you unplug the refrigerator and plug it back in, you realize that the compressor may not start. This is usually due to an increase in pressure.

Cooling Compressor This is necessary because it is at the center of the refrigeration cycle. Immediately inserting and reconnecting the refrigerator may damage the compressor.

Therefore, it is better to wait at least 15 minutes before rebooting. However, keeping the refrigerator unplugged for a long time will not hurt.

In addition, when you remove the refrigerator, the temperature begins to rise and the humidity is maintained. This environment is conducive to the growth of bacteria and microorganisms.

This is how bacteria start to multiply. Worse, especially when the refrigerator door is closed. This in turn leads to a very bad smell in the refrigerator.

Precautions to be taken before turning off and unplugging the refrigerator

If you stay on vacation for more than 4 weeks, you may be concerned about your refrigerator. When leaving the house, it is always easy to disassemble other appliances such as the stove and dishwasher.

But when it comes to refrigerators, it’s different. Here are 5 precautions to take when unpacking your refrigerator;

1. Eliminate all food

If you want to take out the refrigerator, you need to remove all the food first. Then turn off the circuit breaker. Food in an unattached refrigerator is perishable, especially perishable food.

2. Turn off the ice maker and temperature controller.

If your refrigerator has an ice maker, turn it off as well. Make sure you keep it clean to make sure it stays clean.

Also turn off temperature control and water supply. If you don’t know how to do this, check the manual of the refrigerator to make sure you are doing it right.

3. Clean it well

Some food debris may have accumulated in different places in the refrigerator and attracted unwanted insects, such as cockroaches, to the refrigerator. Therefore, you should thoroughly clean the entire refrigerator to avoid unpleasant odors when removing the plug from the socket. The frozen product must also be cleaned. You can consider using baking soda when cleaning to keep the refrigerator cool..

4. Let dry

Bacteria multiply more often in moist, warm places. To avoid this, dry the refrigerator with a clean cloth after cleaning.

5. Leave the door open

When the refrigerator is clean and dry, leave the door open. This helps to facilitate air circulation in the refrigerator. This helps to prevent odors and the growth of mold.

Decide if it will get damaged if you unpack your refrigerator

It is always desirable that the refrigerator is plugged in. If you need to disconnect the power cord, please follow the precautions below to make sure no unpleasant surprises happen.