Refrigerator - Vacation / Storage Recommendations

It is important to prepare your refrigerator for times when it will not be in use. This could be for any period of time, from a short vacation to long term storage. Preparing the appliance for non-use will have it in tip top shape and ready to go when it is put back in use. Our recommendations for vacation or storage preparation are provided below.

Short Term

If you are going to be away for a month or less, we recommend the following:

• Leave the refrigerator running. Leave the temperature controls at the normal settings. If all the food is removed and you want to save energy, the temperature control may be set to a warmer temperature setting during the absence.
• Remove any perishable foods.
• Turn the icemaker off.
• Turn off the water supply to the refrigerator. If you shut off the water supply to the refrigerator, you must turn off the icemaker.
• If the refrigerator and freezer compartments are less than 1/2 full, plastic gallon jugs of water may be placed in the refrigerator compartment to assist in maintaining the proper temperature and run time. A few bags of ice or plastic gallon jugs of water (not too full, as the water expands when it freezes) may be placed in the freezer. Cold items help maintain a cold internal temperature when the compressor is not running, thus reducing the amount of time the compressor has to operate.
• If the room temperature is expected to go below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the refrigerator will cool less efficiently. In this case, we suggest that you turn the temperature control off or unplug the unit and follow the recommendations for extended vacations in the Owner's Manual for the appliance.
• For models with a water dispenser, we suggest that you run three to four glasses of water from the dispenser to flush out any bad taste from stale water when you return from your absence.

Long Term

If you are going to be away for more than a month (or will be placing the appliance in temperature-controlled storage), we recommend the following:

• Turn the temperature control to Off. See the Owner's Manual for temperature control features for your model.
• Turn the icemaker off.
• Turn off the water supply to the refrigerator. If you shut off the water supply to the refrigerator, you must turn off the icemaker.
• Remove all food and turn off the circuit breaker or fuse that supplies power to the refrigerator or unplug the cord from the wall receptacle.
• Clean the interior with a baking soda solution (1 tablespoon of baking soda per 1 quart of water).
• Wipe the interior dry.
• Place an open box of baking soda in the refrigerator or put 2 cups of dry (unused) coffee grounds in a small paper bag and place it in the refrigerator.
• It is important to leave the doors open. These last two steps are to prevent the formation of residual food odors, mold and mildew.

Unheated Storage Location

If your refrigerator is going to be stored in an unheated location, please check out our Refrigerator - Winterizing / Storage in Unheated Location article.

Additional Appliance Support

Whether you are considering the repair of an appliance or the purchase of a new appliance, we are available to assist with every appliance decision. Please reach out to us whenever you need us.