Refrigerator - Winterizing / Storage in Unheated Location

Sometimes a Refrigerator may need to be winterized because it is in an unheated location in the Winter, such as a Summer home, vacation home, or storage facility. We are glad to provide guidance on how to prepare the Refrigerator for unheated storage.

 

Preparing a Refrigerator for Storage in an Unheated Location

If your Refrigerator will be located in an unheated location (dispenser and non-dispenser models), we suggest that you do the following:

 

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Turn the temperature control to Off. See the Owner's Manual for temperature control features for your model.

  • 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.

  • Leave the doors open to help prevent the formation of mold and mildew inside the appliance.

Additional instructions for dispenser models:

 

  • If you have a Refrigerator model that has a water dispenser and are going to be leaving it in an unheated location, it would be best to drain the water reservoir that holds water for the dispenser. If storing the fridge in an unheated space that goes below freezing, draining the water reservoir is a must. If not drained, the water will freeze and could cause the tank or tubing to rupture and cause a leak when it warms up.

  • The Refrigerator's water valve may also need to be removed. If the temperature can reach below freezing, please have a qualified servicer drain the water supply system. For service, please schedule a repair appointment with Bodewell.

Additional Appliance Support

We are here to help with each and every appliance need. From a basic question to a big decision, please feel free to reach out to us at any time!