Is this normal?
You may notice that the outside of your fridge feels warm. This is normal and is caused by the heat dissipated from the refrigeration process.
If your fridge feels warmer than it should or hot to the touch, it may be due to insufficient spacing between your fridge and it’s surroundings. Ensure that there is a minimum distance of 50 mm of space free around the sides and at the back of the unit, and at least 25 mm space at the top.
Also check to see if there are any nearby heat sources that could contribute to the increase in surface temperature and remove it if possible. It is strongly recommended to install the refrigerator away from any heat source.
Why Are The Sides Of My Refrigerator Hot?
Refrigerators work by transferring the heat from inside its compartment to its exterior. This is why a little bit of warmth should be expected from your refrigerator. However, when the sides of your refrigerator get too hot to touch, it may indicate that there is something wrong with your fridge.
Not everything is lost though. For most cases, a few easy fixes are necessary to reduce the heat coming from your refrigerator. Why the sides of your refrigerator are hot:
- No ventilation space around your refrigerator
- Dirty condenser coils
- Malfunctioning condenser fan
How to reduce excessive heat coming from the sides of your refrigerator:
- Clean the condenser coils
- Clean the condenser fan
- Mind the ventilation space
What Causes a Refrigerator to Be Hot to the Touch?
Pet hair, dust and food debris can become lodged in the refrigerator’s condenser and raise the heating element’s temperature
It's not unusual when a normal functioning refrigerator feels warm to the touch from time to time. However, when you notice your refrigerator is abnormally warm and even hot to the touch, it can indicate a problem. And even if the entire refrigerator doesn't feel warm, hot spots on outside of refrigerator may also give you a heads-up to a potential problem. Knowing what to expect when operating a refrigerator can go a long way in helping you determine whether to consult a refrigerator repair specialist.
A refrigerator that continuously runs and cools contents inside can temporarily feel hotter than usual. For example, Whirlpool notes that if you are opening and closing your refrigerator more than normal when outside temperatures are hot and humid, this can cause it to feel hotter because it must run longer to keep the food cool.
Also, filling your fridge with fresh food or food that is close to room temperature causes it to run longer to cool the food and, therefore, can make it feel hotter to the touch because of its run time. Any one of these actions can cause a refrigerator's exterior cabinet to feel warm and even hot for up to 24 hours:
- Electric Heater Is Turned on
- Dirty Condenser Tubing
- Dirty Condenser Coils
Why Is My Refrigerator Hot to the Touch?
Have you touched your fridge before and immediately pulled back your hand because if it stayed on a little longer, it might burn you? Well, while it’s normal to have a certain level of warmth from the sides and bottom, a fridge that’s hot to the touch is not a sign of a healthy fridge, something is wrong. So, if you’ve been wondering, ‘why is my refrigerator hot to the touch?’
Here’s a couple of reasons to look into:
- Dirty Condenser Coils
- Refrigerator Heat Exhaust
- Electric Heater
- Poor Ventilation
- Electricity Issues
- Faulty Condenser Motor and Fan
WHY IS MY FRIDGE FREEZER GETTING HOT ON THE OUSTIDE?
At times, you may notice that the outside of your freezer feels warm or hot to the touch. Rest assured, this is often a normal part of the refrigeration process and shouldn’t be cause for alarm. However, an excessively or continuously hot freezer exterior may be a sign that maintenance or repairs are in order. Let’s explore the causes of a hot freezer exterior—and when you may need to take action.
Your freezer’s compressor moves refrigerant through the appliance, generating heat as it runs. This heat dissipates to the sides of the freezer, helping prevent moisture from forming on the outside of the appliance. As a result, the exterior walls may sometimes feel hot to the touch. As your refrigerator cycles on and off to maintain the appropriate temperature, the outside walls may feel warmer or cooler at different times. This is a normal and necessary function of your appliance.
IF THE FREEZER EXTERIOR IS EXCESSIVELY OR CONTINUOUSLY HOT, CHECK THE FOLLOWING:
- CONDENSER COILS
- CONDENSER FAN
- DOOR SEAL
What causes Refrigerator fires?
Fridge causes fire at Upper Serangoon Crescent condo
About 25 people were evacuated after a fire broke out in a unit at the Riversails condominium at Upper Serangoon Crescent on Tuesday evening (Apr 13).
A Stomper alerted Stomp to the incident and shared a video of smoke rising from the affected unit. In response to a Stomp query, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted to a fire at 4 Upper Serangoon Crescent at 6.40pm.
"The fire, which involved a fridge in the kitchen of a unit on the sixth floor, was extinguished by members of the public using a hosereel and a fire extinguisher prior to SCDF's arrival," an SCDF spokesman said.
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