Taking Care Of Your Sub-Zero Appliances

Sub-zero is a luxury brand known worldwide for its appliances, from refrigerators, beverage centers, wine-coolers, ice makers to water filters, refrigerator accessories, and many more. When it comes to having a great attention to details, no one can compete against the Sub-Zero brand. With beautiful aesthetics and high-performance capabilities, Sub-Zero appliances can suit any lifestyle.

It is essential to know how to take good care of your Sub-Zero appliances to serve you better for long periods of time and how to keep them in perfect shape for years to come.

Here are some tips on how to make that happen:

• The most important aspect, when it comes to your Sub-Zero refrigeration products, is to ensure a regular maintenance for the condenser. Our recommendation is to schedule a condenser maintenance once every six months. By doing so, you will save the wear of the mechanism, and will also save electricity. If you want your Sub-Zero refrigerator to serve you for long periods of time, you should make this a regular practice!

You can also do this by yourself. All you have to do is to locate the condenser that is behind the flip-up grille. In order to access it, pull out the bottom edge of the grille and rotate upward, and then use a soft bristle brush and a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and lint from the condenser.

• Spills, debris, and old food can cause bad odor and mold. Cleaning the inside of your refrigerator periodically will also help to extend its life.
• Empty the ice tray once every week or two if you don’t use the ice maker often. This will prevent the ice from clumping and tasting stale. If you use it often, then just clean it once a month.
• To extend its life, change the water and air filter once per year. You don’t have to worry about remembering this; your unit will notify you when it’s time to do that!

But what to do if you see water on the floor, water dripping from the door, or water inside the Sub-Zero refrigerator compartment? This can be caused by a blocked defrost drain or a clogged/frozen water supply, but oftentimes this is caused by a clogged drain tube.

The first thing you have to do is to determine which model your Sub-Zero refrigerator is. If your model is a 200, 300, 500, or 600 Series, then this is the right article for you. If your refrigerator is a Classic (formerly Built-In), Designer (formerly Integrated), 700, 400, or 648PRO refrigerator, then these models need professional expertise, and all you have to do is to contact your Factory Certified Service.

Your Sub-Zero refrigerator, like any other refrigerator, has a drain gutter and a drain tube that are located at the bottom of the refrigerator, and a drain pan bellow that collects the condensation. Sometimes, food debris or frozen water might clog the drain tube, which will prevent your Sub-Zero refrigerator to properly drain the condense. As a result, water will begin to pool under the refrigerator’s drawers, and if enough water accumulates, it will drip when the door is opened.

1. To fix this, you will have to turn your Sub-Zero refrigerator off, either from the unit ON/OFF button or by turning the control dial down past 1 to OFF.
2. In the second step, you will have to remove the crisper glass shelf and drawers and wipe the drain gutter with a towel or sponge until it dries off. If you see little to no water in your refrigerator’s compartment, it means that your Sub-Zero is facing another issue, and you will have to call your Factory Certified Service. IMPORTANT: Disconnecting the drain tube from the drain gutter may void your warranty.
3. If you see ice in the refrigerator compartment, the drain tube is likely to be frozen, and all you have to do is to take a hairdryer and use it on the low setting to defrost the unit.
4. As  mentioned earlier, food debris is another factor that may lead to obstruction. In order to remove it, use a compressed air duster (or any other pressurized air source) to blow out the drain. IMPORTANT: Using anything sharp that can pierce the drain tube may void your warranty.
5. Now it’s time to uncover the drain pan that is located below the refrigerator. In order to do so, you will need to remove the two screws that are holding the kickplate and remove it. 201, 501, and 601 models have a lower grille; remove it by unscrewing the two bolts on the bottom corners, and then pull the bottom of the grille out and up to release.
6. The next step is to mix one quart of warm water with two caps of bleach and a few drops of dish detergent and use a turkey baster to pour the solution down the drain tube slowly. Let the solution rest for approximately 5 minutes, and then rinse the drain tube with warm water.
7. Empty the drain pan, and then clean it out.

After following this troubleshooting, water still continues to accumulate, contact your local Sub-Zero  Service Center.

Other preventive measures that may help you extend your Sub-Zero refrigerator’s life, are:

• Adjusting the thermostat – when the temperature inside your refrigerator is too cold, you may be causing excessive condensation as the warm air enters. On the other hand, when the temperature inside your freezer is too warm, you may be defrosting water.
• Verifying if your Sub-Zero refrigerator door is shut properly and the door gasket seal is tight – if your Sub-Zero refrigerator door opens too easily, the door gasket might be worn and the warm air will enter your unit even if the door is shut. In this case, you will need a Sub-Zero door gasket replacement.
• Cleaning your condenser regularly once every 6 months.

For any professional advice regarding your refrigerator repair, freezer repair, or any other appliance repair, give us a call at (949) 287-8006 or schedule an appointment online. D&V Appliance Repair is at your disposal from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM every Monday through Saturday, and on-call after our normal scheduled hours for emergency repair services, including weekends.