The Issaquah owner's handbook
Undercounter Units: Kickplate Dust and Airflow Care
Regimen checked byDean HalvorsenTradeRefrigeration technician — sealed systems and airflowHoldsEPA 608 certifiedDated
- 1Grille, removed
- 2Machine bay
- 3Tools and parts
| Task | Interval | Threshold | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kickplate louvres | Every floor clean | Dust or crumbs lodged in the slots | Vacuum the face of the kickplate |
| Condenser, older Undercounter guide | Every 3–6 months | Dust and lint across the fins | Power off at the control, kickplate off, brush |
| Condenser, Designer undercounter guide | Every 6–12 months | A grey film on the fins | Brush and vacuum in the direction of the fins |
| Rugs, stools and toe-kick trim | Every 3 months | Anything touching the louvres | Move it back; reopen vents that trim covers |
| Door or drawers closing | Once a month | A door or drawer that will not seat | Clear the obstruction; a torn gasket is a repair |
| Call when | the kickplate is clear and the coil clean, yet frost, condensation or warm temperatures keep coming back. Sub-Zero Repair Issaquah, (425) 272-6613 | ||
Start with the row that names your model’s guide; that document, not a general rule, decides whether the coil wants the three-month end or the twelve-month end. The other rows apply to every undercounter unit.
Why undercounter units need the shorter look
An undercounter refrigerator or beverage unit takes in its air at ankle height, through the louvred kickplate, which is also where floor dust, pet hair and crumbs from the bar stools collect. The older Undercounter guide sets its condenser interval at three to six months, shorter than the full-size lines ask for. A unit tucked into a lower-level bar can go a whole season without anyone kneeling down to look at it.
Taking the kickplate off and cleaning behind it
- Turn the unit off at its control panel.
- Remove the kickplate. On Designer undercounter units it comes away once its two mounting screws are out; keep the screws together.
- Put gloves on before you reach in. The condenser fins are sharp.
- Work a soft bristle brush and the vacuum over the coil, moving in the direction of the fins so that none of them fold over.
- Refit the kickplate and switch the unit back on at the control panel.
Skip sprays and degreasers; the manufacturer does not recommend them for its condensers.
What is around it: rugs, toe-kick trim, bar stools
Most blockages are not in the coil at all. A bar mat slid up against the base, a stool footrest that knocks the kickplate every evening, or a length of toe-kick trim run across the whole counter during a remodel can each cover the louvres. Keep a hand’s width of floor in front of the kickplate free of anything soft, and if trim now hides the vents, the installer can cut it back.
When clean is not enough
The undercounter guide’s troubleshooting for frost, condensation or high temperatures starts with a clean condenser and a door that closes properly, and it lists a torn door gasket as the next thing to rule out. Once the coil is clean and the door seats, a symptom that returns is a repair. Call Sub-Zero Repair Issaquah at (425) 272-6613; the $89 visit is deducted from the repair once you say yes to it.
Owners also ask
How often should an undercounter Sub-Zero condenser be cleaned?
That depends on your model's guide: the older Undercounter guide asks for every three to six months, and the Designer undercounter guide allows six to twelve. A home with dogs or cats belongs at the short end. If a clean coil does not settle a warm unit, call Sub-Zero Repair Issaquah on (425) 272-6613.
Do I need to pull the unit out to clean the condenser?
No. On an undercounter Sub-Zero the condenser sits behind the kickplate at the front, so the cleaning is done from the floor with the unit left in place. Sliding it out of its opening disturbs the cabinetry and whatever is connected behind it, and that part is a technician's job.
Can I use a coil cleaner spray on it?
Sub-Zero says chemical condenser cleaners and degreasers are not necessary and does not recommend them. A soft bristle brush and a vacuum, drawn in the direction of the fins, lift the dust and lint without bending the aluminium. Wear gloves throughout, because the fin edges are sharp enough to cut.