Leave refrigerator plugged or unplugged in vacation condo?
 

There's disagreement in our family on whether to leave the refrigerator plugged or unplugged when our Florida condo is unused for a couple months or more. What are your thoughts?

Unplug it. Just make sure there's no food in it!

If the refrigerator didn't use energy it would stay cold unplugged. We know that's not the case.

I'd prolly leave it on. With no opening and closing of the door usage will be minimal. If you turn it off leave the door open.

yes definately prop the door open,otherwise you will get mold buildup inside.

At our summer place we turn off (& drain) water, gas & electric for the winter months. (New Jersey) No heat in the place = no useage. ;)

After the refrigerator is emptied and clean, I turn it off and put a broom in between the doors and the box. I do the same for the overflow fridge in the garage.

If you turn it off, I would leave the doors ajar somehow & leave some baking soda inside.

A friend of mine is a slumlord in Texas. An upscale slumlord is how he prefers to be recognized.

This is what he has done for the last forty years with empty rentals.

He has never drained the water because Texas only gets that cold now and then.

But he will put antifreeze in the toilets. He once had one freeze up and break.

Leave plugged in. Turn thermostat to 47F. Fill with beer. Post address so concerned forum members can check on status of the power.:D

My camper does not have an option to leave on for winter storage. I make sure it is clean and dry, two boxes of baking soda in each of the freezer and fridge sections, doors closed. It is a 2002 purchased new, one year in fifteen had some mold, probably my fault. If i ever have any of those desiccant pack found in shoe boxes I also throw those in there but once they have absorbed their max there is no drying out in those conditions.

I didn't want to sway opinions when I first posted, but my position is to leave it unplugged to save on the electrical bill. My sister thinks it is mechanically detrimental to let the refrigerator sit idle. This is true for automotive refrigerant systems, where you need to keep the shaft seal lubricated. But refrigerators don't have that seal. I believe the whole system is enclosed.

I unplug the new (summer 17) refrigerator in the (unheated & uninsulated) garage. Our plumber tends to the house unit. (draining the ice maker water line). He doesn't unplug it, but it is turned off & doors left open.

If the off switch includes the regulating rheostat, you may have to recalibrate the refrigerator when switched on. I'm very particular with calibrating my refrigerators.

There is no compressor in an RV fridge so sitting won't hurt them.