If your kitchen, dorm, or office space is tight, you might consider buying a mini refrigerator. Mini fridges provide a place to keep food cold or frozen without taking up too much space. If you find that the entire area where you want to place the mini fridge is carpeted, you may be wondering, “Can you put a mini fridge on carpet? Is it safe to do so?” In this article, we will provide answers to these questions, as well as other things you should consider if you are contemplating adding a mini fridge to a room.
A compact fridge is a great option for college students living in dorm rooms, kitchens with small spaces, or tight quarters like an office or efficiency apartment. It is a simple solution to keep foods and drinks cold without taking up a lot of room.
In the midst of your purchasing decision to buy a mini fridge, you are probably not thinking about the type of flooring you have. However, this is an important element to consider. It can have implications for your electricity bills, as well as your safety. The last thing you want is to arrive home and find a mess or a hazardous situation.
Can I put a mini fridge on a carpet floor?
No. It is not safe to put a mini fridge directly on carpet. It is better to place it on hardwood floor or place something underneath it to raise it off the carpet slightly if you have to put your fridge on the carpet.
Is it safe to put a mini fridge on the carpet?
Generally speaking, it is not safe to place a mini fridge on carpet. Doing so will block the airflow to the condenser, which is usually on the bottom of the mini fridge. This can cause overheating and the unit to malfunction.
A condenser takes the hot air from inside the machine and moves it outside. This is done by condensing gas into liquid through the cooling system. Typically on refrigerators, the condenser coils are on the back or the bottom of the appliance.
Heat retention
Sitting the mini fridge on carpet will also retain heat. This is not good for the machine or your electricity bill. If heat is being retained, the mini fridge will either not work correctly or have to work harder to cool, resulting in higher electricity bills. Additionally, it poses a risk of catching on fire due to retaining heat.
If your mini fridge’s condenser coils work too hard for too long, they can burn out. This will result in a pricey repair bill or having to buy a new mini fridge altogether. The cooling system is essential to the effectiveness of mini fridges.
Leaking
Another risk of placing your mini fridge on carpet is that the condenser may leak if it does not have sufficient air circulation and it overheats. A leaky fridge will get your carpet wet, leading to mold or mildew growing in it. Wet carpets can also become discolored.
A similar problem can occur if you do not close the fridge door properly or if the electricity goes off for an extended period. Water seeping and filling the drip pan can result in wet carpet and quite the mess to clean up. It can also lead to nasty odors as the water seeps into the carpet.
Carpet damage
It is also bad to keep a mini fridge on carpet because the carpet will fade in the spot the mini fridge stays in. If you decide to move the refrigerator’s location in the room or out of the space entirely, you will likely have a faded carpet square where the machine was kept.
It is not advised to place mini refrigerators on carpet for these reasons. However, sometimes you might not have an option. For example, if you place a mini refrigerator in your office at work, the entire floor may be carpeted. In that case, what should you do?
Related: How Many Watts Does a Mini Fridge Use
What to do if the entire room is carpeted
If your entire space is carpeted and there is no other option but to place the mini fridge on the carpet, there are several things you can do to help alleviate potential problems.
Place something underneath the mini fridge
You can place a plastic mat or a piece of non-carpeted flooring underneath the mini fridge. There is also the option to buy an appliance stand. These options located underneath the mini fridge will keep it off the carpet and allow for good air circulation. This can prevent some of the problems mentioned previously.
Some appliance stand options even come with wheels. This will allow you to move the mini fridge to different locations. While this will keep the mini fridge off the carpet and allow for better airflow, you may have difficulty rolling it across the carpeted floor, depending on the thickness of your carpet.
Placing a solid wooden board or piece of linoleum or vinyl flooring under the mini fridge are also options to aid with the cooling process and provide enough space underneath the appliance to allow for good airflow.
Another option to lift the mini fridge off the carpet is to use a durable rug or mat. This can be a relatively inexpensive option that looks good aesthetically too. In addition, this option will put an absorbent barrier between the mini fridge and the carpet.
If you opt to place a rug underneath, avoid getting a shaggy one. Otherwise, you are repeating the same issue as the carpeted floor would have been. When you place a rug or mat underneath the fridge directly, be sure that it is not blocking any of the mechanical components on the underside of the mini fridge.
Related: How Long Do Mini Fridges Last?
There are also protective plastic sheets that you can buy to protect your carpet and refrigerator. They are made to be heat resistant, so you do not have to worry about the safety concerns of whether the carpet will hold heat and pose a fire hazard.
Additionally, you can worry less about whether the fridge door is fully closed if you use a plastic mat. It will reduce friction which means that the door will close smoothly. As a safety check, the mat will also reduce the risk of overheating from the heat source on the bottom of the mini fridge.
There are also spill tray options. Spill trays are designed to go underneath the mini fridge and collect any water or condensation that spills out. This will keep your carpet clean and dry. The tray will also elevate the refrigerator slightly, allowing air to circulate underneath better.
Check the location of the condenser
Many of the problems associated with placing a mini fridge on carpet are because the condenser is often located on the bottom of the appliance. However, you can buy mini fridges that have the condenser coils located on the back of the unit instead.
For this reason, if you know that you will be placing the mini refrigerator on carpet, you should buy a model with the condenser coils on the back.
Important Considerations
Be sure that the refrigerator door closes completely each time it is used. This is especially necessary when the mini fridge is located on carpet. You want to ensure that the door is entirely closed with a good seal to keep the food inside cool.
When the mini fridge sits on the carpet, the door is likely to drag because of the height of the carpet. This means the mini fridge door is harder to close. If you are not careful, the door will not seal well, so the machine will have to work harder to maintain the ideal temperature inside. This will lead to extra wear on your appliance and higher energy bills.
Ensuring the door is fully closed is an easy fix to a potentially disastrous problem. A fridge with an unclosed door will lose its cool temperature. If it remains open for long enough, the food inside will spoil. This will be a waste of money, and it can also cause a foul odor to fill the room.
In addition, if the door stays open and the temperature rises too much, any ice inside will melt. This will cause water to spill out of the mini fridge door and soak your carpet. It also poses a safety risk. A fire hazard can also exist since the unit is still plugged in.
Another important consideration is the maintenance of your mini fridge. You want to keep it working well to extend its lifespan and help you with energy costs. This is why regular maintenance is so important. Many fridge failure problems can be prevented by taking care to maintain the mini fridge. This includes regularly cleaning the machine and keeping an eye for dirt or dust build-up and any potential issues.
It would be best if you did not plug your refrigerator in using extension cords. Doing so can be unsafe. Instead, plug the mini fridge directly into the wall outlet in the room.
Related: Can You Lay a Fridge Down?
How to maintain your refrigerator
Be sure to clean the air vents and condenser coils regularly. You should also clean the door gaskets. Failure to do so may keep the refrigerator door from shutting completely, which will allow cool air to escape.
Part of a good maintenance routine is regularly defrosting the mini fridge. Ideally, the appliance should be clean and defrosted at least twice a year.
To defrost the unit, remove the food from the inside of the fridge. Then, power the machine off or unplug it from the wall. Leave the door open and point a fan inside the mini fridge. Place towels around the bottom of the fridge to collect the melting ice and water that drips out from the appliance.
Once the machine is defrosted, you can clean up the mess and turn the fridge back on. Once it cools, replace the food and drinks you had in the mini fridge.
Alternatively, you could buy an automatic defrosting fridge. Checking the defroster for leaks is also important. You do not want the defroster to malfunction and drip water on your flooring.
Place your refrigerator in a cool, dry place. This will help the machine run efficiently without overworking.
Keep the refrigerator away from the wall. It is essential that there is space for good air circulation.
It is also important that you avoid placing your mini fridge in direct sunlight and always keep it in the upright position. The ideal location of the mini fridge is an even surface. Placing refrigerators on uneven surfaces can lead to accidental spills and constricted airflow.
Can you put a mini-fridge on carpet FAQ
Is it safe to use a mini fridge in a small apartment?
Yes, a mini fridge is a great option for keeping a few items cool even if you do not have a large kitchen space in your apartment or home. If you properly maintain it, the mini fridge should last a while and serve you well.
How can I keep my mini fridge working properly?
Be sure to check the coils and defrost the appliance regularly. You should also wipe down any dust or dirt that accumulates over time.
Where can I store my small refrigerator?
You can keep your appliance in your kitchen, a guest room, or even other space like the laundry room. The main concern is that you can safely use the unit in the room you have selected.
If I have a carpeted floor, where should the mini fridge’s cooling coil be?
For safety reasons, you want to avoid buying a mini fridge that has a bottom coil. This has the propensity to overheat which would be problematic with the carpet flooring. Instead, opt for a refrigerator with a rear cooling coil.