MicroFridge Care

All residence hall rooms and suites come with a combination refrigerator/freezer/microwave called a MicroFridge. The unit is for you and your roommate to share, and is the only university-approved refrigerator/freezer appliance for the residence halls.

If you have any problems with your MicroFridge, contact us to schedule a repair.

MicroFridge Use and Care

1. The microwave/refrigerator/freezer units are designed to turn off the refrigerator temporarily while the microwave is in use. When the microwave is no longer in use, the refrigerator will turn back on.
2. The microwave/refrigerator/freezer unit may not be placed on top of other surfaces other than the floor.
3. Do not set or store any heavy items on top of the unit as this affects its ability to function properly. (example: television)
4. The university-supplied microwave/refrigerator/freezer must be plugged into the wall (follow instructions provided on the unit). If you wish to unplug your unit, please follow the instructions below for defrosting your microwave/refrigerator/freezer unit.
5. Before placing food in the refrigerator, turn the temperature setting knob in the refrigerator to 3.
6. Avoid slamming the microwave door, as this damages the operating switch and can cause the microwave to malfunction.
7. Take good care of your microwave/refrigerator/freezer unit. If you damage the unit, you will be billed for repairs or replacements.

Defrosting

Defrosting regularly is one of your responsibilities as a resident of your room and helps extend the life of the microwave/refrigerator/freezer unit.

Build-up of frost inside the freezer is completely normal, and must be defrosted manually when it gets to be more than 1/4 inch thick. If too much frost exists in the freezer, it will prevent the refrigerator from cooling properly, and the food in the refrigerator may spoil. If the frost gets too thick, it essentially insulates the freezer so the cooling element cannot do its job. When this happens, it causes the unit to run harder, which may cause premature failure.

How to Defrost

1. Reset the thermostat to the "0" position and defrost the freezer by disconnecting the power supply. Remove the items and place them in a cooler for protection and leave the freezer door open. Keep the door open long enough to soften the frost so that you can easily scrape it off. Remove large ice pieces as they come loose and wipe up any excess water with a towel. Please place an old towel in the bottom for the fridge to soak up the water as the ice melts.
2. Use a plastic scraper but be careful not to damage the inner surfaces of the freezer. Never use a sharp or metallic instrument to remove frost as it may damage the cooling coils and will void the warranty. Do not chisel at solid ice pieces: wait until they melt.
3. Make sure the freezer is completely dry before plugging the unit back in or closing the door when not in use. Wipe up the scraped-off frost and ice before it is completely defrosted.
4. Before changing rooms or moving out, defrost the freezer and clean out the refrigerator and microwave. There is a $50 charge for not cleaning out the unit when you check out of your room at the end of the year.