Having an annoying wire sticking out behind your fridge can drive you crazy. It's an eyesore that gets in the way when you're trying to clean or access the back of the appliance. Even worse, it poses a safety hazard for children or pets who may be tempted to grab or chew on the exposed cable. Thankfully, there's an easy way to fix this irritating issue in just a few minutes - no electrician required!
Assess the Problematic Wire
Before you can address the bothersome wire behind your fridge, you first need to identify exactly what it is. In most cases, it will be one of three things:
- The power cord that connects your fridge to the electrical outlet
- An accessory cable for the ice maker or water dispenser
- An extra wire harness that your fridge doesn't need
The best way to figure out what type of wire it is to follow it visually. Trace the path of the wire and see if it leads to the wall outlet, into the fridge itself, or if it's disconnected from everything. This will tell you if it's a critical power cord or just an extra accessory cable or harness that can be removed.
Unplug the Fridge Beforehand
Once you've identified the annoying wire, the next step is to unplug your refrigerator before attempting to address it. This ensures the appliance is powered off, which is an important safety precaution whenever you're working with electrical components.
- Locate the wall outlet your fridge is plugged into and unplug it fully from the socket.
- Leave it unplugged for the full duration of this repair.
With the fridge unplugged, you can now safely manipulate that pesky wire without risk of electric shock or damage to the appliance.
Remove Any Unnecessary Accessory Wires
If your assessment revealed that the bothersome wire is an extra accessory cable or harness that your fridge isn't using, removing it is a quick and easy fix:
- Follow the wire path to find where it connects into the fridge.
- Unplug it from the refrigerator's power board or other component.
- Use wire cutters to clip off the disconnected wire so it can be fully removed.
- Tape up the severed end with electrical tape so there are no exposed copper wires.
Presto! Just like that, the unnecessary wire is detached from your fridge and taken out of the equation. All that remains is tucking it out of sight.
Neatly Tuck Away Cables Still In Use
If the irritating wire turned out to be the power cord or an accessory cable still in use by your refrigerator, you'll want to neatly tuck it away rather than remove it. Here are some tips:
- Use zip ties to tightly bundle together any loose cables.
- Secure the bundle to the back of the fridge with more zip ties.
- Wrap any excess length of cord around the tie mount points to reduce slack.
- For a power cord, use cord covers to encase and conceal it.
- Use cable clips adhered to the back of the fridge to hold wires in place neatly.
By bundling, wrapping, and securing all the necessary cords, you can transform that jumbled wire mess into a tightly organized bundle that hugs the back of the fridge cleanly.
Consider Installing an Outlet Behind the Fridge
If you have an annoyingly short power cord that causes the wire clutter behind your fridge no matter what, a more permanent solution is to install an electrical outlet directly behind the appliance. This allows you to plug in back there rather than running a cord all the way around to the side.
- Hire an electrician to add a properly installed outlet.
- Mount it between studs directly behind the fridge location.
- The electrician will take care of wiring it properly to an existing circuit.
With an outlet installed right where you need it, all those power cords simply plug straight back behind the fridge - no more messy wires in sight!
Fixing an irritating wire behind your refrigerator is often a quick and painless task you can tackle yourself without any electrical expertise. Just always make safety your top priority by unplugging the appliance and exercising caution when working with any wires. With a few simple steps, you can finally enjoy that wire-free, clutter-free space behind your fridge.