[rfc171]

We are snowbirds. We keep the refrigerator running! Be sure to turn off water and ice maker. Keep all things you do not want bugs to devour: spices, nuts, sugar, etc. we keep our AC on at 80.
All potted plants near the sprinkler! Tell your neighbors you are out of town! We have wonderful neighbors!!

[La lamy]

I prefer emptying, blocking doors open and unplugging. Just in case there is an electricity issue, I have better peace of mind. I've had to deal with coming home to a fridge full of mold before, never want to deal with that again.

[Pbthrockm@msn.com]

Leave turned on to avoid mold from growing If you turn off you have to leave doors open to avoid smell from prior condensation that may not have dried completely . But cost to run is very minimal. But empty ice maker trays and turn ice maker off.

[Professor]

Leave it on. With no one opening and closing the door it won't work that hard. When the compressor sits for extended periods it tends to deteriorate according to a refrigerator repair guy who came to replace a compressor in ours in a previous life.

[gweisheipl]

Leave it on and just shut off the ice maker because you likely shut off the house water.

[Dexterconfetti]

Fill with gallon water jugs for fridge. Freeze water in smaller plastic bottles. Put on lowest setting. Water’s high heat capacity will prevent big temp fluctuations so the unit won’t cycle much.

[Dennys37Packard]

We always left ours running when we were away for a few months before moving here full time. Never had a problem in years. We also had the bowl filled with water and after it froze, placed a penny on top of the ice. When we came back, if the penny was on the bottom, we knew the fridge had been off long enough for the ice to thaw, and therefore the food would be bad also. But, it was always on top, and we had something to eat and drink as we unpacked. Worked for us. The first year we gave away tons of stuff, and threw away even more and left the fridge off with doors opened. Didn’t make sense so we went with leaving it on, just shutting off ice maker.

[Spsmith444]

We are snow birds thus we are gone for 8 months with a possible visit in between. We have done both. Currently we leave it open and cut the electricity at the breaker because unplugging would be a hassle moving it out to get to plug. We also turn off water to house so no problem with ice maker.