Decent maintenance tips can help extend the fridge lifespan and make it run smoothly. Here are some essential tips for the proper usage of your lovely fridge to extend its lifespan.
Clean the Condenser Coils
Your food stays cold because the condenser coils remove heat from the inside of the freezer and refrigerator. Located behind or underneath the fridge, it’s common for dirt, dust, and food particles to stick to these coils over time. This reduces their effectiveness and creates additional pressure on your fridge, leading to operational problems and expensive repairs.
Luckily, cleaning the condenser coils is a simple maintenance step that you can perform yourself. Pull away the fridge from the wall, or remove the snap-off grid at the bottom to reveal the coils. Then clean them with a long-handled brush and vacuum the dust that falls to the ground.
Perform this task every six months to help your refrigerator work more efficiently.
Replace the Rubber Door Gasket
For creating a tight seal, refrigerators have a rubber gasket running around the door. Over time, the seal may loosen as the gasket accumulates debris and wears out with age. When this happens, warm air accesses the refrigerator more quickly, forcing it to work harder to remove the extra heat. This means the fridge brings higher energy bills and wears out faster.
Clean the door gasket periodically with all-purpose cleaner to help it last longer. If you suspect that the gasket is losing its ability to close tightly, perform a simple test: stick a thin paper to the gaskets and close the door; if it slips out with ease, the gasket will not seal tightly. Fortunately, gasket replacement aren’t too expensive and easy to install.
Defrost the Refrigerator
The accumulation of frost on the coils inside the refrigerator makes the appliance work harder and makes it challenging to keep the proper temperature. This can lead to early food spoilage. Frost accumulation is especially strong in hot, humid climates.
Most freezers and refrigerators are self-defrosting, so you don’t have to bother about this particular refrigerator maintenance.
However, if your fridge is a little older, be prepared for ice to accumulate on the inner wall. When the ice stretches 1.5 inches thick, it’s the time to defrost the refrigerator. Take the food out of the fridge, turn off the thermostat, leave the door open, and allow the appliance to defrost.
You can break off the ice when it melts and put it in the sink so it doesn’t drip on the floor. As soon as the ice melts off fully, return the temperature to normal and fill the refrigerator with food.
Set the Temperature for Energy Efficiency
The optimal refrigerator setting for energy efficiency and food safety is 36 to 38 degrees F. The optimal freezer setting is 0 to 5 degrees F. Setting your fridges any colder than that wastes energy.
Give the Refrigerator Room to Breathe
Your refrigerator demands ventilation to work properly. If your refrigerator fits snugly against a wall or cabinet, it should work harder to keep your food cold, leading to premature breakage. When placing your refrigerator, ensure it has at least an inch gap to all sides. Also, don’t put large objects on top of the fridge.
To schedule fridge repair or to get more info, please contact AC Repair Center. We’ll help you get the most out of your fridge so that it works efficiently and for longer.
