Top Refrigerator Maintenance Tips For Your Fridge
Besides our water heaters and trusty dishwashers, the refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in our homes. It’s essential for keeping our food fresh and safe. When it's well-maintained, it keeps the right temperature without overworking, helping you avoid high electricity bills. But if it’s not working properly or has some minor issues, it can lead to higher electrical costs, and nobody wants that!
The Importance of Refrigerator Maintenance
Besides our water heaters and trusty dishwashers, the refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in our homes. It’s essential for keeping our food fresh and safe. When it's well-maintained, it keeps the right temperature without overworking, helping you avoid high electricity bills. But if it’s not working properly or has some minor issues, it can lead to higher electrical costs, and nobody wants that!
Your Top Refrigerator Maintenance Tasks
Clean the Condenser Coils
Condenser coils are super important in your fridge because they release heat to keep everything inside nice and cool. But over time, they can get all clogged up with dust, pet hair, and other stuff, which isn't great for their efficiency.
To keep your fridge running smoothly, it's a good idea to give these coils a clean twice a year. Just use a vacuum brush attachment for an easy fix. This simple chore can really boost your fridge's efficiency, prevent annoying breakdowns, and help keep energy bills in check.
Regular cleaning means the coils don't have to work overtime just to release heat. Clean your fridge coils regularly to save energy and extend its lifespan. They are usually at the back, or sometimes underneath or behind a removable panel.
Defrost Your Freezer
If you’ve got a manual-defrost fridge, it’s important to regularly defrost the freezer. When frost and ice build-up, they make it harder for your fridge to cool properly, which means it has to work extra hard to keep things cold. This wastes energy and might even damage your fridge over time. So, make sure to defrost the freezer every six months or whenever you notice the frost getting thicker than a ¼ inch.
Keep Your Refrigerator Level
If your fridge isn't level, the doors might not shut right, letting warm air in and cold air out. This makes your fridge work harder and use more energy. Grab a level, check if it's sitting evenly, and adjust the legs if needed.
Check Door Seals
Refrigerator door seals are pretty important for keeping your fridge efficient. They make sure the cold air stays inside and the warm air stays outside. These seals are usually made of a flexible material that lines the edges of the fridge and freezer doors. But over time, they can get loose, cracked, or damaged because of constant use, age, and temperature changes.
This can disrupt the fridge's temperature, leading to quicker food spoilage and increased energy consumption. Regularly clean seals with mild soap and water to prevent dirt buildup and ensure they seal properly. Also, checking the seals every now and then for wear and tear can keep your fridge running efficiently and help it last longer.
Set the Proper Temperature
Setting the right temperature is super important for keeping your refrigerator running smoothly and your food fresh. The FDA recommends setting your fridge at 40°F or below and your freezer at 0°F. Sticking to these temperatures helps keep your food tasting great and safe to eat by slowing down harmful bacteria.
Plus, regularly checking your fridge's temp can help you avoid spoilage and cut down on food waste, saving you some cash. Don't forget that not cramming the shelves and letting air circulate are also key to keeping everything at its best.
Add More Items
To keep your fridge running smoothly, it's important to have enough stuff inside. This concept, called thermal mass, means that the cold items help stabilize the temperature. When your fridge is stocked with food and drinks, they hold onto the cold better. Plus, when you open the door, these items help keep the warm air out, which keeps everything fresh.
Also, a full fridge means the compressor doesn’t have to work overtime to cool things down, saving you energy. If your fridge looks a bit bare, try adding extra items like bottles of water or some non-perishable foods to fill the gaps. This easy trick can help keep the temperature steady and reduce spoilage risk.
Need Help With Your Fridge, Hire a Professional
Keeping your fridge in top shape is super important for it to work smoothly. Follow these four tips, and you'll not only extend your fridge's life but also avoid costly repairs or replacements. Start by checking the seals, cleaning the coils, setting the right temperature, and filling up those empty spaces for the best performance.
If you run into fridge troubles and aren't sure how to tackle them, don’t hesitate to call in an expert. For folks in Sacramento, Fix-it Rite is just a call away at (916) 363-6022. Schedule an appointment today and rely on our emergency services to keep your fridge in top condition!