6 Refrigerator Maintenance Tips
It is easy to forget about maintaining your refrigerator. We all use our refrigerators everyday and we need to make sure that we care for it so that it will run better reducing energy consumption and give it a longer lifespan. Here are six ways to care for your refrigerator and ways to improve its performance.
1. Clean your condenser coils
Condenser coils are usually located in the back or bottom of the refrigerator. They help remove heat from the appliance keeping it cool and working properly. Unfortunately, dust and dirt pile up onto the coils very easily. The easy solution is to clean your coils with a brush every 6 months to make sure that you can have the appliance work and remove heat better. This will help the appliance consume less energy saving you money and from having to deal with problems or repairs down the road.
2. Check and Adjust the Temperature
The temperature of your refrigerator and freezer can be very important in keeping your food fresh. The refrigerator temperature should be in-between 36 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit which is about 2 degrees Celsius. The freezer should be set in-between 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit which is about -18 degrees Celsius. If your refrigerator does not have a temperature gauge built in, we recommend buying a thermometer and checking the temperature in the back and front of the refrigerator and freezer.
3. Clean your gaskets (or replace if necessary)
The gasket is the rubber seal that is on the edges of the refrigerator and freezer doors. The seal makes sure that the cold air stays in and the hot air does not seep in. Clean the gaskets every few months or when you have a spill. It is common for gaskets to get dirty, weaken, loosen, and tear which can cause you to pay more in energy bills because the hot air is getting through. If you do need to replace your gaskets, it is very easy and inexpensive.
4. Clean the Interior & Exterior
Spills happen inside your refrigerator, even without you realizing it. We recommend wiping down the interior of your refrigerator every couple of months. This includes the walls, shelves, and gaskets inside and the exterior too. Make sure to clean at the very back of your fridge. For stainless steel exteriors, make sure to use proper cleaning solution and wipes and follow the grain of the stainless steel to get the best results of getting rid of finger prints and dirt.
5. Deodorize
Have you ever opened your refrigerator and gotten a stinky smell from it? This could be because there are odors in the refrigerator that are lingering around or you have food going bad. Make sure to get rid of food that is going bad and use a deodorizer made for refrigerators. Special refrigerator deodorizers can be 50 times more effective than using baking soda. Most of these products last about 6 months.
6. Replace the ice maker and water filter
Most refrigerators have an ice maker and a water filter. To keep from having chemicals and minerals in your ice or water, we recommend replacing your water filter every six months. After replacing your water filter, run your water for a few minutes and also throughout the first batch of ice to make sure that you get the best results.
To get into a good habit, every 6 months clean your coils, gaskets, interior & exterior, and replace your water filter. We hope these tips help you save energy, money, and prolong the life of your refrigerator! Give us a call if you have any questions about your refrigerator.
