Making Your Fridge Last for Years to Come
Making Your Fridge Last for Years to Come
Your refrigerator is arguably the most important appliance in your kitchen. Without a well-maintained fridge, keeping perishables in edible condition for extended periods would be downright impossible. That being the case, it’s in your best interest to keep your fridge up and running for as long as possible. Not only can good fridge maintenance be a boon to your food supplies, but it can also prove tremendously beneficial to your personal finances. Anyone looking to get the most out of their refrigerator would be wise to heed the following tips.
Find a Dependable Maintenance Service
Even the most reliable refrigerators need a little bit of maintenance every now and then. No matter how dependable your fridge is, the fact that it works harder than virtually any other appliance in your home practically guarantees the occasional malfunction. Therefore, it pays to be acquainted with a dependable refrigerator repair and maintenance service. A seasoned professional will be able to identify a broad spectrum of problems and fix minor issues before they have a chance to develop into more pressing problems. Even if you haven’t experienced periodic fridge hiccups, it’s recommended that you have a maintenance professional thoroughly inspect the device once every six months. This will ensure that potential problems are addressed in a timely manner and that any parts that have fallen into disrepair are promptly swapped out. When it comes to fridge maintenance, there’s a lot you can do on your own, but for certain tasks, there’s simply no substitute for a refrigerator repair professional.
Clean the Condenser Coils
Your refrigerator’s condenser coils play an essential role in the device’s overall functionality. As the name suggests, these components serve to condense refrigerant, thereby releasing heat. However, when condenser coils become dirty and clogged with assorted filth, undue pressure can be put on the compressor. This causes refrigerators to expend more energy, which stands to increase your power bills. Furthermore, the longer the compressor is pushed to its limit, the greater the likelihood of it breaking down.
You can nip this problem in the bud by cleaning your fridge’s condenser coils every three months. Before carrying out this task, take care to unplug your refrigerator. Next, affix a brush attachment to your vacuum cleaner and proceed to go over both the condenser coils and fan. Then, using a refrigerator coil brush, get any dirt, grime or pet hair that the vacuum cleaner couldn’t pick up.
Regularly Clean the Door Seal
One of the reasons refrigerators can preserve perishables for extended periods is the airtight seals found on their doors. However, these seals can gradually break down over time, thereby causing refrigerators to work even harder. If cool air is consistently escaping, your fridge will need to put forth extra energy to maintain your desired temperature. You can stay on top of this problem by cleaning your fridge’s door seals on a consistent basis. The more grime that accumulates in the door seal, the less equipped the seal is too do its job. Make a point of regularly wiping down the seal and replacing it as needed. If your fridge lasts long enough, there’s a good chance you’ll need to swap out the door seal at least once.
Clean the Interior
Cleaning your fridge’s interior on a regular basis comes with several benefits. For starters, it can go a long way in preventing the formation of bad smells. Few things are more disgusting than being hit with an unpleasant odor every time you open your refrigerator. Secondly, cleaning your fridge’s interior can help prevent mold, mildew and assorted germs from taking hold of your household’s primary means of food storage. For best results, clean the interior once a week, especially if your fridge houses a large amount of food.
As the star of your kitchen, your refrigerator plays a vitally important role in food storage. Given how important a working fridge is in any modern-day household and how expensive a reliable refrigerator can be, it’s only natural that you’d want to make yours last if possible. Fortunately, this is far from an uphill battle. Taking measures to keep your fridge in prime condition can save you a small fortune and ensure that you get the most out of your kitchen’s foremost MVP.