It’s no doubt that the fridge is among the most essential appliances of any home. Food storage, meals preparation, getting snacks, all of those are done on a daily basis and all of them require a good refrigerator. No matter how much you’ve invested in your fridge, what all of us want to do is take the best out of it, which also includes to make it last as long as possible. Our appliance experts have shared their experience and suggested these simple things to help increase your refrigerator’s lifespan.
Clear the Top
If you touch your refrigerator’s top you will notice it’s a bit warm. This is due to the fact refrigerators release extra heat out of their top. Since many of us may find practical to store some boxes or even plants on top of the fridge now you may realize this is not a good option at all. If you store some items on the top of your refrigerator, they will trap the heat from coming out and make the machine work much harder. Doing this can cause serious damages over time as well as make your refrigerator unable to maintain desired temperatures which in the end, results with food going bad and your refrigerator braking.
Clean Your Coils
Both the back and underneath your refrigerator are likely to collect serious piles of dust and dirt, and exactly, one of these two places are where the fridge’s coils can be found. Coils buried beneath a layer of gunk make your fridge unable to keep functioning. If this situation is not taken care of in time, the coils of your refrigerator may burn out. Therefore, try to create a routine for yourself to vacuum the coils every few months and remove debris to reduce the strain on your fridge, so it won’t compromise its performance.
Establish a Defrost Routine
As for any other appliance, regular maintenance is what will secure your refrigerator’s longevity. Periodically, clean any loose debris, wipe down the shelves and defrost the freezer. Many modern fridge units are good at preventing condensation or frost build-up, but if you put things into the fridge or freezer when warm or if you store liquids uncovered, it can introduce moisture. Defrosting your freezer a couple of times a year as well as cleaning it monthly will keep your appliance running smoothly.
Fill it Up
Not only because of the energy-efficiency, but for many more reasons, it’s a fact that refrigeration and laundry appliances work much better when they’re full. To some it may sound weird, but with less space inside the fridge, there is less air that needs to be cooled. So, don’t worry if you feel like you’ve bought too many groceries, or have too many leftovers waiting for you in the fridge.
Maintain Your Seals
A bad or broken seals left for too long is the most common reason your food can be spoiled. The seal along the inner edge of your fridge door keeps the cold air in while preventing the warm air from getting inside. A gap or leak in your seal can not only force your fridge to work harder to maintain temperature, but it can also drop the temperature to allow bacteria to thrive on your food. Fortunately, it is very simple to check if you have a loose seal. Place a dollar bill halfway into the door and shut it. If the bill slips out easily, you have a bad seal. Often, the seals can be washed with soap and water but if it’s still not functioning, it will need a replacement.
