5 Tips To Prolong The Life Of Your Refrigerator
A refrigerator is one of the most expensive appliances in your kitchen. Whether you have a mini-fridge, a standard side-by-side, or a fancy French door type refrigerator, having equipment to keep your food cold and fresh is a hefty investment.
Fridges work hard to keep your food fresh from spoilage. The motors have to operate continuously and maintain the internal temperature despite the door being opened multiple times throughout the day. Since it’s such a valuable assistant in your kitchen, you don’t want to have to deal with the inconvenience of a broken refrigerator.
Over time, however, the performance of a fridge can deteriorate. Without proper care and maintenance, it may break down and lose its ability to maintain cool temperatures consistently. Manufacturers often give a ten to 15 years warranty on high-quality refrigerators, and you want to make sure your fridge makes it well into that timeframe. If you want to prolong the life of your refrigerator and get the most out of your appliance, here are some helpful tips:
1. Clean the interior regularly
Some people go months without doing a deep clean. Keeping the insides clean can prevent mold and bacteria build-up and keep your food fresh for longer. Take all the contents out and wipe down the sides, racks, and drawers with a food-safe antibacterial solution. Be sure to clean and sanitize any bottles or packaged grocery items before you stick them inside–you never know where those things have been.
2. Clean the coils
While you have all its contents on your kitchen counters, it can also be an excellent time to clean the back portion of your fridge. Your fridge should be on casters to make it easier to slide it in and out of its nook in your kitchen. Make sure it is unplugged then pull the appliance back from the wall. Remove the dust, debris, and anything that is on the coils at the back of your refrigerator. Cleaning your unit’s condenser coils can help it dissipate heat efficiently. Dirty coils will force the compressor to work harder to cool and condense the refrigerant, which will wear the unit out faster. Remember to clean the back of your refrigerator every six months to keep it running efficiently.
3. Defrost the freezer
Some refrigerator units have a defrost drain, which makes freezer cleanup faster. If you are doing it manually, you can defrost the freezer section while your fridge is still unplugged. Frost can take up valuable space and can make your refrigerator’s motor work harder as well. Once the ice has liquified from the sides of the freezer, remove the ice gently with a plastic scraper. Don’t scratch too hard, or you could ruin the inner casing of your fridge.
4. Don’t fill it up
While having a refrigerator full of food sounds like a good idea, keeping it filled to the brim can keep air from circulating correctly and make your fridge work harder to achieve your desired temperature. Anytime the motor is not running efficiently, it reduces the useful life of your equipment. Remove your fridge’s contents once a week and throw away spoiled food, and decant food into smaller containers depending on quantity. You don’t need to keep an entire tub of yogurt inside if it’s only a quarter full.
Lastly, you can inquire with the manufacturer if they offer preventive maintenance service, or they can come to your house for scheduled inspections at regular intervals. Any mechanical equipment needs careful attention and regular cleaning to keep it running smoothly and prevent damage, and your refrigerator is no exception.
For more information on how to prolong the life of your refrigerator, check out Pixel Fridge. Browse our website to find the latest industry updates and tips, reviews, and recommendations on refrigerators and other cooling systems.