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5 Tips For Refrigerator Maintenance

Refrigerators are no cheap house commodity. Keeping them in their best condition will ensure that they last longer, remain efficient through the years and, when you decide to sell the house, increase the overall value of the property. Keeping them in tip-top-condition may seem daunting, but is actually quite simple.

Here are 5 ways you can make sure your refrigerator stays in good condition.

Fridge

Check That The Doors Are Sealed

The door seals are the rubbery surfaced linings along the door that keep the door ‘sucked’ closed. If the seals are loose and worn, your fridge may be losing a lot of temperature, resulting in the fridge working harder to retain its cool temperature.

Make sure the seals are free from any food or residue. If they are dirty, clean them at least twice a year with a scrub and baking soda.

Stick a bill of money halfway in the door and halfway out. With the fridge door closed, see how easy it is to pull the money note through the door. If there’s little to no resistance, you may need to replace the entire seal.

Door seals

Clean The Coils

Condenser coils get covered with dust over time, which results in the refrigerator running inefficiently. At least twice a year, pull the fridge away from the wall and inspect the coils at the back. You may need to remove a grill to access them at the front, instead.) Unplug the fridge, dust and vacuum the coils until they are free from dust.

Flickr_FridgeCondenserCoilCleaning-coils

Credit: Bruno Longo / Flickr
Sourced: rusticwise.com/

Maintain The Right Temperature

If your fridge is running at a temperature too low, it can freeze, thaw and soil your food overnight. Ever had a thawed cucumber? It’s nasty.

To ensure that you maintain a consistent temperature, set the temperature to 4.4 degrees Celsius, or 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Keep your freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, or -17 degrees Celsius.

Turning down the temperature

Fill The Fridge Up

To maintain low temperatures, fridges need mass inside for thermal regulation. Whether you eat out a lot or not, keeping your fridge full with jugs of water or bowls of left overs can help the efficiency of temperature regulation and end up saving you money in the long run.

A full fridge

Stay Prepared

On the off chance that there’s a power cut, keep the doors of your fridge closed and use your pantry as much as possible. An unopened fridge can retain its temperature for around 4 hours, while a freezer can retain its temperature for up to 48 hours if full.

Backed up water bottles
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