A refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in the home, keeping food fresh and preventing the growth of harmful bacteria.
It helps to keep food fresh and can extend its shelf life. It also provides a place to store medicines and other products, which benefit from the cold temperature.
While this investment can be expensive, proper care will help to maximize its performance. Make sure to clean the coils regularly and wipe down the inside and outside of the fridge.
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Steps To Extend Your Outdoor Refrigerator’s Life
The following few easy steps could help you in extending your refrigerator’s life-
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Keep It Dry
Most of us have experienced the frustration of having our food go bad because the power went out. But even if you have an outdoor refrigerator, that doesn’t mean your food will be safe during a power outage.
Outdoor refrigerators are designed to withstand higher temperatures than indoor models, but they are not necessarily weatherproof.
That means that if you live in an area subject to severe weather conditions, it’s important to take steps to protect your outdoor fridge.
If possible, keep it covered from the rain, and away from the pool, sink, and other sources of water. With a little preparation, you can rest assured that your food will stay fresh during even the most extreme weather conditions.
Additionally, the electrical components may not be for outdoor use, posing a fire hazard. For these reasons, it is important to bring the refrigerator inside when it is wet outside. This will help to protect the appliance and prevent any accidents.
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Clean The Condensor Coil
As anyone who has ever cleaned a refrigerator knows, the condenser coils collect dust, dirt, and many more. Over time, this build-up can restrict the coils’ ability to dissipate heat, and decrease efficiency.
This not only makes your fridge work harder, using more energy but can also shorten its lifespan. As such, it’s important to clean these coils regularly.
To keep your fridge working at its best, it’s important to clean the coils regularly.
Every year or in six months or so, gently vacuum the coils using a soft brush attachment. This will help to remove any build-up, allowing the coils to do their job more effectively.
In addition, be sure to wipe down the inside of your fridge regularly to prevent any build-up of spills or crumbs. By taking these simple steps, you can help keep your fridge running like new for years to come.
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Clean The Door Gasket Properly
Any experienced homemaker knows that the gaskets around the refrigerator doors are essential for keeping cold air inside the fridge.
Not only does this help to keep food fresh, but it also prevents the fridge from working overtime and running up your energy bill. However, gaskets can become damaged or degraded over time, preventing them from forming a tight seal.
One common cause of this is spills and food bits that build up on the gasket and prevent it from lying flat against the door.
To keep your fridge working efficiently, it’s important to clean the gaskets regularly.
A simple solution of soap and water should suffice, but you may need to use a putty knife or other tool to remove stubborn buildup. With a little bit of care, you can keep your fridge running like new.
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Setting The Right Temperature
The temperature of your fridge can have a big impact on the quality of your food. If it’s set too warm, food will spoil more quickly.
However, if it’s set too cold, you may find that some of your food freezes or that your energy bills go up.The ideal temperature for a fridge is somewhere between 3°C to 4°C.
This range allows food to stay fresh without becoming too cold.
Food that is stored at too low of a temperature can become freezer burned, while food that is stored at too high of a temperature can spoil more quickly.
Setting your fridge to the right temperature can help to prolong the shelf life of your food and keep it tasting its best.
To maintain this temperature, it is important to keep the fridge stocked with food and to avoid opening the door too often.
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Clean The Water Dispenser
Over time, your refrigerator’s water dispenser and its tray can become covered in a white film. This build-up is usually the result of hard water deposits or minerals in your tap water.
The film is not harmful and can usually be removed with a little elbow grease and the right cleaning supplies.
First, try wiping down the affected areas with a damp cloth. If that doesn’t work, you can try using a stronger cleaning agent, like vinegar or bleach.
Just be sure to rinse the area well afterward. With a little bit of effort, you should be able to remove the white film and restore your fridge to its former glory.
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Don’t Overfill Your Fridge
When your fridge is overcrowded, it has to work harder to circulate cool air and keep your food at the right temperature.
This can put a strain on your fridge’s compressor, which can lead to increased energy use and higher bills.
Additionally, an overstuffed fridge can make it difficult to find what you’re looking for, and it can be more challenging to keep your food fresh.
So next time you’re tempted to overfill your fridge, resist the urge and save yourself some money and hassle in the long run.
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Keep It Ventilated
For a refrigerator to work properly, it needs to be able to release the heat from inside the fridge into the air around it.
If there is no air around the fridge, or if the air isn’t properly refreshed, then the heat can’t escape and the contents of the fridge won’t get cold.
Most refrigerators have a vent on the front of the fridge to make sure that hot air can get out even if you install your fridge snugly into an outdoor kitchen island or a cabinet of some kind.
By making sure that your fridge has proper ventilation, you can help it to work more efficiently and keep your food cold.
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Keep Top Clear
Storing things on top of your fridge can interfere with your fridge’s ability to dissipate heat.
Heat rises, and when items are stored on top of your fridge, they trap the heat that would normally rise and escape.
This can cause your fridge to work harder than it needs to keep cool, which can lead to premature wear and tear.
It’s common to use the space on top of the fridge as a storage area for boxes and other items, but this can put a strain on your fridge and make it work harder than necessary.
Instead, clear off the space or limit the items you keep up there to reduce the strain on your fridge and help it run more efficiently.
Final Thoughts
Most of us don’t give much thought to refrigerator maintenance. However, taking a few simple steps to keep your fridge clean and organized can extend its life and help it run more efficiently.
A little bit of preventative care goes a long way toward keeping your fridge running smoothly. At least once a year, wipe down the door gaskets and check for cracks or other damage.
These simple steps will help your fridge run more efficiently and prevent costly repairs down the road.
In addition, be sure to routinely check the seals on the doors to make sure they are tight and not allowing cold air to escape.
By taking a little bit of time to care for your fridge, you can extend its lifespan and avoid costly repairs.
