5 hidden secrets to maintaining your refrigerator
The refrigerator is the most important thing in the kitchen and in the house as a whole. It is impossible to do without a refrigerator in every home. Rather, sometimes we need to put a small refrigerator with a capacity of less than 100 liters in some rooms, such as refrigerators that are used in hotel rooms and offices to keep drinks and some snacks.
Since it is considered one of the most expensive and most important household appliances for every housewife, any malfunction or problem in it may lead to major problems such as stopping work and thus damage and spoilage of all or some of the foods in it. In such a case, we have to resort to a maintenance request to find out the cause of the malfunction and try to fix it as quickly as possible, which may require high costs. And sometimes a big time to fix the refrigerator.
So, because “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure”, surely we all want to maintain the refrigerator for as long as possible, without having to spend a lot of money on repairing and maintaining annoying malfunctions and problems that occur to home refrigerators. In this article, we will help you discover the 5 most important secrets that you can follow to avoid malfunctions and problems of home refrigerators in order to extend the life of your refrigerator and save the expenses and trouble of maintenance!
Find out the reasons for the malfunction of the refrigerator
There are some common refrigerator problems that occur to most people. It is good to identify some such problems in order to avoid them and deal well with them if they happen to your refrigerator. This proactive step enables you to take precautions when you notice any of these problems in your refrigerator, the most important of which are: refrigerator has totally stopped working, or has stopped cooling, or you notice thawing in the freezer, or layers of ice forming in the freezer, or food spoiling quickly, or you hear the engine sound, or the back of the refrigerator is overheating, or you notice that parts are icy the interior of your refrigerator. Among the most important ways to preserve the refrigerator from problems and malfunctions:
1. Cleaning and checking capacitor coils
To ensure that the refrigerator is working perfectly and well, it is very important to keep the condenser coils clean at all times. The accumulation of dirt, dust and food residues around the condenser coils makes the refrigerator motor consume more effort and for a longer period of cooling and thus will reduce its lifespan. For this, you usually need to clean the condenser coils at least once every 6 months. If the area of the refrigerator is very exposed to dust and dirt, you may need to clean it several times.
You can find the condenser coils at the bottom of the refrigerator or at its back according to the make and model of the refrigerator. Cleaning steps are easy and simple. First, start pulling out the refrigerator so you can reach its back, then use a hardened screwdriver to open the back cover, and using a soft dry cleaning brush, remove the dust and dirt stuck on the coils.
2. Adjust the refrigerator temperature appropriately
The refrigerator temperature should be set correctly in order to maintain it and not to tire the motor. In the event of raising the temperature and reducing the cooling, the food inside is likely to spoil, and lowering it also leads to the formation of layers of ice and spoiling the taste of some foods.
According to experts, the ideal temperature for a refrigerator is a medium temperature of 37-40 degrees Fahrenheit. As for the freezer, it must be set to a fixed degree, which is zero, to maintain food in a healthy way.
This step not only extends the life of the refrigerator, but also makes the refrigerator work more efficiently, which reduces the expenses of the monthly electricity bill. So, always keep the thermostat set to medium, not too cold.
3. Fan Cleaning
Always remember to clean the condenser fan when checking the condenser coils, you will find them next to the coils. The fan is usually next to the motor as well. You can clean it easily with a soft brush, or a vacuum cleaner. It is worth noting that some types of refrigerators do not have a fan. You can easily detect this as they will have condenser coils along the back of the refrigerator.
4. Cleaning the refrigerator door (Rubber Frame)
Usually, the refrigerator is the most household appliance used by the whole family throughout the day. Thus, opening and closing the door frequently leads to a temperature difference, which leads to spoilage of foods in the door such as eggs and milk.
Another important point is the accumulation of food residues and some dirt overtime on this rubber tire (cassette), which in turn causes cold air to leak out of the refrigerator. Here the problem occurs! Cold air leakage will make the motor in a permanent working condition to cool the air inside the refrigerator, and thus more motor failures and an increase in the electricity bill!
So, clean this tire at least once a month, using a cloth or sponge with warm water, without using any detergent.
5. Opening the ventilation holes of the freezer
There are small ventilation holes located at the top of the refrigerator (freezer). They are necessary to ensure that the cooling process continues properly in both parts of the refrigerator. Accordingly, it is necessary to keep these openings open without blocking them with many foods. To ensure that the refrigerator works at its best, it is recommended to fill the freezer to 75% of its capacity only.
Now you have a comprehensive idea of the causes of refrigerator malfunctions, and how to maintain them before any malfunctions occur. Experts also advise using vinegar to clean the inside and outside of the refrigerator at least once every three months, to prevent mold growth. It is also recommended to change the water filter if it is very dirty, and the filter approximately every 6 months.