It can be really miserable to know that the refrigerator you’ve bought has encountered a major break down. Undoubtedly, finding rotten food and dripping water is a troublesome situation for any homeowner. Whenever such a situation occurs, you immediately call in a professional repair technician to get things fixed. But, after spending lots of money on appliance repair, you get back to your lazy routine until this frustrating event hits you back after some time.
Luckily, there are ways to avoid this from happening. In this post, we’ll have a quick look at 9 smart ways through which you can easily extend the lifespan of your expensive product:
1. Installation
Generally, we have a carved out nook in our kitchen dedicated for the placement of our refrigerator. Sadly, this may not always be the suitable place for its installation. Because of insufficient ventilation, a massive amount of heat is generated that basically affects the working of the motor and the compressor. Make sure you always place your fridge away from the oven and heat vents. It’s also important that you never expose your appliance to the direct sunlight.
2. Keep the Coils Clean
One of the biggest reasons why your refrigerator fails to work properly is because the cooling coils are covered with dirt and grime. Since dirty coils do not release heat, they negatively impact the overall working of your refrigerator. To keep the coils running smoothly, make sure to clean them with a hand wand vacuum from time to time.
3. Clean the Gaskets
Let’s admit it. Most of us don’t pay heed to the rubber gaskets attached to the refrigerator door. Sadly, this may lead to an exhausted motor in the end. As dirt, debris and grime gets stuck in the gasket and promotes air leakage, your refrigerator may not be able to provide expected cooling if this issue hasn’t been resolved in time.
4. Don’t Overfill
If you’re really looking to extend the lifespan of your beloved refrigerator, you have to maintain a perfect balance. If you try to overfill your fridge with several things, its capacity to maintain airflow will be hindered. Make sure you always leave at least 1 to 2 inches distance between things you’ve placed in your fridge. Also, avoid stacking up utensils so that there will be proper airflow in all the compartments of the refrigerator.
5. Keep it Clean
There is nothing worse than a dirty and smelly fridge. That is why it’s extremely important that you keep your appliance clean and fresh. Dirty fridge not only promotes bacteria buildup and unpleasant odor but it will also impact the quality of food placed inside. Maintaining cleanliness is one of the biggest ways you can increase the lifespan of your refrigerator. Clean the interiors with soapy water or you can also make your DIY fridge cleaner by mixing water, vinegar and some baking soda. Not only this mixture will give your fridge a brand-new look from inside, but it’ll also absorb the bad smell.
6. Defrost
Although most of the present-day refrigerators come with auto defrost feature, it is still recommended to consider the traditional defrosting method to get rid of untimely frost buildup. The frosting is one of the major reasons behind motor damage. One of the ways you can avoid unexpected frosting is to let your food completely cool down to room temperature before you put them inside the freezer compartment. Also, always make sure to cover your food before freezing.
7. Cover Everything
The moisture present inside your food make the compressor work harder than usual. That is why it’s crucial that you never place anything uncovered in you fridge or freezer.
8. Get it Checked
Your refrigerator is one of the most expensive and useful home appliances without which your routine life will be hugely affected. To avoid irreparable trouble, it is therefore suggested that you get it checked by a certified appliance repair technician on yearly basis. Especially, if you feel any unusual sounds like grinding or squealing or if you feel any change in the temperature, make sure to immediately contact professionals to get these issues fixed on priority basis.
9. Avoid Opening Unnecessarily
According to Refrigerator Repair in Toronto, your fridge is a sensitive, intricate appliance with complex circuitry. Frequent opening and closing of the door puts a lot of strain on the machinery. Make sure you never eat in front of your appliance with its door open to avoid air escape. Also, be certain to keep your fridge locked if you have a toddler at home.
The Final Words!
When it comes to home appliances especially refrigerator, being proactive can go a long way. Following the above-mentioned suggestions will definitely extend the lifespan of your product and save you from trouble of an untimely replacement.
If you know any other smart ways to keep your fridge running smoothly for a longer period of time, feel free to share your tips below!
Image credit: Fridge via Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock