Refrigerators are items that we usually buy hoping to use them for extended periods of time, which is in years. However most of the time, people complain that their units just stopped working right after a couple of years or so and blame it on the brand saying that the quality is probably low and they were ripped off. However the truth could be that your negligence and failure to maintain the unit caused the breakdown which otherwise would not have happened. Here are some of the easiest ways in which you can maintain your unit and keep it like new for years to come.
Check To See If the Door Seals Well
If the unit has a loose door it will let the cold air inside to leak out and will waste your energy and in turn, will make the unit work harder than it is meant to. In order to ensure that the doors always seal properly you need to clean any food residue that can get built on the seals. Cleaning them about two times every year is more than enough and all you need is a toothbrush and some baking soda solution in water. There is something called the dollar bill test that you can carry out to check the quality of the seals. Close the door of the unit so that half the bill is in and half is out. If the bill slips out easily when you pull it you may have to get commercial fridge repairs if you run a business. Or get your home appliance checked by the store that you bought it from.
Always Maintain Clean Coils
The efficiency of the unit will be based on how well the coils can function. Sometimes when the condenser coils get clogged with dust they will not work at full capacity and will hinder the efficiency of the overall unit. Again all you have to do is check the coils which are generally black colour behind the unit and clean them. Cleaning will require you to switch off the unit, carefully remove the coils which can be done easily and should be indicated in the manual. Then vacuum the attachment with the brush fitting on your vacuum cleaner.
Make Sure That It Is the Correct Temperature
You always need to make sure that the unit is kept between 37 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit and that the freezer compartment is always kept at zero degrees steady. If the temperature is off, the unit will try to overcompensate and will have a malfunction.
Always Keep the Unit Filled Up
In order for a refrigerator to maintain a low temperature, they need something called a thermal mass, or in other words, they just need to be filled with lots of items. The cooled down food and drinks in the unit will help to absorb the warm air that comes in when you open the doors of the unit. If you are not somebody who buys a lot of ingredients or if you simply eat out a lot of the time, just keep a few jugs filled with water in there.