You will be hard pressed to find a home, office or dorm room that does not include fridge refrigerators as an essential appliance. In the beginning, the main purpose of a refrigerator was to keep food from spoiling by preventing bacteria from growing by providing a constant cool temperature. Soon it became apparent that the fridge would have many applications, including allowing individuals to eat healthier without starting their very own farms. It is also much easier to save money on food by buying in bulk and freezing it for later.
Regular proper maintenance is important to longevity and performance. While this is true of all your kitchen appliances, the refrigerator is even more important because of the nature of the job it performs. Your health could be at stake if food began to spoil in a poorly performing fridge, not to mention the amount of money that would be lost.
No matter which model fridge you decide to purchase from a simple Samsung fridge freezer to a top of the line Bosch fridge here are a few pointers on maintenance. You will get much more use out of your refrigerator when you take the necessary steps to prolong quality and durability.
Making Room
The first major concern with your new fridge freezer is where you will install it in your kitchen; this will have the biggest effect on longevity. You never want to place it in an area that conducts a great deal of heat such as close to the oven or cook stove and you may want to avoid extremely sunny areas as well. When the fridge must compete with warmer external temperatures, it will work harder to cool therefore giving you higher light bills and decreasing longevity.
For another thing, you have to ensure that the surface on which the refrigerator is placed on is flat and level. In this way, the inefficient dissipation of cool air and, hence, loss in storage capacity can be avoided.
A great way to save energy is to avoid opening your fridge often or widely. It may surprise you to learn that savings on your energy bill could be as much as 30% with this one simple tip. Decide what you need from the refrigerator before you open the door, then remove it quickly and shut the door back tightly.
Clean the Coils
When you want to prolong the life of your fridge, it is necessary to clean the compressor coils. These are generally located at the rear of the unit either top or bottom and some models even have them underneath. Cleaning them is simple, unplug the fridge then move it to where you can easily access the coils, you can then vacuum or brush the dust and dirt away.
Regular Cleaning
As with any appliance in your kitchen, you will need to clean the fridge regularly. Get into a habit of wiping the unit down even when it appears to be clean to remove bacteria you cannot see. How often you will need to do this will depend on various factors including where you reside, how many people are in your home and what kind of food you store inside. It is best to use a mild detergent on all exposed surfaces including the door, gasket and interior shelves. It is not a good idea to use bleach on any area of the fridge, even when you have tough stains. Regular cleaning will prevent staining when you get on schedule.
Responsible ownership and maintenance of your refrigerator will pay off in several ways. Not only will your fridge look great in your kitchen but more importantly, your food will be safe. That is what you call optimal performance.