5 Refrigerator Maintenance Tips

Proper refrigerator maintenance can help increase the lifespan of your refrigerator.

Many would agree that the kitchen is the heart of a home while the refrigerator is the heart of the kitchen. Is it not? The refrigerator is more than likely the most used appliance and the largest consumer of energy in the kitchen. In order to reduce energy consumption and keep the refrigerator running, it is essential to keep it clean and up to par.

Here are 5 proper refrigerator maintenance tips to help reduce energy consumption and keep it running:

1. Check the door seals
2. Keep coils clean
3. Clean the inside
4. Check temperature
5. Keep it filled

Check the Door Seals

Make sure the door seals are tight and free of food remains. Try to clean the seals twice a year with a small brush (toothbrush) and a mixture of baking soda and water. Now if cool air seeps out, then energy will be wasted and the fridge will have to work harder than it already needs to. To make sure your seals are up to par, try the dollar-bill test: Close the dollar bill in the door so it’s half in and half out. If it slips out easily, then get the seals checked by a pro.

Keep Coils Clean

Condenser coils are used to get rid of heat released from the inside to the outside air. If these coils are covered in dust, then the refrigerator can’t run efficiently. It’s important to clean coils twice a year by pulling the machine away from the wall, unplugging the refrigerator and vacuuming them with a brush attachment.

Clean the Inside

Cleaning the shelves, doors, and walls of the refrigerator monthly can keep germs and bacteria from reaching the food. When something spills in the fridge, clean up right away. It also helps to clean out your fridge so you’re not keeping anything that is expired or molding.

Check Temperature

Make sure your refrigerator temperature is between 37- to 38-degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer is at 0 degrees. Checking the interior temperature helps the refrigerator operate at it’s best.

Keep it Filled

Believe it or not, refrigerators need thermal mass in order to maintain the low temperatures it needs to keep food and drinks cold. When the refrigerator doors open, cool foods and drink absorb warm air which makes your fridge work harder. If your fridge is usually never filled, fill it with empty bottles to help with the thermal mass.

Just like human hearts, it’s important to keep our refrigerators “healthy” and running. By doing these 5 easy refrigerator maintenance tasks, your refrigerator will have a long life and help reduce energy consumption.