Did you know that the average person opens their fridge 14 times per day?
Clearly, our refrigerators play a very important role in our lives! Because we’re opening and closing our fridges so much, it’s important that we take the necessary steps to maintain them.
Luckily, there are some simple maintenance tasks you can do to extend the lifespan of your fridge. Read on to learn the top fridge maintenance tips every homeowner needs to know.
1. Check the Seals
If the door seal on the fridge becomes loose, cold air can sweep out and you’ll waste energy. This will cause your fridge to work harder than it needs to.
If the seals don’t seem to be doing their job, you’ll first want to make sure that they’re free of food residue. You can wipe away food residue with a clean toothbrush, water, and baking soda. After cleaning with a toothbrush, try the dollar bill test.
Place a dollar bill in the fridge door so it’s half in and half out. If the dollar slips out easily, then it’s time to call a refrigerator repair professional to have your fridge door resealed.
2. Clean the Condenser Coils
Cleaning the condenser coils is another simple thing you can do to extend the life of your fridge. These coils tend to collect dirt, dust, hair, and grime.
This can make it harder for your fridge to dissipate heat, which in turn limits its efficiency and may cause it to break down. You should vacuum the condenser coils every 6 months using the soft brush attachment on your vacuum. The coils are located on the rear or underside of the fridge.
You’ll either need to pull out the fridge or pop off the grille in order to get to them.
3. Change the Water Filter
If your fridge has a water filter, you’re also going to want to change that every 6 months. Be careful about buying aftermarket filters, as it can sometimes be difficult to tell whether or not they remove bacteria and contaminants from your drinking water.
Keep in mind that with certain fridges, you need to install a cartridge pull (this should come with the fridge) in order to keep water flowing.
4. Keep the Top of Your Fridge Clean
While it can be tempting to use the top of your fridge for storage, resist the urge to do so.
Anything left on the top of your fridge (even if it’s just a stack of papers) can interfere with the fridge’s ability to dissipate heat. If you plan to install cabinets over your fridge, make sure you leave some space between the top of your fridge and the bottom of your cabinets to allow for smooth airflow.
Fridge Maintenance: Time to Act
Now that you have these fridge maintenance tips, it’s time to put them into action. Making use of these tips can add years to the lifespan of your fridge.
Be sure to check back in with our blog for more home maintenance tips.
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