Most of us use refrigerators many times a day, but do you realize that you might be ruining your fridge with simple and seemingly harmless habits? Well, here are those mistakes that you’re probably making right now, which will result in you calling an appliance repair service soon.
There’s No Ventilation
To understand why ventilation matters the most, you need to know how a refrigerator works in the first place. These appliances work by generating cold air and circulating it in the entire space of the refrigerator. This causes the hot air to leave the back of the refrigerator.
This is an energy balance and refrigerators employ an endothermic reaction to produce cold air and eject out hot air. This is why the back of the refrigerator coils are very hot if you touch them. If they’re not, then you need to get your refrigerator checked, because it won’t cool things.
So, the ventilation of the refrigerator is really important, because you want available space for the air to flow out, and if your refrigerator is in a cramped space with no windows and ventilation, then the whole unit will start to warm up and that’s not what you want. So, always make sure that your refrigerator is in an open place with lots of air to keep the outside of the fridge nice and cool. You’ll be good to go.
You’re Putting Hot Food In
This is also another very common mistake that you’re making. Sometimes, you don’t realize that you’re putting very hot food directly in the refrigerator. This is bad for two reasons.
Firstly, the hot food will increase the inside temperature of the refrigerator and it will cause other foods to get spoiled and that’s not ideal.
Secondly, putting hot food directly in the fridge isn’t good for the food itself either and it will get bad soon. Even if it doesn’t, eating food that you’ve put hot in the fridge is bad for health, because it alters the taste, composition, and condition of the food.
You’re Not Covering The Food
This is something that a lot of people mindlessly do and they don’t even realize that they’re contaminating their fridge and other things inside. You want to put food in covered containers to avoid the smell penetrating different foods.
You want to keep all of the items covered because in that way, your fridge won’t smell either and the small enclosed space will smell fresh inside. This doesn’t necessarily make the refrigerator life decline, but it’s better for you in the long run and you’re not going to regret going through this extra step.
Keeping The Door Open
You might have done this a lot. You’re standing in front of the fridge and reaching for things. You don’t realize that the refrigerator door is open for a long time, but this is bad for your fridge in the long run.
This is because if you leave the door open for too long, then the inside temperature increases, because the outside and inside air is mixed and it makes it harder for the refrigerator to maintain lower temperature. Also, the gaskets of the refrigerator are damaged if the door is left open for a long time and the door won’t be able to close properly.
Setting The Temperature Low
The setting of the temperature is crucial, but a lot of the time, people can make the mistake of setting the temperature too low for a refrigerator holding a lot of things. You want to set the temperature in the middle – it shouldn’t be too high or too low, otherwise, you will drown in high electricity bills or your food will spoil in no time.
This is why you need to play around with the thermostat a bit until you find the right temperature. You want to set the temperature at a moderate setting because it will not make your bills go over the roof and it won’t lead to spoiled food either.
You’re Not Cleaning The Refrigerator
Maintaining the refrigerator is also very important, especially if you want to keep it working properly for years to come. This is where cleaning comes in handy and adequate cleaning will ultimately determine how long your refrigerator will last. Cleaning the walls and the sides of the refrigerator is crucial because you don’t want any contamination inside the enclosed space.
Also, make it a habit to clean out the shelves and other removable parts of the refrigerator. It will keep your appliance powering through for longer. Plus, schedule refrigerator ice maker repair Alexandria once a year for proper maintenance.
Overcrowding The Space
This is also another thing people do. Yes, refrigerators are meant to be places for storing foods, but you can’t store a lot in them to the point where you can’t even close the door. This is something that a lot of people do and it can lead to a ton of problems.
You want to keep ample space in between each thing that is in your fridge. This will allow the air to circulate and it will also ensure that the door of the refrigerator closes properly because overcrowding can lead to this as well and that will essentially spoil all of your food.
Not Looking After The Coils
The coils of the refrigerator are essentially what makes it useful and perform. But they can get clogged by dirt and debris and that is a whole issue in itself.
Aside from keeping the coils nice and ventilated, you also want to look after them from time to time and clean the refrigerator coils if you have an older unit or a luxury one, so that the refrigerator can throw out hot air and circulate cool air in the unit. Without this mechanism, your refrigerator is essentially a waste of space, so looking after the coils is a must.
You’re Not Defrosting The Refrigerator
Many refrigerators have interior walls made out of some sort of metal and even though a lot of them are self-defrosting, you want to ensure that you’re doing it yourself too.
This will extend your refrigerator’s life and if you defrost the fridge, you will see a world of difference in its performance. So, when you see a thick layer of ice starting to form on the walls of the fridge, it’s time to defrost.
You’re Not Replacing The Gaskets
The difference between a brand-new fridge and an older one is the way the door closes. The door of a brand-new refrigerator is super tight and that’s because of the gaskets. There are rubber seals going all over the frame of the refrigerator and it not only seals the cool air in, but it also allows insulation, which is amazing.
These gaskets, however, can get damaged and they need to be replaced, if you want your refrigerator to work properly. If you let this go unnoticed, then your energy bills will increase dramatically and that’s not what you want. So, always keep an eye out for the gaskets and once the door doesn’t shut tight, the gaskets are due for replacement.
Conclusion
Refrigerators will last long only if you take care of them and avoid these detrimental mistakes. If it breaks down on you, call in a refrigerator repair Springfield expert so the issue is tackled safely.