February-20: PUBLIC INTERESTÂ
- Posted by CERC India
- Posted in FEBRUARY
How to make your fridge last longer
A refrigerator is an expensive appliance. You definitely don’t want to either replace it too soon or spend money on frequent repairs. But if you treat it right, your fridge will function well much longer. Follow the tips given below.
Keep it clean: Apart from keeping the insides clean, ensure there is no debris on the gasket on the doors. This can prevent the seal from being effective and allow unwanted warm air in making the compressor (the costliest component in the fridge) work harder. Replace the gasket if it is worn out. In addition, clean condenser coils (which collect dust, hair and grime) with a brush regularly so that they function optimally to dissipate heat.
Don’t overstuff it: If you cram your refrigerator with food items, it will reduce air circulation thereby putting more load on the compressor.
Keep the temperature right: If the freezer temperature is kept too high it may cause the defrost thermostat to stop working which will shorten the life of your fridge. The ideal freezer temperature is 0 to 5 degrees F. Set your refrigerator temperature to between 36-38°F. If it requires a manual defrost do it regularly.
Don’t ignore a noisy fridge: If you notice that your fridge is always running, or making too much noise, take action to fix it right away.
Keep your fridge away from heat sources: Keep it away from direct sunlight, the cooking range, oven, dishwasher and other appliances that emit heat.
Don’t open the door too often or for too long: Avoid frequent opening of the door. Organise your fridge so that you have to keep it open for less time. Don’t store large items on the top shelf as this may trap the heat in. Cool food before putting it into the fridge – do not put hot food in.
Don’t use the top for storage: If you keep cereal boxes or other things on top of your fridge, it will interfere with its ability to dissipate heat.
Finally, if your refrigerator is over 15 years old, replace it with a more energy efficient appliance.
Sources: www.rd.com, learn.compactappliance.com, www.consumerreports.org
