Refrigerators are quite an investment, and paying for repairs can be too so I want to share with you a hew tips for how to extend the life expectancy of a refrigerator. It just so happens that both refrigerator maintenance tips and energy saving tips for you refrigerator will work to extend the life of refrigerator. Pretty cool! Here are instructions for how to clean refrigerator coils and keep your refrigerator in tip top shape.
Extend Life Expectancy Of A Refrigerator With These Tips
Energy Saving Tips For Refrigerator
Whether you are using a new Energy Star energy efficient refrigerator or older model, there are some things you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your refrigerator even more.
Refrigerator placement can actually have a large impact on its energy efficiency. The refrigerator should have room on all sides (between walls, cabinets and counters) for air flow. This will allow your refrigerator to operate more efficiently and prevent premature burnout of the motor. The refrigerator should not be placed next to the stove, dishwasher or other sources of heat (such as direct sunlight) as this would cause the refrigerator to work harder than it needs to and waste energy.
Plan ahead and know what you want to get out of the refrigerator before you open the door. Keep your refrigerator organized, with a drawer for fruit, a drawer for vegetables, an area for beverages and meat, etc. This will help you be able to reduce the amount of time you keep your refrigerator door open and reduce the amount of energy it will take to cool the refrigerator back down to proper temperature when you shut the door.
For food safety, set your fridge temperature to be between 36-40 degrees. Set your freezer temperature to be between 0-5 degrees. Keeping it any colder than these settings uses a significant amount of energy with no gain.
Proper refrigerator maintenance and cleaning the refrigerator coils will also improve the energy efficiency of your refrigerator. This should be done at least once a year. More on this below.
Refrigerator Maintenance Tips
A need for repairs is more than likely to happen somewhere down the road. However, what you want to do is extend the efficiency of your refrigerator through proper maintenance so that it works longer with less need to replace parts.
There is one essential task you may do to extend the life of your refrigerator, and that is to take the time and clean the refrigerator condenser coils once a year. If there was an ideal Handyman guide, cleaning your refrigerator’s condenser would be right there at the time.
How To Clean Refrigerator Coils
Before you start cleaning your condenser coils, you’re going to need to locate them. The condenser is located in different areas, depending on the make and model of your refrigerator. It is going to be in one of three places: on the back of the fridge, underneath the fridge (just behind the grille), or right on top of the fridge.
Once you locate your refrigerator coils, it is imperative that you unplug the refrigerator to avoid any likelihood of electric shock. This goes for any time you clean or attempt to execute any type of maintenance of your refrigerator. The following are the ways to clean your condenser, depending on whether it’s located on the back, underneath, or on top of the fridge.
Cleaning the Condenser Coils on the Back or Underneath The Front Grill
- Cut power first. Make certain the refrigerator is unplugged or the circuit breaker is off.
- Take off the base grille (if applicable).
- Take a coil brush to wipe away any dirt, hair, pet fur, dust, or anything else from the coils.
- Thoroughly vacuum or sweep all of the dirt and debris on the floor.
- Place the base grille back (if applicable).
Cleaning the Condenser Coils on the Top
- Be sure to unplug the refrigerator. Or turn off its circuit breaker.
- Take off the grille panel on the top.
- It’s suggested you wear a long-sleeved shirt and work gloves because of the sharp condenser fins.
- Find the condenser, which is towards the back of the refrigerator, on the right behind the compressor.
- Use a soft bristle brush to reach through the mid-section of the compartment, and loosen up the dirt and debris.
- Vacuum the area with a proper brush attachment (preferably a long, narrow nozzle) to pick up the dirt.
If you have any pets, especially ones that shed, or if your refrigerator is located in a dust-infested area, like a garage, you may want to consider cleaning the condenser more often. Now, if your refrigerator wasn’t as cold as before, it will be after cleaning the condenser; however, you might have to reset the refrigerator for the machine to balance out. In addition, since the refrigerator compressor is clean, it will run more efficiently, saving you electricity and money on your electric bill.
I hope you found these instructions for how to clean refrigerator coils helpful. These energy savings tips for refrigerators can go along way. The proper maintenance of your refrigerator will extend the life of your refrigerator before it starts to need repairs. Cleaning your condenser is an essential part of maintaining your refrigerator, so make sure you take the time to do it once a year. With proper maintenance of your fridge, you’ll keep your food fresh, your electric bill low, and your wallet happy.
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Christy Garrett @ Uplifting Families says
Thank you for sharing this. This is something that I really need to do.
vivek singh says
Great information thanks for sharing it. This will definitely helps to add extra life to our refrigerator. I am using a frost free refrigerator for my daily uses. I will follow these steps to maintain my refrigerator.