article

Keeping Your Refrigerator Running Its Best

By Bluehammer Admin

Refrigerators are the most important appliance in the Kitchen. Many home owners make sure to keep the inside of their refrigerators clean but often don't think about the best practices that can help keep their fridge running it's best.

Best practices for a healthy refrigerator

A healthy refrigerator keeps food cold more efficiently while using less electricity. By following these good habits, you can help ensure to keep it running it's best for years.

  • Check the back of your fridge for build up on your coilsYour refrigerator's condensor coils release heat as a byproduct of keeping your food cold. Typically your condensor coils are located on the back of your refrigerator which is a prime area for dust, pet hair and anything else you can imagine to accumulate. You want to keep these coils clear of any debris to make sure they are performing their best and not wasting energy by working extra hard. The best way to clean your coils is to gently vacuum them using your brush attachment. You will need to move your refrigerator away from the wall so use extra caution when moving a large appliance. Some refrigerator coils are accessed by removing the vent grill found on the lower-front area of the appliance. Depending on how dusty your home is, your coils should be cleaned every couple of months allowing them to work at their peak efficiency.
  • Keep hot food out of the fridgePutting hot leftover food into your refrigerator raises the inside temperature. This makes the cooling system work extra to maintain the desired temperature. Let your leftover food cool as close to room temperature as possible, making sure not to let it spoil, before you cover and put it in the fridge.
  • Keep the doors shutWhen you are putting away your groceries, keep the doors shut as much as possible. Gather all items that are going in the refrigerator first. That way you can quickly put them all away without having the door open while you search through your bags. This keeps the inside temperature cooler allowing the condensor to work less.
  • Keep your refigerator away from heat sourcesIf you have the flexibilty, keeping your refrigerator away from radiators, floor heaters and ovens will help extend the life of the condensor. Artificially raising the temperature around a regrigerator makes the unit work harder to keep the inside temperature down causing un needed wear and tear on the motor.
  • Keep the air flowing and the doors sealedA packed refrigerator can reduce the air flow needed to work optimally. Try not to over-stuff your refrigerator and make sure the air vents are not blocked, especially in the freezer. To keep the cold air in, make sure you keep the door seals clean from build up by wiping them down with warm water and a rag. This keeps the seal tight holding in the cold air.

Cleaning the inside of your refrigerator

When it comes to maintaining the health of your refrigerator, keeping the inside clean should be a scheduled maintenance item. A good way to clean your refrigerator (and keep it clean) is to take it in sections. Break your fridge into 4 sections. Each week, clean a section by taking the food out and wiping it down with dish soap and warm water. If you have a hard to erase stain, you can try baking soda or a cleaner. Make sure to follow the directions if you use a cleaner. Cleaning it in sections reduces the amount of work time it takes to keep the interior of your refrigerator clean and also reduces the amount of time your doors are open.

Want to estimate your home improvement costs before talking with a contractor? Claim your home for free with bluehammer to estimate costs, secure your home inventory and learn more about your home.

* THIS REPORT IS AN OPINION THAT MAY BE INACCURATE AND IS PROVIDED SOLELY AS AN INFORMATIONAL TOOL NOT DESIGNED TO PROVIDE DEFINITIVE ANSWERS. ALL ELEMENTS ARE OFFERED "AS IS" AND BLUEBOOK EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS, AND GUARANTEES OF ANY NATURE, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABLITILY, NONINFRINGEMENT, TITLE, QUIET ENJOYMENT, ACCURACY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL BLUEBOOK (OR THEIR SUPPLIERS) BE LIABLE FOR ANY GENERAL, DIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE RESULTING FROM USE OF THE PRODUCT, INCLUDING : (1) RELIANCE ON THE MATERIALS PRESENTED, (2) COSTS OF REPLACEMENT GOODS, (3) LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, (4) DELAYS OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTIONS, (5) AND ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF INFORMATION) WHETHER OR NOT BLUEBOOK HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Know what you should pay for your home improvement projects with bluehammer.Claim your home. It's free!

Popular


Easy Architectural Details You Can Add To Your Home

Newer homes, especially those geared toward first-time buyers, are often devoid of the level of architectural detail you would find in older or more expensive homes. If you're not a fan of the big, boring box look, you can easily add in some detail to up the charm factor. And, many of these projects can be done yourself with minimal skill and money.

Choosing Window Treatments: Pros and Cons

Deciding on the right size, color, fabric and pillow configuration for your couch took three weeks. You still haven't decided on the paint color for the bedroom, despite having seven different shades of blue in swatches up on the wall. It seems like every design decision you've made in your home was critical, but the one that will help pull it all together hasn't garnered a moment of thought.

8 Clever Ways To Zone Off Space In An Open Floor Plan

We've fallen for open-plan living in recent years. After all, not many of us have a formal room just for company anymore. And with modern building materials, we don't necessarily need every room to have four walls to keep it at a comfortable temperature. But although an open plan may bring the space, light, flow and garden views we desire, it can also feel problematic to organize into zones - and prove distracting to share. Enter the glass partition. It makes room division simple yet doesn't starve spaces of light or compromise the open feel. Decorative, at half or full height, framed or barely visible, a glass partition can work in every environment. Check out these designs.

New Designs In Cabinet Refacing

You may be one of the fortunate homeowners whose kitchen just needs an update instead of a full remodel. Cabinet refacing is an economical option that can give your kitchen a quick makeover in no time. Rather than gutting your cabinets and replacing them with new ones, cabinet refacing allows you to update the exterior of the cabinets you already have. It's also a fabulous way to add contemporary design elements to your space, both with cabinet doors, colors and hardware. Let's take a look at the latest designs in cabinet refacing.

How to Let Go of Unwanted Things You've Inherited

Whether you've inherited a large collection of items or a single bulky piece of furniture, it's OK to let it go if you don't need or want it.

New Windows Changed My House - and My Mind

It was exciting to contemplate city life after living in smaller towns. Apparently, everyone else thought so too, because by the time I decided I liked a house, it was gone from the market.

Is Your Home A Burglar Magnet?

The thought of a home break-in is terrifying, but are you doing everything you can to prevent one? You might be making critical mistakes that make your home a burglar magnet, or, at least failing to take advantage of easy fixes to make your home less attractive to thieves.

Replacing Your Kitchen Dishwasher

Mix water, moving parts and wear and tear and you get a dishwasher replacement project

10 Spring Cleaning Tricks For Everyone

Lazy cleaning is all about minimizing the effort. But, minimal effort doesn't have to mean you live like a slob - it just means you need to know some cool tricks tools that will help do the work for you, or at least make it less painful.

Replacing Your Bathroom Vanity

Replacing your old vanity can make a big aesthetic difference in your bathroom.

See More Articles