Your refrigerator most likely takes up prime residence in your humble kitchen. This appliance is usually one of, if not the most, expensive item in your cookhouse. It usually hums there silently, but at times, your =cooling appliance may need some TLC and you may need to call out a specialist, such as Melbourne fridge repairs to have a look and attend to her. Fridge repairs can cost anything from $200 to a few thousand dollars depending on what you need done.
To avoid this and improve the longevity of your unit, You should contact the best sub zero fridge repair services that can help you. Also there are some things you can do to assist in the upkeep and maintenance of your fridge. This will keep her working well, ensure the appliance lasts and keeps your food fresh, cold and healthy.
- Get the temperature right.
According to the CSIRO, the ideal temperature for the freezer is between -18°C – -20°C and for the fridge under 5°C.
- Keep her smelling fresh.
Nothing is worse than opening a fridge and smelling the odour of stale food. Be sure to cover up all your food you store in the freezer and fridge and check weekly. Discard any left overs or out of date food. To reduce the likely hood of offensive smells, keep an open pack of baking soda in the refrigerator. This absorbs unsavoury aroma and keeps it all fresh and clear.
Unless your fridge is front vented or zero clearance, try and keep a bit of space around her. This includes sides and top and keep her away from the wall at the rear of the unit. This will ensure all parts have space to operate and not have things trapped up against it.
- Keep her clean.
Make keeping your refrigerator clean as part of your normal daily cleaning regime. Wipe down the outside and inside of the unit on a regular and ongoing basis. Be sure to take out all the food and other items stored inside so you can get right in there and give her a good solid clean. Take out all the drawers and shelves and clean these too. This allows you to get into every nook and granny, leaving no stone unturned to eliminate mildew and food residue.
A solution of warm water and vinegar will be suffice to complete the task.
- Keep the vents clear.
These parts of the appliance help circulate the cool area where it should be going and keep your food cool and at a safe temperature to eat.
- Don’t leave the doors open.
Leaving the fridge and freezer doors open alters the temperature and makes the unit work harder. You want your unit to be as energy efficient as possible. So eb sure to keep the door closed unless you’re getting in there to get something.
- Make sure she’s level.
If your cooling cabinet sits uneven, chances are the doors and seals may not close quite fully, making the unit work harder. Use a spirit level to ensure she’s on even floor.
- Maintain the seals.
These items are on the doors of the freezer and fridge and keep everything all locked up and tight. This keeps all the cool air inside so your food and beverages stay the right temperature. If the seals aren’t well maintained or are broken, the air will start to come out of the fridge and your fridge needs to use more power to do its job.
Just as with the other parts of the fridge, the seals need regular cleaning too. A remedy of water and baking soda will do the trick. Just use an old toothbrush and get in there and give it a gentle clean. You can check its reliability by putting a thin bit of paper in the door and attempting to remove it when the door is closed. If the paper comes out easily, then the seals may need replacing.
- Don’t forget about the water filter.
If your appliance has one of those groovy icemakers, you’ll also need to check the water filter and replace approximately every 6 months. This will keep the filtration system clean and doing the role its meant to, which is keeping your water nice and chemical free.
Please note: Various refrigerator models may vary with their recommendations on filtration system maintenance and replacement of parts. Please read owner’s manual of your specific model for reference.
- Defrost that baby often!
More recent models don’t seem to collect icy reside, and some may have a self-care style mechanism where it defrosts itself. This doesn’t mean you don’t need to defrost your fridge every now and then. Take all the food items which require keeping cool out and place in any esky or your additional fridge if you have one.
Turn her of and allow it to defrost manually. Don’t use knives or other sharp implements to remove ice as you could damage the appliance. If you want to get the job done faster, you can put a fan in front of the open unit.
- Clean the condenser coils.
These are the coils at the back of your refrigerator. They tend to attract a fair bit of dust, hair and grime as they are generally hidden away from view.
These baby’s are vital to keep at an optimum level as they are what keeps your fridge nice and cool. Unplug your fridge and use your vacuum cleaner to give them a going over every 3 months. Please be sure to read your manual to check if there are more specific methods and time frames associated with your unit.
- Check the drain hole and drop pan.
You’ll locate these parts at the front of your refrigerator behind the grille. Every unit has condensation which grows over time. This tends to go through a drip hole and ends up in a water pan. Although most of it dissipates naturally, it’s still important to give it an inspection to verify that its’s not getting over full or has any blockages or other issues.
