Tag Archives: refrigerator repair

Why Does a Refrigerator Stop Getting Cold?

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A refrigerator that is not cooling has the potential to ruin your food and incur high energy costs. If left untreated, it may cause irreversible damage to your equipment.

According to the FDA, the recommended temperature for a refrigerator is 40°F or below, while a freezer’s temperature should be 0°F.

If you have turned on your appliance but it’s not cooling, this can be due to several issues. Some of the issues that might be causing this problem include:

The condenser coils are dirty

When the condenser coils on the rear of the refrigerator become dusty or coated with spiderwebs, the device cannot cool effectively. According to appliance repair professionals, one of the simplest maintenance tasks you can perform on your refrigerator is to remove it and clean the condenser coils at least once every six months.

To remove the condenser, unlatch the anti-tip brackets on the cabinet’s exterior bottom front. You should then slide the refrigerator out carefully and clean the coils using a hand attachment from a vacuum cleaner.

When doing it, be careful not to bend or damage the coils.

If you have pets, consider pulling out the refrigerator and cleaning the coils more often, as plenty of fur is lying around.

The fridge isn’t plugged in.

While it may appear obvious, one of the most ignored troubleshooting procedures when diagnosing a faulty refrigerator is to ensure it is correctly plugged in, especially if you are returning after a vacation or lengthy absence.

To fix this, you should check the electrical outlet and ensure the refrigerator is properly plugged in.

Replace the damaged power cord with a new one to guarantee a secure and effective connection.

Also, ensure that the circuit breaker linked with the refrigerator is not tripped, as a tripped breaker can disrupt power flow.

Door gaskets are dirty.

The flexible door seals (gaskets) might get dirty over time due to food or fingerprints, preventing the door from properly sealing. To fix this problem, clean the gaskets with a sponge and warm soapy water.

Also, clean off the areas of the fridge where the gaskets meet.

You should avoid using abrasive cleansers, brushes, scouring pads, flammable substances, or window cleaning sprays, as they can harm the appliance, and you don’t want this.

The thermostat is broken.

When you have this problem, the fridge will be reasonably cool and operational but not as cold as you would want.

Your refrigerator has a thermostat that may be turned up or down to suit your preferences.

Check the thermostat to ensure it wasn’t unintentionally turned down, resulting in a tepid fridge that consumes all the electricity. If your thermostat stops working, you should get a replacement.

There is no power getting into the fridge.

When you open the fridge door, and no light comes on, no power is entering your fridge.

This may sound simple, but make sure the refrigerator is plugged in. And if it is, make sure it is receiving power.

Sometimes, the problem is this easy, so don’t ignore it. Perhaps you bumped the fridge while cleaning, and it came unplugged. If it is plugged in, the outlet may have a problem.

You can look at it by yourself or ask a professional to give it a look.

Food items are blocking the air vents.

Most refrigerators receive chilly air from vents in the freezer area, regardless of where the freezer is located.

Unfortunately, food items inside the refrigerator part of the appliance may be preventing the cold air vent from allowing cold air to pass through.

To fix this problem, find the bulky boxes or bags that may have been accidentally placed in front of the vents, preventing cool air from entering the unit.

Pull those items aside or move them to a different shelf.

You also should check if there is any ice blocking the vent. If so, gently chip it away while checking the device’s temperature.

The fridge doesn’t have enough food items.

Mass (food) in the refrigerator contributes to its cooling. Understocked refrigerators can have temperature difficulties and must work harder to maintain cool temperatures. On the other hand, well-stocked (but not overstocked) refrigerators contain enough mass to maintain cool temperatures.

You should keep your refrigerator roughly three-quarters full of food and liquids to ensure proper air circulation.

You should place a couple of water pitchers in the refrigerator’s empty corners to help it stay chilly.

Do not overfill your fridge because products require air movement to remain properly cold.

The evaporator fan is frozen.

When you are having this problem, you may hear a screaming sound that becomes louder when you open the freezer door.

The evaporator fan is normally situated at the back of the freezer, alongside the evaporator coils, and circulates air as the coils work to remove heat.

To access the fan, unplug the refrigerator and remove the cover inside the freezer, just like you did with the evaporator coils. If it is covered in frost, you must remove and defrost it.

You have placed the fridge in a cold area.

Where you place your refrigerator in a warm or cold environment, such as outside or in a garage, you might impact its cooling ability.

A too-cold garage will confuse the fridge and prevent it from cooling its contents. If the garage is too hot, the refrigerator will work overtime to chill the interior.

Even if the fridge is in good working condition, hot appliances near it, such as dishwashers, stoves, or ovens, can interfere with its cooling.

You should put a heat-insulating material on the refrigerator wall to shield the fridge from the stove’s heat.

When cooking, use your kitchen fan to keep the temperature down.

To keep the refrigerator separate from other hot appliances, refrigerator repair Springfield technicians recommend that you surround it with a bespoke enclosure. This is also a solution for a fridge in a garage with high temperatures.

Commercial Refrigerators Services: Refrigerator Problems You Can Fix By Yourself

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It’s imperative to keep your refrigerator in perfect working condition to keep food and other un-edible items fresh. Although, it’s recommended that you hire a commercial refrigerator professional to fix the appliance when it breaks down, you don’t have to hire the professional every time. Here are simple refrigerator problems that you can fix without the help of a contractor:

Always running refrigerator

A refrigerator that is always running not only makes a lot of noise, it also consumes a lot of power thus you end up paying hefty power bills. The most common cause for this problem is deposition of dust and debris around the condenser.

According to refrigerator contractors, this problem is common when you place the refrigerator in dusty areas.

The problem is also common when you set the refrigerator temperature too low. This causes the appliance to work overtime. The appliance can also freeze food and in severe cases spoil food.

To fix the problem you should get rid of dirt and debris in the condenser coils. In most refrigerators, condenser coils are located at the bottom of the appliance. You should use a vacuum cleaner to remove the buildup.

You may also be required to set the temperature to prevent your refrigerator from working overtime. You set the temperature to between 37 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Water leakage

Water leakage is a common problem that you can easily fix. According to commercial refrigerator technicians, the problem results from a blocked defrost drain. This happens when food particles or other debris clog up the drain hose resulting to breaking up of ice and water leakage from the freezer and refrigerator.

The problem can also come about due to frozen or clogged water supply lines. This affects ice production from the ice maker and water flow tends to stop.

To fix the problem, you should locate the rubber check valve located on the defrost drain hose. You should remove the valve and then clean it with hot water and soap.

If this doesn’t fix the problem, you should locate the shut-off valve located under the sink behind the refrigerator. You should carefully go through it and ensure that it’s fully closed.

Conclusion

These are two of the most common refrigerator problems that you can fix without the need of hiring a refrigerator repair contractor Fairfax. Although, you don’t have to hire a contractor, it’s wise that you hire him/her if you have tried fixing the problem and it doesn’t go away.

Commercial Refrigerators Services: Common Refrigerator Problems

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The refrigerator is an important device in your home. The unfortunate thing is that it tends to develop problems every now and then.

Common refrigerator problems

Although, there are many refrigerator problems, there are some problems that are more common than others. Here are some of the most common:

Failure of the compressor to run: All of the modern refrigerators come with an inbuilt compressor system that is designed to stop the compressor motor from running once a given level of cooling has been reached. When the automatic cooling control system is faulty the compressor will run constantly and be producing humming sounds.

Inadequate cooling: a clear sign that your refrigerator requires a commercial refrigerator repair professional is when the food that you had put into the fridge goes bad even when the refrigerator is on and the thermostat set to the maximum. Before you call a repair professional it’s recommended that you first try to set the thermostat a level or two. If you set it and still fails to work, this is when you should contact the repair professional.

Condenser problems: when the condenser isn’t working your refrigerator won’t be cooling. The condenser may stop cooling when it overheats as a result of a faulty condenser fan.

Leakages: refrigerators have a refrigerant liquid that is converted into gas and condensed back to liquid. This process makes it possible for the internal heat of the refrigerator to be extracted and replaced with cooling.

Sometimes the liquid accumulates inside or around the refrigerator unit. When the accumulated liquid reaches its maximum, the liquid begins to leak. To stop this you should contact a commercial refrigerator service provider to fix the problem.

Excessive noise: it’s common for faulty appliances to produce excessive noises and a faulty refrigerator is no exception. The noises may be due to a faulty freezer fan or condenser fan. In some cases the refrigeration unit maybe uneven and all you need to do is to balance it.

If you balance your refrigerator and still the noise doesn’t go away, you should get a professional commercial refrigerator repair service to take a look at the unit.

Conclusion

It’s the dream of every homeowner to have a refrigerator that is always in perfect working condition; however, this isn’t possible. When you notice any problem with your refrigerator, you should ensure that the problem is fixed by a certified commercial refrigerator contractor Falls Church. 

Understanding The Common Problems With Refrigerators

refrigerator repiarA refrigerator is an important unit to have in your house. The unfortunate thing with refrigerators is that they tend to develop problems over time. To help you out here are some of the common refrigerator problems:

Failure of the fridge to cool

There are many factors that can prevent your refrigerator from cooling. Some of these factors include: defective fan, bad compressor, capacitor and overstocking the fridge.

When your fridge fails to cool food, you should look at the condenser coils and dust them off. You should also look at the refrigerator door seal and ensure that isn’t broken. Finally, you should take a look at the thermostat and ensure that it’s set correctly. For ideal results, you should ensure that it’s set between 38-40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Leaking

It’s common for water to leak in refrigerators especially if there is a condensation build up. To repair the problem, you should check the lines to your dispenser. If the lines are broken or damaged you should replace them. You should also take a look at the drain pan. If there are holes or cracks on the pan, you should replace the pan.

Fridge freezing food

This happens when the thermostat isn’t set properly. The problem can also happen when the circulating fan blows cold air through the freezer. You should look at the fan and ensure that it’s working perfectly and blowing air the right way.

Frost buildup

This happens when there is a thick layer of frost that blocks the freezer. To undertake refrigerator repair you should empty and unplug the fridge temporarily in order to allow the ice to melt. To speed up the defrosting process you should consider using a hairdryer.

Excessive noise

Excessive noise in refrigerators is brought about by a number of factors including: unlubricated motors and malfunctioning fan. To fix the problem you should lubricate the motors. You should also replace the fan if it’s the one causing the problem. If you replace the fan and the problem persists, you should check its position and ensure that you haven’t placed it too close to the compressor.

Conclusion

These are some of the common problems with refrigerators. While there are some minor problems that you can rectify by yourself, you should avoid trying to rectify problems that you don’t understand. If your fridge develops complex problems you should hire a refrigerator repair professional to help you out.

Decide Whether to Repair or Replace Your Refrigerator

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Among all the home appliances, refrigerators are the one of those that is taken for granted. It is because of the fact that refrigerators are the most reliable and durable appliance. It is not extraordinary to get years of trouble-free service from a refrigerator. Eventually, every appliance needs repair or replacement. But the reliability of refrigerators makes it difficult for homeowners take decision at the right time.

Repair or replace your refrigerator

It is not easy to choose between refrigerator repair and replacement. The decision of whether or not to replace an old refrigerator depends on multiple things, including the condition, impact on the environment and your own personal requirements.

How to Decide When to Replace a Refrigerator?

Age: How old is your refrigerator? In general, refrigerators have 10 to 20 years of life span. No matter which brand of refrigerator you are using, it will not work with the same efficiency after 20 years. If your refrigerator is less than 15 years old, and it is showing problems, then consider appliance repair. But if it is more than 18 years old and not working properly, opt for replacement.

Type of Refrigerator: Some refrigerator types are more complex and expensive to repair than others. Built-in refrigerators are easy to repair while refrigerators with bottom freezers are expensive to repair. Thus, if your refrigerator is making you pay expensive repair bills, then it is better to replace it.

Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency is important thing associated with the electronic appliances. In case, your refrigerator is consuming a lot of energy and hiking your electricity bill, then it is better to replace it with new energy efficient refrigerator. Do remember to check the energy star rating whenever you purchase your next electronic appliance. Electronic engineering is progressing at rapid pace. The newer appliance you purchase, the more energy efficiency you get. Energy efficient appliances are expensive but they provide long-term benefits.

Condition: Condition of refrigerator depends on usage. If you have used your refrigerator properly, then your appliance may provide some more years of services. On the other hand, if you haven’t paid any attention over appliance maintenance, you may need early replacement.

So, these are some beaming signals that say that you need a refrigerator replacement. You can also discuss this matter with appliance repair technician before actually replacing it. You may get some good advice.

 

Know your refrigerator to minimize cost of repairs

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A refrigerator is the only electrical appliance that runs continuously day and night to keep your food cold. But sometimes on rare occasions, your refrigerator stops working and puts you in a situation where you need to pay high repair bill and in few cases the cost of the replacement of fridge. So, it’s better to follow refrigerator repair tips to prevent the high cost of repairs on your refrigerator. The reality is that some of the repairs are so easy and require simple knowledge about the appliance and patience to fix the problem at home.

Why Hire a Refrigerator Repair Company

Before fixing any problem, you must know about the internal arrangement of your refrigerator. All type of freezers and refrigerators consists of two components. One is a condenser coil and another is evaporator coil. A liquid coolant passes through both these coils with the help of a compressor and the electric motor. The liquid present in the refrigerator then cools down inside the condenser and passes to the evaporator. The amount of air present in the unit gets cooled off after developing a connection with the liquid-filled coil. Condenser coil is placed outside the unit while evaporator coil inside the unit and the coolant circulates through the entire system with the help of a compressor.

These days, refrigerators are frost free and heater gets turned on automatically as per the timer and melt the frost present inside the refrigerator. When melting of the frost completes then the thermostat resort to a cooling cycle to preserve the standard temperature of freezing. This automatic process rules out building up of frost.

A capacity type motor runs the compressor system and leads the coolant to pass through the coil system. Other parts used for cooling or defrosting system include thermostats, heaters, condensers and fans. If you want to fix the problem in any of these components then you must know the internal functioning of all these parts of the refrigerator and freezers. A DIY(Do it yourself)helps to save money on repair but there are exceptions and best to contact a professional refrigerator repair company to fix the problem and follow refrigerator repair tips to minimize the amount of repairs.

Before starting any repair on your refrigerator or freezer, make sure to unplug it. After unplugging, check the presence of a motor/compressor with a capacitor. Capacitors store electricity and supplies power even after power is off. So, ensure to discharge the capacitor before starting any DIY repairs to prevent a severe shock.

Commercial Appliances Repair: Tips On How To Keep Your Kitchen Appliances In Top Shape

For your kitchen appliances to function optimally all the time, you need to take good care of them. Here are some of the things that you should do to keep the units in top shape as given by commercial appliances repair professionals:

Refrigerator

As a restaurant owner, you know that the refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in your kitchen. The cold environment makes the refrigerator prone to mold. You need to do a number of things to prevent the mold from coming about and also prevent the fridge from wearing out.

According to refrigerator repair professionals, one of the most important things that you should do to your fridge is to clean it. Many people have the belief that they only need to clean the insides. Far from this—you also need to clean the outsides.

When it comes to cleaning the insides of the unit, you should remove all the shelves and drawer and scrub the insides with a mixture of warm water and soap. If there are stains, use baking soda to remove them. Once you are done, dry the wet spots with a clean piece of towel.

On the outside, you should examine the condenser coils and clean them using a broom or any other similar cleaning tool. You also should check and maintain refrigerator door gaskets.

Microwave

Just like the refrigerator, commercial microwave oven service professionals observe that one of the important things that you should do to the unit is to clean it. You should heat a cup of water and let it sit and evaporate until the steam appears on the glass window.

You should use a sponge, paper towel, or piece of cloth to wipe the insides of the unit. If the microwave has a glass plate, you should remove and scrub it, getting rid of all the dirt that might be there.

When it comes to the exterior of the appliance, you should use an all-purpose cleaner on a piece of cloth or sponge. When cleaning, take caution that you don’t spray it directly on the appliance as you risk the cleaner getting into the ventilation holes.

Conclusion

These are some of the ways in which you can take care of your kitchen appliances. When the units develop problems, you should fix them as soon as possible. For the unit to be fixed properly, ensure that the work is done by a reputable commercial kitchen appliance service Vienna.

How to Know a Good Refrigerator

If your fridge is old and you are tired of hiring a refrigerator repair professional, the best way to fix the problem is to get a new appliance. Of course, when buying a refrigerator, you must get a good one.

How do you know that you are buying a good refrigerator? There are several things you can look out for. These things include:

Size of the fridge

You want a fridge that will adequately fit your kitchen. Before you head to the stores or place your order, measure the space you want to place the unit. Pay attention to the area’s depth, width, and height when calculating.

You also should consider your storage needs. If you have a large family, you will need a large unit, but a small appliance will get the work done if you live alone.

If buying the appliance online, carefully compare the specifications given in the descriptions with your measurements and place the order only after you have ascertained that the new unit will fit your space.

The efficiency of the fridge

If you have had your old fridge for a long, you must have noticed that it consumed a lot of energy, right? You don’t want your new unit to do the same, do you?

To ensure this doesn’t happen, buy an energy-efficient appliance.

Besides ensuring that the unit is suitable for your needs and space, ensure that the appliance has a high-energy star rating. While at it, pay attention to the annual energy consumption and always go for a unit with low consumption, often quoted in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

Certain brands are known to be more energy efficient than others so take your time to buy one with a good reputation. The brand might be a little expensive, but it will save you a lot of money.

Reputable brand

As mentioned, you should always buy a fridge made by a reputable brand. This way, you not only have a highly efficient unit but a unit that will also last for a long time.

To tell whether a brand is worth it, check the customer ratings. After all, they are the ones that have already used the appliance, right?

It’s rare to even for the best brand to have a perfect 5-star rating, but you should pay attention to several positive and negative reviews. Of course, you should go for a brand with more positive ratings than negative ones.

When you come across a brand with perfect ratings, you should be wary of it, as chances are it’s cheating. This is because it’s rare for even the company to make the best appliance to please everyone. There is always someone that doesn’t like what they do.

Besides the brand having high-quality appliances, it also should provide warranty and service at a local service center. This way, you are sure you are covered in an accident and can quickly fix your unit in your local store.

The right type

There are many brands to buy from in the same way you can purchase many types of fridges. Of course, for the refrigerator you are looking to buy to be the right one, it has to be of the correct type.

The different types of fridges in the market are bottom freezer, top freezer, side-by-side, compact, French door, built, and so on.

We all have different tastes, and all you need to do is to choose the one that is best for you.

Aesthetics

Besides the functional fridge, it also needs to be good-looking for it to be the right one to buy. The appliance should also have several attractive features, such as automatic defrosting.

You may need to visit different stores and compare various devices to buy the best appliance. If there is something that you are doubtful of, get the input of a commercial appliance repair Fairfax professional.

How To Save Energy And Money With Your Refrigerator

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The fact that you need cool food and drinks doesn’t mean that you should spend an arm and leg on it, does it? Thankfully, there are several tips given by refrigerator repair professionals on how to save as much energy and money on your appliance as possible. Which are these tips? Here they are:

Get rid of your old refrigerator

If your fridge consumes too much energy and is more than ten years old, it might be due to its old age.

If you can’t remember when you purchased your refrigerator, you should consider getting a new, more energy-efficient one.

Yes, the new unit will set you back a tidy sum, but it will save you a lot in the long run.

When buying a new appliance, pay attention to the energy star rating and always go for the appliance with the highest rating.

Practice the 2/3rds full rule

As you can tell, the fridge consumes energy when it’s working to replace the lost, cold air. To make it easy for the fridge, use the 2/3rds full rule. Here you keep the refrigerator and freezer at least 2/3 full. This means that you have less than 1/3 of the unit empty, so only 1/3 of cold air can leak out.

Although you should always observe the rule, putting it into consideration is more important if you have a large family and you keep opening the door to reach for food.

Ensure your unit has enough air supply

Where you place your fridge significantly impacts how it functions efficiently. For example, if you place it next to a heat source such as a radiator, hob, or oven, it will run more frequently, which means it consumes more energy than it should.

To ensure that your unit is in top working condition all the time, ensure that there is sufficient air moving around. This calls for you to place it away from heat-producing appliances. You also should avoid placing it too close to the wall.

If you visit many homes, you will find many homeowners placing items on their fridges. As much as this brings convenience, it often makes the fridge work harder to get rid of hot air caused by these items.

For your unit to run efficiently, get rid of any products you might have placed on it.

Keep an eye on frost in your unit.

Plenty of frost in your freezer will make your unit work hard, which, as mentioned above, translates to high-energy consumption. To cut on the amount of money you spend on your monthly energy bill, regularly inspect your freezer and if the frost is ¼” or thicker, thaw it out.

Reduce the frequency you open the day.

As we have said, you have a large energy bill at the end of every month due to cold air escaping your fridge, often through the door.

To keep as much cold air inside, reduce the frequency at which you open the door. The right way to go about it is to take all the things you need from the fridge at once.

If you live with other people in the house, let them know about the benefits of minimizing the frequency of opening the door and encourage them to keep the door closed at all times.

Even when you open the door, don’t leave it open for too long as you will lose too much cold air. Instead, reach for what you need as fast as possible and close the door.

Only store cold food in the fridge

Some people try to cool their food by placing it in the fridge while still hot. While this might work, it often leads to the refrigerator overworking to cool the food.

Even if you are looking to experiment, appliance repair Springfield professionals significantly advise against placing hot food in the fridge. Even if you want to store the food in the refrigerator for later, let it first cool completely to room temperature before placing it inside the appliance.

Why Is My Fridge Consuming Too Much Electricity?

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The refrigerator is meant to keep the food cold and fresh, and this task is accomplished with the help of fans, an evaporator, a condenser, thermostats, and timers. While this is the case, the unit shouldn’t consume too much electricity that you spend more than you should.

If you have noticed that your fridge is consuming a lot of energy, you might be wondering why this is the case, right? According to refrigerator repair professionals, this can be brought about by several factors. Here are these factors and what you can do to solve them and prevent a similar issue from resulting in the future:

You have faulty gaskets

The gaskets between the door and housing wear out over time, and the adhesive holding them in place sometimes wears out too. The gasket rubber also sometimes loses its elasticity.

As the door gaskets fail, the fridge loses cool air, and the refrigerator has to work harder to maintain cool air inside. As you can guess, this means the appliance consumes more electricity than it should.

To prevent the appliance from doing this, make it a habit to inspect the gaskets as you are doing the cleaning. If you notice them worn out, replace them.

You have a faulty thermostat.

The thermostat is a switch that is usually open. The switch closes when the temperature gets too high, causing the fan to force cooler air into the freezer and fridge.

Sometimes, the thermostat fails and sticks in the closed position. This means that the fan forcing the cold air into the freezer and fridge works continuously, which triggers the refrigerator to draw more energy than usual.

Like with the gaskets, regularly inspect the thermostats (especially if you have an older refrigerator) and fix them if faulty.

You place hot food in the fridge.

You might argue that when you put hot food in the fridge, the food cools down faster. While this might be true, you should know that doing it increases the temperature inside, forcing the refrigerator to work hard to maintain low temperatures.

When you place hot food directly from the stove into the fridge, experts observe that it takes up to 2 hours for the refrigerator to bring the temperatures to normal levels. This means your fridge will be in working mode for two hours, consuming power nonstop for this long.

To save energy, don’t put food directly into the fridge. Let it cool first, then only put it there once it has fully cooled down. This way, you don’t increase the temperature in the fridge hence the unit doesn’t overwork to maintain the low temperatures.

You have compressor problems.

The compressor creates cold air for the fridge and connects to the heat-exchanging pipe coils outside the refrigerator.

An expansion valve at the end of the pipe system allows the refrigerant to exit as fine mist. Another set of heat-exchanging pipes winds through the inner walls of the fridge.

In the event the coils or expansion valve get blocked, the compressor keeps running, which triggers it to use excessive energy, even if there is no cool air reaching the fridge.

To prevent this from happening, regularly inspect your fridge and replace it if the compressor is faulty or too old.

If you have had your fridge for over a decade and it’s constantly bringing problems, you will save money and have peace of mind by buying a new unit.

Your fridge is too close to the wall.

Like any other heat-producing appliance, when you place your fridge too close to the wall, heat gets trapped between the wall and the refrigerator, leading to the appliance overworking and consuming a lot of energy.

Ensure a 30 cm gap between the wall and your appliance to stay on the safe side.

If you have a large house, appliance repair Fairfax professionals recommend that you avoid keeping your fridge in the kitchen, as the room temperatures are high here.

You also should avoid keeping the heater, microwave oven, or any other heat-producing appliance close to your fridge.