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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.

Refrigerator Best Practises

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There are correct and incorrect methods of storing food in the fridge. Some fruits and vegetables, for example, must be refrigerated, while others must be stored at room temperature.

You can store some cooking oils on the counter, while you should store others in the refrigerator. Some expired items may not be genuinely expired, and you may use incorrect containers.

What should you do, and what shouldn’t you do?

We’ve done the legwork to determine the best ways to keep your refrigerated food taste great and last as long as possible. To help you out, here are tips you should follow:

Not every food is supposed to be refrigerated

You might think you should refrigerate every leftover food, but appliance repair professionals observe that this shouldn’t be the case.

There are plenty of food items that you shouldn’t allow in your fridge.

Refrigeration actively deteriorates some items, including onions, potatoes, garlic, avocado, tomatoes, bananas, stone fruit, bread, pastries, melons, spices, honey, peanut butter, apples, coffee, eggs, butter, sauces, dressings, soy sauce, and hot sauce.

This means that you shouldn’t store these items in the fridge. Instead, store them at room temperature.

Properly store the cooking oils.

Cooking oils derived from fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds require different storage conditions. This is because oil oxidizes when exposed to oxygen, light, or heat, eventually turning it rancid.

While certain cooking oils can be stored at room temperature, some perform best in the refrigerator.

To help shed more light on the issue, here are ways to store the different oils:

Corn and canola oils: Store them in a cool, dark cupboard, or refrigerate them if it takes over a year to finish a bottle.

Olive oil: Leaving olive oil out on the counter or table, especially if the bottle is exposed to direct sunlight, or storing it on or near a stove are proven ways to turn it rancid. To avoid this, put it in the coolest, darkest corner of your house or use a smaller glass container in the kitchen.

Peanut oil can be stored for up to two years if well-sealed and kept away from heat and light. Refrigerating peanut oil may increase its shelf life even further, so go ahead and do it.

Coconut oil is relatively stable and has a two-year shelf life or more when stored at room temperature.

Avocado, grapeseed, hazelnut, sesame, truffle, walnut, safflower, and sunflower oils are delicate oils especially susceptible to rancidity when exposed to excessive light or heat.

You can go ahead and refrigerate it after opening. These oils will last six months or longer if you keep them cold.

Don’t throw away food items just because they are expired

Did you realize that no national regulation defines expiration dates? Expiration dates simply indicate quality control rather than safety or nutritional worth. This means that you can still go ahead and store and eat the food items even if they are past their expiry dates.

How can you know if your food is safe to eat? Read up on USDA recommendations, utilize your eyes and nose, and trust your instincts.

Some of the things that you can use to tell whether you can eat the food items include:

Smell: If it smells good and is properly preserved, it’s probably safe to eat.

Sight: Don’t let your eyes trick you when it comes to fresh foods like produce. Bumps and bruises do not indicate that something is destroyed.

Don’t can the cans: Canned foods have a long shelf life. Even rusted cans should be fine as long as they are not bulging and the seal is intact.

In conclusion, check the packaging, utilize your senses, thoroughly cook food, and don’t let the perfect become the enemy of the good.

A thorough awareness of “expiration” dates could significantly reduce food waste—not to mention money out of your pocket.

Don’t wrap the leftovers using plastic.

Many people wrap their foods in plastic before placing them in their fridges, which isn’t a good thing to do as it leads to food getting spoilt.

The right way to go about it is to wrap the food in safer food wrap.

If you’re tired of tossing away disposable food wrap but still want to keep your food fresh, Bee’s Wrap could be the solution.

It’s supposed to be built on top of your kitchen and then unwrapped to serve as a placemat. Bee’s wrap is also great for storing food.

It’s also useful for wrapping cheese, half an avocado, half a lemon, and covering jars and bowls (squeeze some Bee’s Wrap onto the top of a container, and the warmth of your hand will soften the wax just enough to form a seal).

When buying the bees wrap, buy a high-quality one that will give you excellent results.

Use the proper storage containers.

Besides being cautious of the type of wrap you use to cover your food before storage, you must also be careful of your storage containers.

Two of the best containers to use are glass and plastic containers.

The food will not leak into the glass container, and the glass will not shatter. For the best outcome, go with a container with a silicone lid.

While the silicone on the lid will discolor, it will be clean following a dishwasher cycle.

Plastic containers will not leak until severely shaken, and drops aren’t a concern unless the container falls on its side or a corner.

Although no plastic container is oven-safe, the set is dishwasher- and microwave-safe and comes with a lifetime warranty.

You should avoid freezing this set since expanding food may cause the top to pop off.

Always ensure that the fridge door closes fully at all times

For peace of mind that your fridge is functioning optimally and you aren’t wasting a lot of power, ensure your fridge door is always closed.

If your refrigerator door won’t close, it’s most likely due to a worn-out gasket, the rubber seal that runs down its edge. Fortunately, the solution is simple: clean the gasket and apply petroleum jelly to the rubber to revive it.

You don’t need a refrigerator repair Alexandria professional to help you fix it unless the problem is too exaggerated.

Signs Its Time to Hire a Refrigerator Repair Professional

Without the fridge, you wouldn’t freeze quick and simple meals, wouldn’t be able to store perishable items for an extended period of time without canning, and would have to consume everything at once because you couldn’t save leftovers. This is a hard life, right?

All of these advantages will disappear if your refrigerator breaks down. To ensure this doesn’t happen, you should pay extra attention to how the fridge works.

When you do this, you can catch your fridge before it breaks down and schedule refrigerator repair service before it completely breaks down.

To catch your fridge, you’ll need to be alert for warning indications that your refrigerator is nearing its end and take prompt action when you see them.

Some of the signs you should look out for include:

The fridge failing to cool the food

The sole function of your refrigerator is to cool food items, so if it’s not doing that, you have a problem you should fix as soon as possible.

Feel the refrigerator’s internal temperature by putting your hand inside and waving it around a little. Opening a refrigerator door should feel immediately cold; if not, there may be an issue.

To determine how much cooling is occurring, try prodding the food or other items in your refrigerator.

A great item you can use is butter. If a stick of butter is not kept at the ideal cold temperature, it will soften rapidly.

If the fridge isn’t cooling as well as it should, contact a professional to fix it.

The food is getting spoilt.

Food is refrigerated only for long-term preservation. Any food in the refrigerator should last for at least a few days.

Of course, this depends much on what it is and how long you can keep it there.

If the food expires within a day of being placed in the refrigerator, it indicates that there may be one or more issues with the fridge.

While inadequate cooling is typically to blame, there are other possible reasons. In addition to insufficient cooling air, the fridge’s motor, door seal, or other components could be the source of the issue.

It just takes a slight temperature decrease to push your leftovers into the danger zone, even though the fridge appears cold and the motor appears to be working.

High condensation

There might occasionally be some condensation on the inside of the refrigerator due to the temperature difference between the inside and outside.

This is normal as long as it’s limited to the fridge’s solid surfaces, such as the shelves and compartment doors.

While this is the case, you should be concerned if you notice condensation on your food or outside the refrigerator door.

Only in temperature-contrasting situations, such as the windows of your car or house, should condensation occur.

Your refrigerator may have a breach in the body or door seal, allowing warmer air to enter if there is excessive condensation inside.

The same is true for the door’s exterior; if there is a gap in the door seal, cool air escapes and drips onto the door.

This condensation can cause the refrigerator to get wet on the inside and outside, and the motor will start overworking to compensate for the lost cooling, which could result in high power consumption.

To prevent this problem, have it checked by a professional and fixed immediately.

Excess frost

Despite popular belief, the freezer section of your refrigerator should be covered only partially in ice. Your freezer should be at a constant temperature that prevents water vapor from entering, known as a dry cold.

If you start to notice a lot of ice in your unit, it indicates that your freezer needs to be properly regulated.

You should keep your freezer at a constant temperature that prevents water vapor from entering, known as a dry cold.

Therefore, it indicates that your freezer needs to be properly regulated if you start noticing a lot of ice.

A malfunctioning freezer door seal or an issue with the refrigerator’s internal temperature control mechanism could cause this.

Food in your freezer risks freezing into an ice prison if it is icing over. It might not indicate impending danger, but it’s something to watch out for.

Depending on your fridge’s make, model, and year of manufacture, you can physically defrost it with an ice scraper or run an internal defrosting program.

Hot or loud motor

Your refrigerator’s motor does all of the cooling work. The motor drives the evaporator coils, which distribute the cool air that keeps everything nice and frosty. The motor in your refrigerator may get a little warm, like any motor, but this is normal.

The motor is most likely going to fail when it becomes scorching hot. The motor operates above its recommended capacity when it produces high heat, which might lead to unexpected shutdowns.

Your fridge’s motor can make weird, loud noises and be hot. The motor normally makes a quiet humming noise whether the door is open or closed.

If the noise becomes louder and begins to splutter, buzz, or hiss, it may indicate that the motor is being overworked.

Feel around the engine by reaching the rear of the refrigerator if you can. It’s on its last legs if it’s hot and/or making a lot of abrupt rumbling.

Hiring a repair professional

When hiring an appliance repair Springfield professional, ensure that the professional you hire is experienced and knows what they are doing.

The last thing you want is to hire someone who causes more problems than they are there.

While fixing a faulty appliance is good, sometimes it might not be a solution. If your unit is old, you should get a new one.

How to Get Better Cooling from Your Refrigerator

The purpose of the fridge is to keep the food cool so that they last for a long time. Unfortunately, you can’t keep the food cool if the refrigerator isn’t cool. The good thing is that you can do several things to keep the appliance functioning at its best. Some of these things, as given by appliance repair professionals, include: 

Ensure the rubber seals are in top working condition

Although this vital plastic lining is essential for ensuring your appliance performs smoothly and efficiently, it is occasionally disregarded.

This seal, also known as a gasket, keeps undesired heated air out of your refrigerator. As the doors are repeatedly opened and closed, it is normal for gaskets to wear and lose some of their suction. While your refrigerator can run smoothly for years, your gasket will likely degrade or tear after only a few years.

As this critical sealer wears out, your unit must work harder to keep your food refrigerated, resulting in increased energy bills and a shorter lifespan.

You should regularly check the seals and ensure they are always in good working condition. To do this, insert a dollar note between the fridge door and the door seal. You should do this at several spots around the door edge.

If the dollar bill rolls easily, it’s time to change your seals. Of course, you should install high-quality seals that will keep as much air in and last for a long time. 

Keep the fridge door closed.

This is the most obvious—and cheapest—way to lower your energy consumption, regardless of your refrigerator type. Standing in front of an open fridge may increase your energy bill significantly.

As cold air escapes from your appliance, more energy is required to return it to its original temperature. Decide what you want from the fridge before opening your refrigerator or freezer doors. 

Making decisions before opening your fridge allows you to limit the number of times you open it daily, which saves a significant amount of electricity and keep the refrigerator cool. 

To decrease energy usage and maintain optimal temperature levels within the fridge, keep the fridge door open for the shortest time feasible. The longer the fridge door is left open, the warmer air enters the refrigerator, raising the temperature and potentially spoiling perishable products.

As mentioned, you should only open the fridge door when necessary and grab products as quickly as possible. This calls for you to have a clear idea of what you need before opening the door and organizing your fridge’s contents in a way that allows simple access. 

When collecting or placing goods inside the fridge, keeping the door open for 30 seconds to a minute is best. Remember that optimal refrigerator use can contribute to energy savings while preserving the quality and safety of your stored food.

Make use of indoor water and ice.

Rather than opening the freezer door to obtain some fresh ice cubes or a bottle of water, utilize the in-door feature to limit the number of times the doors are opened. This easy procedure can quickly enhance the efficiency of your appliance, saving you money and prolonging the unit’s lifespan.

If your refrigerator lacks an ice dispenser, consider purchasing a countertop portable ice maker. This useful device allows you to obtain ice without opening your freezer door.

Always cool off your leftovers.

Even minor details can save you significant money on your next energy bill. Allowing leftovers to cool after a meal helps to reduce the amount of heat added to the interior of your appliance. 

You should also store your food correctly in a protective wrapping or Tupperware before placing it in the refrigerator to prevent residual heat from escaping into your unit. While this is a good move, remember to be careful not to leave your food to chill for too long, or it will spoil.

Set the temperatures at optimum levels.

You should set the refrigerator to 37 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything cooler causes your fridge to work harder, consuming more energy. 

Many refrigerators do not allow you to control the temperatures precisely—and even with digital screens, temperature settings are not always accurate. 

For peace of mind that you have set the right temperature, purchase a fridge thermometer to help you determine the true temperature of your refrigerator.

Keep your fridge full.

Some people think a full fridge is warmer, but this isn’t true. A full refrigerator requires less air to keep cool and hence does not have to work as hard as an empty one.  

When your fridge is full, the items help keep each other cool when adequately loaded. 

For the best outcome, keep your fridge at least two-thirds full. 

If your refrigerator is too large, place water jugs in each compartment. 

While you should keep your fridge full, take care to fill it sparingly. Remember that good airflow is essential for effective refrigerator performance. Also, keep an eye out for air vents and make sure nothing is blocking them.

Organize your fridge

Refrigerator repair Alexandria professionals recommend using your inner neat freak and arranging your refrigerator’s and freezer’s interior. When your things are easy to find inside your refrigerator, you may spend less time with the door open looking for them, minimizing the energy you use.

You should also consider limiting the number of goods on your refrigerator’s top shelf, particularly large bread products, food boxes, or serving dishes.

This prime area in your refrigerator should be reserved for your most frequently used items. The easier it is to grab them, the faster the door closes.

Furthermore, heavier objects on top of your appliance may trap heat inside your unit, forcing your compressor to work harder to overcome and ultimately costing you more money in the long run.

A good rule of thumb is to always place what you regularly use closest to the door. This way, you can be sure you will easily reach it when needed.

 

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 Can I Make My Refrigerator Better?

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The refrigerator is one of the most hardworking appliances at home, and you should make yours function efficiently and better so that you get ultra cold food and save money on your energy bills. How do you make your fridge function better? There are plenty of ways as given by appliance repair professionals.

These ways include:

Keep the temperatures at 37 degrees Fahrenheit

To keep your appliance functioning optimally and protect the food from spoiling, keep your refrigerator temperature at 37 degrees Fahrenheit.

This calls you to regularly test the temperature of your appliance and set it accordingly.

To test the temperature of your appliance, place a thermometer in a glass of water and check the next day.

The freezer should always be at zero degrees Fahrenheit and to test the temperature, you need to place the thermometer between the frozen foods and then check the temperature after 8 hours.

To save even more money, set the fridge temperature to as high as 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer at 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Remove items from the top of the fridge.

The top of the fridge might seem like an ideal place to store the cereal boxes and other junk, but it isn’t. The reason for this is that placing items here increases the chances of heat getting blocked from escaping, and as a consequence, the compressor works harder than it should; hence you always have a high electric bill at the end of the month.

An overworking appliance also has a short lifespan, so when you repeatedly place items on your fridge, you increase the chances of the appliance breaking down and have to buy a new one.

Ensure that the door has a good seal

One way to ensure that your fridge is in perfect working order and saving you as much money as possible you need to keep the door closed at all times.

You should note that you can close the door, and still, the cold air escapes, forcing you to pay a high monthly bill. To ensure this doesn’t happen, inspect your door and ensure that it has a good seal. One way to make this possible is to close the door on a piece of paper or dollar bill.

If you cannot do this, adjust the refrigerator gasket or replace it to prevent the cold air from escaping.

Turn off the anti-Sweat heater.

Most refrigerators manufactured after 1993 come with a switch that allows you to choose between exterior energy-saving and moisture-reducing modes.

When you set your fridge to exterior moisture reducing mode, the heater kicks on to keep the condensation off the outside of the refrigerator.

Setting the fridge to energy-saving mode saves 5-10% of energy.

Turn off the anti-sweat heater to save energy and keep your appliance functioning better.

You should note that a newer fridge might have automatic moisture control that eliminates the exterior condensation without needing a heater.

Clean the condenser coils

The condenser coils play a crucial role in keeping the fridge’s insides cool. Unfortunately, over time, they collect a lot of dust, and if you don’t clean them, you damage your unit.

By cleaning the coils, you put less stress on the condenser, consequently extending the life of your fridge.

You can clean the coils yourself but for the best results, let an expert help you.

To avoid injuries, remember to unplug the appliance. Also, use a good quality vacuum or brush to do the cleaning.

Keep the fridge properly organized.

You might have the impression that properly organizing the fridge is just part of good housekeeping, but this isn’t the case as it also plays a vital role in determining how effectively and efficiently the fridge functions.

Besides having an easy time finding the food you need in a properly organized fridge, the condenser works less hard to get the temperature back to the set level, which means a reduced energy bill.

Refrigerator repair Northern VA professionals recommend you remove items from your fridge, remove the items that have expired, then organize the refrigerator according to your preferences.

In addition to keeping your fridge organized, make it a habit to keep it full most of the time.

Proper Use of Refrigerator Tips

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You need to use your refrigerator properly for it to function optimally and keep off a refrigerator repair professional. How do you do it? Here are tips on the proper use of a fridge:

Keep the used foods at the front

It’s common to open some foods then, after partially using them, return them to the fridge.

Many homeowners aren’t conscious of where they put the opened foods, which is wrong.

The right way to do it is to place the opened foods at the front of the fridge shelves, in front of the newer items. This way you are sure that you use the opened items before you move to the sealed ones.

Some homeowners will say they can remember the bottle they have opened, but this isn’t the case. Even if you place a label on the foods, don’t mix them with the unopened ones.

When storing the leftovers, move with haste and keep them before they enter the danger zone. If storing large amounts of the leftovers, store them in several small, shallow containers that will cool faster.

Remember to date them and keep them as fresh as possible by removing as much air from them as possible.

Put the non-perishables on the fridge doors.

The less perishable foods such as juices, fruits, and others respond better to temperature fluctuations, so you should put them on the fridge doors.

Remember that you will open and close the fridge door, so ensure that the foods you place here can withstand the temperature changes without changing their taste or texture.

Keep the raw foods at the bottom.

Raw meat and fish belong at the bottom of the fridge where the temperatures are lowest. These areas also don’t experience a lot of temperature fluctuations when you open and close the refrigerator.

Since the raw foods tend to be highly perishable, placing them at the bottom means that you put them away from the other foods, hence you don’t worry about them contaminating the rest of your foods.

As you put the raw foods at the bottom of the fridge, remember to keep them sealed and free of leaks.

Keep the refrigerator below 5 degrees centigrade.

You should keep your fridge below 5 degrees centigrade so that you can keep all of the food cool, fresh, and full of flavor. You are sure that even the highly sensitive milk won’t get spoilt at this temperature.

Don’t overstock the fridge.

It’s easy to be carried away and stock more than your fridge can carry, when you don’t want to make another trip to the grocery store.

As much as you will save a trip to the grocery store, overloading your refrigerator is not a wise thing to do as it prevents the air from circulating as well as it should, which, as you can guess, means that your foods don’t remain as cool as well as they should.

There is also the risk of the fridge overworking when you overload it, which drives it to an early grave.

What is the best thing to do instead?

The right thing to do is stock just the right amount of food in your fridge.

You are better off making another trip to the grocery store within the month than overloading your fridge and damaging it.

Clean the fridge once a week

At least once a week, remove all the foods in the fridge and clean them. Before returning any of the foods, find out their expiry date and discard them if necessary. You should also discard any food you aren’t sure whether should be in the fridge.

Parting shot

These are some wise fridge tips to keep your refrigerator in top working shape.

Don’t wait for your fridge to break down if you can afford it. Hire an experienced appliance repair Alexandria professional at least once a year to go over your unit and fix any issues your appliance might be having.

This way you prevent larger problems from resulting down the line, that might be too expensive to fix.

The professionals will also help you know expert tips to keep your appliance in top shape.

5 Rules for a Perfect Fridge

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Would you love to keep your fridge in perfect working order and keep off refrigerator repair professionals? You should keep these fridge rules into consideration:

Keep the fridge at the right temperature

Setting the fridge at the optimal temperature not only keeps your food fresh, but also prevents it from overworking. The ideal fridge temperature is between 1c and 4C as you have to keep the food at 5C or lower. If you recently visited the grocery store, so the fridge is full, keep the temperature settings a little lower to save energy.

If it’s empty or cold, keep the temperature a little high.

Besides doing this, make it a habit to defrost your appliance when the ice is more than 5mm thick or prevent the air from circulating as effectively as it should.

Keep the fridge clean.

It goes without saying that you have to keep the fridge in top shape to keep it clean. As a rule of thumb, clear any spillages as soon as they happen. You should also wipe down the handles daily and clean the door outside at least once a week.

Regularly inspect the shelves and containers for lackluster or out-of-date food items and remove them.

At least once every three months, empty the refrigerator and draw out all the removable parts (drawers, shelves, and racks), then wash them with hot water and washing liquid.

Never use bleach or any non-food-safe chemical cleaners.

If the fridge is too dirty or you have gone for a long time without cleaning it, you need to deep clean it. To do this, use a toothbrush and thick paste of bicarb mixed with water and get rid of any stains.

You should then unplug the unit and clean it by hovering underneath and behind it. You should also remove any vented covers and reach the dust-coated fans and coils.

Store the right things in the fridge

What you store in your refrigerator goes a long way towards maintaining sanity in your appliance. Don’t store opened tin cans in the appliance as once you open them to the air, the tin from the can can transfer more quickly to the can’s contents.

Only place cans that come with resealable lids in the fridge, and always decant leftovers.

You also shouldn’t refrigerate hot food as they cause contamination and mess up the fridge temperature, causing it to overwork.

If you want to store your food in the fridge, wait for it to cool completely.

Some of the items in the fridge include: milk, yogurt, all berries, citrus, fish, and any opened products that specify refrigeration once opened.

Eggs require consistent temperatures so if you bought them refrigerated, keep them that way.

You also should keep large tubs of nut butters that you don’t need immediately and open pickles and jams.

Place the items on the right shelves.

Placing the right items in the refrigerator isn’t enough—you need to put them on the right shelves.

Top shelf: This shelf belongs to the items that don’t need cooking. These include: dips, sliced meats, deli dishes, leftovers, tortilla wraps, etc. This shelf is also perfect for any unfinished tin cans.

Middle shelf: The best items to store here are dairy and eggs. Don’t store the items on the door racks or egg holders to avoid damaging your door.

Bottom shelf: You place meat and fish here

Vegetable drawers: These are designed for fruits, vegetables, herbs, and leaves. Lettuce and other greens belong here.

Store all soft, fresh herbs (except for basil) here.

Door racks: Door racks are for juices, condiments, spreads, and other items with long shelf lives.

Undertake regular inspections

After buying, most homeowners don’t inspect their appliances, which is wrong. To ensure that your unit is in top working condition, make it a habit to inspect it at least once a year. Go around the unit and find any issue it might be having.

You can inspect yourself or hire an appliance repair Springfield professional to help you out. When hiring the repair expert, ensure they are experienced and know what they are doing.

How Do You Know If Your Refrigerator Icemaker Is Bad?

Virginia Refrigerators Repair

Do you have a feeling that your ice maker has a problem? It could be true.

How do you know if your refrigerator ice maker is bad? Well, there are a number of things you can look out for. Some of these things as given by appliance repair professionals include:

The ice maker not making ice

The unit is supposed to make ice, so if it’s not, there is definitely a problem. The icemaker will fail to make ice for plenty of reasons, such as wrong temperature settings, dirty filters, blockages, and many others.

You should look into the unit and confirm whether the thermostat is set at the right temperature. As a rule of thumb, ensure that the temperature doesn’t exceed 5ºF.

While at it, check the arm lever and ensure that it’s pushed down. If it’s up, it might be the reason the ice maker won’t make ice, so you need to push it down.

How is the water stream? If the stream is weak or there is no water coming out, you might be having a problem with the waterline. Inspect it and if blocked or damaged, fix it.

Ice maker not making enough ice

Sometimes the ice maker will make some ice, but you can tell it’s not working at its capacity. In most cases, this will happen due to problems with the waterline. You need to access the line and find out whether it’s blocked or damaged.

Fix the problem and ensure that the stream has a steady flow with good water pressure (30-120 psi). When replacing the water line, ensure that everything is connected tightly and the water inlet valve is fully open and free of debris.

Ice maker making ice that is too small or has a weird taste

If the ice coming from the ice maker is too small, it could be due to water line problems. Does the ice have a weird taste or color? This might be due to food odors from the freezer.

Check the water line for any bulges, kinks, or damage. If you see any problem, fix it.

If the problem is too big that you have to replace the line, replace the line using a copper water line. This way, you have a durable water line that won’t give the water a weird taste.

To prevent the smell of the food in the freezer from getting into the water, make it a habit to cover the food with plastic.

Ice maker not dropping ice

If your ice maker isn’t dropping ice, you could be having a blockage in the ice tray, or the ice cube has jammed between the lever and bin. If this is the case, double-check and confirm that the lever is pushed down and/or the ice maker is switched on. If you aren’t sure about it, consult your owner’s manual.

Also, confirm if the problem is due to ice accumulation in the ice bin. If there is blocked ice, remove it by carefully chipping at it with a plastic knife.

Ice maker making loud noises

Although the icemaker should make some noise when working, the noise shouldn’t be too loud that it’s a distraction. So if your appliance is making constant or unusual noises, it might be having a mechanical problem that you need to look at.

In most cases, you can’t properly diagnose the noises and fix them on your own—you have to hire an experienced refrigerator icemaker repair Fairfax professional to help out.

Water leaking into the freezer or on the floor.

Two of the most common culprits for this problem are a faulty water line and an unleveled icemaker.

The first place to check is whether the refrigerator is leveled. If it’s not, level it. Once the fridge is level, check the inside of the freezer and ensure that it’s also leveled.

How is the water line? Check its condition and ensure that the fill tube is positioned properly. The tube’s location will vary depending on the ice maker model, but it should always be above the icemaker tray or inside the water fill cup.

Should I Turn Off Refrigerator When Not In Use?

appliance repiar

If you are going on vacation for a month or more, you can’t keep your electric appliances running. One of the questions you must be asking is, should I turn off the refrigerator when not in use?

The answer to this question is a definitive yes. Appliance repair professionals recommend you turn off the fridge and unplug it at the wall.

The obvious reason you should shut the fridge is to save power. You don’t want to keep receiving high energy bills you aren’t consuming, are you?

The other reason you should shut the appliance is because you don’t want to keep worrying about what is going on at home.

Although, they are good servants, most appliances are ticking time bombs especially when they run unsupervised. They can fall, catch on fire, among many other things.

When you shut your appliance, you have peace of mind that none of your units can start a fire in your absence.

Besides shutting and disconnecting the fridge, there are several other things you should do when you will be gone for extended periods. Some of these things include:

Defrost and clean the appliance

If you don’t properly clean the fridge before storage, you will create a lot of mess that the fridge will be unusable by the time you are retrieving it from storage.

One major concern is mold that often starts from the food debris and spreads to the other parts of the fridge. There is also the pests concern. Ants and rodents can be attracted to even the smallest food pieces so when you don’t properly clean the fridge, these pests can get into your appliance and cause damage to the electrical components.

To defrost the fridge, remove all the food items and unplug the fridge. This will trigger the defrosting process and you should keep the refrigerator doors open so that moisture can escape from the fridge.

To avoid flooding your floor, strategically place a towel to catch the dripping water.

For peace of mind that the fridge is completely dry, defrost it at least a week before you leave for your vacation.

As the fridge is defrosting, you should clean both the insides and back of it.

Take out the drawers, shelves, and other removable parts of the appliance. Clean and soak these parts with mildly soapy water. For best results, ensure the water is warm. Avoid scalding hot water as it can damage the cold plastic or glass.

Using a mixture of baking soda and water, scrub away any materials that might have built up inside the fridge and freezer compartments.

As much as you want the fridge to be spotless, don’t use chlorine bleach, ammonia, or any other abrasive cleaning solutions as they can crack or even discolor the plastic and stainless steel.

Once the insides of the fridge are clean, turn your attention to the outside. Dust the coils using a brush attachment or run a vacuum cleaner. You can also use a dry cloth.

Store the fridge in an upright position

If you will be moving the fridge from its usual place, use a dolly or hand truck to move it. As a rule of thumb don’t move the fridge while laying on its side.

When you store it, ensure that it’s not in a slanting position—it should always be in a straight position.

The reason for this is to ensure that you come home to a properly functioning compressor.

Keep the fridge dry

The last thing you want is to reverse all the hard work you have put into cleaning and defrosting your appliance.

To ensure that your fridge remains dry and no moisture gets inside, remove the doors on both the fridge and freezer compartments.

According to refrigerator repair Springfield professionals, when you do this, you ensure no seal forms so your appliance is free from molds.

If you don’t want to go through the trouble of removing the doors, wedge an object between the door and the compartment frame so that the door remains open.

When choosing the wedging object, ensure that the object is tough and won’t bend or get indented over time hence close the door and cause the damaging seal to form.