Summer is that time of the year where you want your refrigerator to work at its full capacity to keep your food cool and fresh. This becomes even more vital if you live in the heart of North Carolina, called Charlotte. The temperatures here are scorching and the humidity sweltering. You’ve got to take care of your fridge in this time of the year. How? With proper maintenance. It will save you money on your energy bills and on your appliance repair bills too. Follow our essential refrigerator maintenance tips to keep your fridge humming through the summer. This will help you avoid appliance repair services bills and unnecessary frustration.
Keep it Clean
- Interior: Unplug your fridge and remove all shelves and drawers. Wash them with warm, soapy water (avoid harsh chemicals) and wipe down the interior with a damp cloth. Don’t forget to clean underneath the crisper drawers where crumbs and spills love to hide! Let everything dry completely before putting it back.
- Exterior: Wipe down the outside of your fridge with a damp cloth to remove dust, grime, and fingerprints. A clean condenser coil (the black grill at the back) is especially important – vacuum it gently with a brush attachment to remove dust and debris.
Clear the Coils, Conquer the Heat
Your refrigerator condenser coil releases heat to keep the interior cool. A clogged coil makes the fridge work harder, leading to higher energy bills and potential breakdowns. Here’s how to tackle the coils before you call a refrigerator repair Charlotte company:
- Unplug the fridge.
- Locate the condenser coils (usually at the back, bottom of the fridge).
- Carefully pull out the fridge (be mindful of weight and plumbing connections) or use a long-reach brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner.
- Vacuum the coils thoroughly, removing any dust, pet hair, or debris.
Space Matters
- Don’t overcrowd: Allow for proper air circulation inside your fridge. This helps maintain consistent temperatures and prevents spoilage.
- Leave space around vents: Don’t block the vents inside the fridge, especially the cold air vent located near the back wall.
- Room temperature matters: Avoid placing your fridge next to heat sources like ovens or stoves. Leave at least a few inches of space for proper ventilation.
Temperature Talk
- Check your settings: The ideal refrigerator temperature is between 35-38°F (2-4°C). Warmer temperatures can lead to foodborne illness.
- Don’t put hot food in the fridge: Let hot dishes cool completely before storing them. This helps the fridge maintain a consistent temperature.
Conclusion
One other more important thing to remember is that the maintenance should be done before summertime too, not only in summer. You should follow these tips all the time. It’s like taking care of yourself. What do you need to feel good? Food, exercise, relaxing time, etc. The same is with your refrigerator.
Bonus tip: In some cases, if your refrigerator or other appliances keep broken-down, you might need to hire an electrician to look into your electrical panel, outlets and your home wiring. Sometimes, if the house is too old, it has old wiring, and you might need to upgrade it in other for it to handle your modern appliances and all of the electronics you use in your house. Electricians in Charlotte aren’t as expensive as electricians in Seattle for example. Seattle is a lot bigger than Charlotte and the competition is a lot higher.
