troubleshooting tips for your home appliances

Posted on: 23 April 2015

Your refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in your home, and also one of the greatest energy hogs. Because you can't simply turn it off when it's not in use, it's important to make sure that your refrigerator is running at maximum efficiency, for the sake of both your wallet and the planet. This summer, make use of these three great tips to keep your fridge running smoothly and cut down on that energy bill.

Tip #1: It's All About the Location

Your refrigerator's location can actually make a big difference in how well it performs and how hard it has to work. If your fridge is placed too close to other appliances such as the stove, radiator, or other heat source, it will have to work much harder to keep the inside cool. Ultimately, your fridge will wear itself out faster. Also, there should be a gap of a few inches on each side of the fridge to make sure it has an ample air supply for its intake. Your owner's manual should say what the optimal distance for this gap is. In the summer, even having a refrigerator placed too close to an outside door can cause undue strain to your fridge.

Tip #2: Check the Seals

If the rubber seals around the door are worn, loose, or otherwise damaged, you're letting cool air escape the fridge as well as permitting warmer air into it. This makes your refrigerator work extra hard to try and keep your food fresh. Replacing old seals and gaskets periodically is an inexpensive fix to a very expensive problem and is simple enough for the average homeowner to take care of themselves.

Make sure you check on your seals regularly and replace them as soon as they show signs of wear. A good test is to run your hand along the seam of a closed refrigerator door. If you can feel cool air escaping, it's time to replace the seals. Your refrigerator and energy bill will thank you.

Tip #3: Keep the Coils Clean

This is a job that should be done at least once a year, so add it to your spring cleaning list. If you have a pet that sheds, it may be a good idea to do it even more often. To clean the coils that your refrigerator uses to keep things cool, pull the fridge away from the wall and gently vacuum or brush the dust and dirt away from all the condenser coils on the back side. Also, get under the fridge with a vacuum attachment or specialized coil brush. The more dust that is allowed to accumulate on these coils, the greater the chance of your fridge overheating and breaking. So it's important to keep on top of this task.

A well-maintained fridge keeps food fresher longer, energy bills lower, and has a smaller impact on the planet. Be sure to have your refrigerator serviced regularly to catch other issues only a trained technician can spot. With these few simple tips, you can ensure that your fridge is running in mint condition all summer. To learn more, contact a company like Shore TV and Appliance.