Homeowners are fond of spending a lot of money on appliance repair, and the refrigerator happens to be one of the big-ticket items in this arena. Fridge repair is never simple and can cost up to thousands of dollars. So it makes a lot of sense to take care of it so that it is not prone to break down, which might end up costing you a lot of money. Here are a few tips to help you avoid most of the problems with your fridge, and to extend its lifespan:
Clean the coils
If you want your unit to serve you longer and with few repair problems, then you have to clean the coils at least three times per year. Dirt, dust, pet hair and other debris, tend to accumulate on the coils and clog them, thus making them less effective in carrying out their function. If they are not cleaned, you can expect the efficiency of your unit to go down, and so is the lifespan of the fridge.
Keep it full and not packed
When the fridge is full, there is less air to be cooled, and this will translate into less energy being used. But it is not a good idea to pack the fridge full such that there are no spaces left for air to circulate. With a packed fridge, lots of food may go to waste due to inefficient cooling, and when it is also empty, a lot of energy will be used to cool the air inside. Therefore, to enhance its longevity, keep it moderately full but not packed.
Clean and inspect the seals
Good seals need to keep all the air inside. But the seals may be compromised if they are dirty, causing the fridge to spend more energy on cooling. As such, the seals should be cleaned on a regular basis to keep them in good condition, and this will also have enhance the life of the unit, because it will not have to work harder than necessary.
