Always remember that appliances do not last forever. You will surely encounter problems time and again. Refrigerators are not exempted. Although they usually last longer in comparison to other home appliances, they are still not invulnerable to problems and damages.
However, you can do a lot of things to maintain the steadfast functions of your fridge. Here are some tips on how to avoid common refrigerator problems and damages:
1. Try maintaining a good temperature inside the fridge.
Do not set it up to an extremely low temperature. It is actually better to set the temperature in between 37 and 40 degree Fahrenheit. This will help minimize the growth of bacteria without freezing the goods that do not freeze well such as milk and other dairy products.
In addition to that, it will prevent the parts of your freeze from frosting or turning into ice. When the temperature drops, this might cause leaky refrigerator problems.
2. Keep it clean all the time.
If there are spills, wipe them away using a damp cloth. Make sure that the interior of the fridge stays dry and clean. This will prevent molds from appearing inside. Also wipe the bottom of condiments such as mustard or ketchup. They can leave stains inside the fridge.
3. Avoid slamming the door of the fridge shut.
This might damage the rubber gasket of the machine. This is responsible in sealing cold air inside the machine. If the rubber gasket is damaged, cold air might escape and your fridge might have trouble maintaining the right temperature level inside. This might lead to an increase in energy consumption.
Gently close the door. Occasionally check the reliability of the rubber gasket. To do that, just insert a dollar bill. Pull it out. If there is no resistance, you might have to replace the gasket.
4. Vacuum the condenser coils.
The coils exhaust hot air. You should vacuum it regularly to prevent the accumulation of dirt. This will make sure that the machine will efficiently exhaust hot air.
You might have to remove the screws that seal the back panel of the fridge. Be careful in removing the screws. You wouldn't want to break the back panel.
5. Replace the water filter if your refrigerator has a built-in water dispenser.
This can collect hard minerals and debris after some time. It is advisable to replace the filter two to three times a year. This will make sure that water will flow easily.
