Our refrigerators are constantly at work keeping our food cold and secure to eat , but we rarely give them much beloved back . To keep your icebox operation optimally , consider these seven tips , which can also help you save money on your electrical energy visor and avoid unexpected repair toll .
1. SEPARATE YOUR APPLIANCES.
If you have space in your kitchen , put your icebox as far away as potential from your oven and dishwasher . The heating plant return from your oven , stove , and dishwasher will force your icebox to lick harder to asseverate its coolheaded temperature , increase your electricity greenback in the cognitive process .
2. KEEP GRAZING TO A MINIMUM.
Frequentlyopening and closingthe doorway puts stress on your trusty old fridge . attempt to avoid mindlessly eat in front of the icebox ( with the door overt ) , lest you let too much inhuman air escape the electric refrigerator .
3. INSPECT AND CLEAN THE GASKETS.
You in all likelihood do n’t pay much tending to the Navy SEAL around the border of your refrigerator doorway , but that small bit of rubber or plasticis essentialto helping your fridge run for optimally . Also call a door gasket , the seal can get dingy or wear out over metre . utilize warm water and modest soap on a sponge or previous soup-strainer to gently scrub any malicious gossip off the door seal . To screen whether the sealskin is tight and in in effect workings order , close a dollar bill in the door so that it is half in and one-half out of your electric refrigerator . If your gasket is n’t tight enough , it wo n’t hold the bill firmly in topographic point ( if this is the case , you should look into replace the cachet ) .
4. DON’T PUT HOT LEFTOVERS IN THE FRIDGE.
If you have container of leftovers , do n’t put them directly into the fridge while they ’re still hot ; they can dramatically upraise the fridge ’s temperature , making the compressor work harder to cool the electric refrigerator down . If you let your food cool to board temperature before putting it in the refrigerator , you ’ll take some of the stress off your fridge . Just remember , theU.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA)cautions that perishable should be leave out of the electric refrigerator for no more than two hour ( one 60 minutes if the temperature is above 90 ° F ) .
5. VACUUM THE CONDENSER COILS.
Your icebox ’s condenser coilsrelease heat , make the compressor run . When dust , dirt , and pet hair foregather around the condenser roll , the system overheats , the compressor break down , and your refrigerator ca n’t keep your solid food stale . Depending on what type of refrigerator you have , you canprobably accessthe condenser coil from the back ( pull your refrigerator off from the rampart ) or from the bottom front ( remove the grill ) . Use a vacuum or bristle brush to pick the coils every few months , peculiarly if you have a pet that sheds .
6. DON’T KEEP THE TEMPERATURE TOO COLD.
The FDA recommends keeping your fridge at or below 40 ° F and your freezer at 0 ° F . You might think that setting your refrigerator to the cold setting will make your food last longer , but keep the temperature colder than necessary is a bad idea . Not only will your electric bill be higher , but the compressor will need to track down longer to keep the electric refrigerator colder , which wear upon it out faster .
7. COVER FOOD TO REDUCE EXTRA MOISTURE.
It might be tempting to quickly lay away an uncovered bowl of berries or crybaby in your fridge , but take the extra time to transmit your nutrient to closed in container . If your intellectual nourishment is bring out , the moisture in the food for thought is released into the air and your fridge is force to work extra severely to keep thing dry . On a gustatory level , address your food will also avail ensure that it does n’t get weirdly dry out out .
