6 Habits You Probably Didn’t Know Are Harming Your Fridge

  

  

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The refrigerator is one of the most essential and hardworking appliances in any Filipino household. It runs 24/7 to keep meat and vegetables fresh, chill beverages, and prevent leftover food from spoiling. And while this appliance may look sturdy and indestructible, it is actually made up of delicate parts that can easily malfunction when not given proper attention. As such, you should learn how to properly care for your refrigerator if you want to keep it in good working condition for many years.

Knowing the many ways you can damage your fridge is a good place to start caring for this expensive appliance. You may not realize it, but you may be guilty of practicing certain habits that are slowly taking years off your fridge. To help you identify and correct these habits, continue reading this short guide. This piece will provide you with a list of some of the most common things you might be doing that are causing damage to your refrigerator.

Overfilling Your Fridge

Your refrigerator may be large and spacious, but it doesn’t mean that you can fill it to the brim. Sadly, overstocking is a common habit among many families, especially if they like buying food in bulk. While it may seem sensible, overfilling can hinder your fridge from effectively functioning since there is not enough room for cold air to circulate freely. As a result, your food may spoil faster.

Overstocking also forces your refrigerator to work much harder, causing undue strain on the compressor and condenser coils. If this keeps on, overheating and severe damage may follow. Sure there are certain websites where buying refrigerators online can be very affordable, but if you do not want to keep sending your appliance for repairs, you should avoid overfilling your unit. Make it a habit to check if there’s available room inside the fridge before you go grocery shopping, and be sure to organize everything to allow better air circulation within.

Storing Leftovers Improperly

Perhaps, you are used to reheating your leftovers because you don’t want to waste good food. While this is a good practice, you should know that always placing food items inside the fridge while they are still warm or hot can damage your unit eventually because it will always need to work doubly hard to cool the interior. Be kinder to your refrigerator by letting your hot or warm leftovers cool down on the counter or table first before storing them inside the fridge.

Failing to Clean the Condenser Coils Regularly

You may have already cleaned the interior and exterior of your refrigerator several times, but when was the last time you cleaned the unit’s condenser coils? If you haven’t done so, you better start as soon as possible if you want your fridge to work efficiently. 

The condenser coils are responsible for cooling the refrigerant. They can be found on the bottom or at the back of your unit. When the coils are clogged with dirt and dust, they cannot release heat properly, so the compressor is forced to work beyond its capacity. It is worth noting that overworking the condenser is one sure way of reducing the life of your refrigerator.

Clean the condenser coils every six months or more frequently if you have pets that shed fur. You can use a coil cleaning brush and a vacuum cleaner for this task. Keep in mind that the condenser coils are delicate, so be careful not to exert too much pressure when brushing them clean.

Positioning Your Fridge Too Close to the Wall

Proper airflow around the refrigerator is necessary to prevent damage. This is why you should be mindful of where you position your refrigerator. Placing your unit too close to the wall can cause poor airflow. Your fridge will struggle to dispense heat and cool down, which could lead to overheating, the breaking down of certain components, and other issues. Prevent these things from happening by giving your fridge enough room to breathe. Leave a few inches of space above and on all sides of your unit to allow adequate ventilation.

Forgetting to Check the Refrigerator Door Seal

The seal of your fridge door may appear insignificant, but it is one of the most important components that directly impact the functionality of your refrigerator. A malfunctioning door seal will keep the fridge from maintaining the right temperature, which could lead to food spoilage. Your unit will also use more electricity as it works doubly hard to stay cold. That said, take the time to inspect your refrigerator door seal for signs of wear and tear. If you notice a crack or if the door is not closing securely, call a repair professional immediately to address the problem.

Leaving the Fridge Door Open Too Long

Leaving the refrigerator door open for too long is another common habit that you should avoid. Again, the compressor will have to work harder to regulate the unit’s interior temperature if the door is left open for too long. When this happens, the component could overheat or malfunction completely. Make sure that you retain cold air in the fridge by just opening the door briefly. Also, organize all the food items inside the unit to make it easier for you to retrieve the things you need.

Hopefully, the tips provided above have given you an idea of how seemingly harmless habits can cause damage to one of the most expensive appliances in your home. If you are guilty of doing any of them, be sure to mend your ways. Otherwise, you might end up spending a considerable amount of money on costly repairs or replacements.

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