Appliance Maintenance: Refrigerators

March 9, 2011 — central MA, home maintenance, home ownership, kitchen, refrigerator, worcester county

Maintaining your home is vital…but so is maintaining what is inside your home!  Appliances can be very expensive depending on what you choose when you purchase them – make them last!

This week I am focused on keeping your appliances running smoothly.  Your day-to-day life will be less stressful in the long run!  Your refrigerator is an essential to your kitchen and life, keep it running efficiently and reliably with this simple maintenance routine.

Here’s a list of maintenance tips to make sure your refrigerator stays cool and calm:

• Every three months, vacuum the fan and condenser coils on the rear or bottom of the appliance using the brush attachment. Families with shedding pets should clean the coils monthly.

• Every three months, clean the door gasket with warm soapy water and towel dry. Inspect the seal for snugness all the way around. Replace when loose, cracked, or torn.

• Every six months, replace the unit’s water filter (when present) to ensure clean water and ice, and to prevent clogs and leaks.

• Always keep food covered to prevent odors from migrating throughout the fridge and freezer. An open box of baking soda ($1) will absorb odor-causing acids for up to three months.

• Always maintain an adequate amount of clearance on all sides of the appliance except for those that are zero-clearance or front-vented.

• Every month, empty out the icemaker bucket and start fresh, as old cubes can absorb odors.

• Every three months, verify that the appliance is level both front to back and side to side to ensure both proper door movement and ice maker operation.

Now stock it up with tons of yummy food and invite me to dinner!