If you want your fridge to have a long, usable lifespan, you need to know how to take proper care of the appliance. Most fridges don’t require much maintenance, but the maintenance that they do require is important. Here are two ways you can take care of your fridge.
Keep an Eye on the Refrigerator Gasket
The refrigerator gasket is the black, rubber seal that goes around the outer edge of the refrigerator door. The purpose of the refrigerator gasket is to create an airtight seal so when you shut your fridge door, everything stays cold inside, and the temperature remains consistent.
The gasket can get dirty over time, as crumbs drop into the folds and liquids spill in the fridge. To keep the gasket clean, wipe it down with a wet soapy cloth. Be sure to clean in between the crevices of the gasket.
Keep an eye on the quality of the gasket as well. If the gasket ever develops cracks or rips or is covered in mold, it needs to be replaced.
You can replace a gasket on your own, or you can call in a professional for assistance. The gasket has to be installed correctly to keep your fridge at the right temperature, so take care with the installation process.
You can purchase a replacement gasket at your local hardware or appliance store. To purchase the right gasket, you need the make and model of your fridge. If you replace the gasket on your own, follow these instructions.
Take your new gasket and soak it in some warm water; this helps make the material more flexible and easier to work with. While the new gasket is soaking, remove the old gasket.
For removal, open the refrigerator door all the way. Screws, which are hidden behind the first flap of the gasket, hold most gaskets in place. Pull the first flap of the gasket back and remove the screws all around the edge of the fridge. Alternatively, some gaskets are held in place with clips, which you will need to loosen before removing the gasket.
After you do remove the screws or clips that hold the gasket in place, start at the top and pull the gasket off. Clean the area where the gasket was on your fridge.
Get the new gasket out of the sink, dry it off, and start placing it in the upper corner, working your way around the fridge, sliding it into place. Once the gasket is in place, tighten the clips or screws.
Keep the Condenser Coils Clean
The condenser coils keep your fridge cool. They should be cleaned at least once a year.
The condenser coils on most residential refrigerators are located at the front base behind the base grill or on the backside of your fridge. On a few rare residential models, the condenser coils are located on the top of the fridge.
Before cleaning the condenser coils, you should unplug your refrigerator. Then, you need to gain access to the coils. To do this, remove the base grille or pull the fridge away from the wall.
Then, clean the coils with a coil brush in order to remove all the built-up dirt and dust on the coils. Follow up by gently vacuuming the coils. You may want to use the crevice tool and the brush tool on your vacuum for this job. Once you have vacuumed, put your fridge back together, and plug the refrigerator back in.
This is a task you can take care of yourself, or you can have an appliance repair person perform this task for you.
For assistance with these tasks, or other refrigerator related issues, give us a call today at Capital City Appliance Service, Inc.
