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How To Prevent Refrigerator Burnout

11 January 2016

Frederick Hamilton

Appliances like a refrigerator can be expensive to repair. And, just like an automobile, your refrigerator needs to be properly taken care of to ensure proper operation. Otherwise, the engine can burn out, the refrigerant can malfunction and your unit will no longer work well. You can prevent this from happening with some simple maintenance. This article explains 3 simple tasks that can definitely prolong the life of your refrigerator and ensure that it is as efficient as possible.

Clean the Condenser Fan

The condenser fan is located on the inside of the refrigerator. It is usually near the bottom on the back wall. The fan vents can get frosted over with ice. First, defrost your fridge and remove all the ice from the vents. Then, you will need to clean the actual fan. Unplug the refrigerator before you do anything else. You can remove the vent cover with a small screwdriver. Wipe down the blades and vacuum out the compartment. With the fan clean, your unit will definitely run more efficiently.

Clean the Condenser Coils

Another vital part of the refrigerators condensing system is the coils. You should also work on the coils while the refrigerator is unplugged. The coils are on the exterior of the unit. They are in the front, below the doors. Simply remove the plastic grate. The protective grate snaps into the unit and serves no purpose but the protect the coils. Once the grate is removed, you can freely access the coils. You might be able to vacuum out most of the dirt in between the coils, but there might be some stubborn dirt buildup. Scrub in between the coils with a bristled scrub brush of some sort. This should be sufficient for loosening most of the dust and dirt. However, you may also need to spray an all-purpose cleaner onto the coils to remove the really stubborn buildup.

Clean the Door Frame and Gaskets

The simplest and most obvious repair is to clean the door gaskets. Food and dirt buildup on the gasket is inevitable. This can prevent the door from being completely sealed when the door is shut. Air escaping from the refrigerator is wasted money, so you want to always keep it clean. A cleaner with degreaser can help remove sticky foods and liquids.

These 3 simple cleaning jobs will only take a few minutes, but they can definitely maintain the efficiency of your refrigerator. If you have more serious issues, contact a repair service like ASAP Appliance Repair, Inc.

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