One of our favorite things to do now and then on our blog is to switch things up and learn about the many appliances we service in your homes. For the month of July we thought we’d have a little rundown of an appliance that gets used year round but really saves the day most of all, during the hot summer months: the refrigerator.
Before we continue, be sure to check out our website and explore all the services we have to offer. If you are new here we are a family run plumbing company servicing the city of Dallas since 1989. Our friendly roster of certified plumbers are here to help you with any of your plumbing goals and needs. Just give us a call and we’ll be happy to walk you through the steps to get your home’s plumbing up to date.
- Change the water filter. Refrigerators have water lines they use to make ice or dispense water. It is important to change the filter for these at least every 6 months or when the refrigerator indicates. Dirty filters can cause dirtier water to come through and be consumed unknowingly.
- Check the door seals. A refrigerator door is usually kept well sealed using a rubber lining. Rubber however doesn’t last forever, and when your fridge is getting up there in age it is a good idea to check this rubber seal to make sure no cold is escaping. Clean these seals using a small mixture of water and baking soda to get rid of any food particles that might’ve gotten stuck there with all the opening and closing going on. Afterwards, you may check the status of your door seals by putting a small sheet of paper or even a dollar bill by placing half of it between the door and the seal so half of it is in and half of it is out. If this bill or piece of paper slips out easily then it might be timed to get your refrigerator checked by a professional and your seal replaced.
- Keep your coils clean. Refrigerators have condenser coils. You might’ve seen them the day you bought your refrigerator or moved in. They are usually located in the lower back area of the unit, if not they might be at the bottom of the front of your refrigerator protected by a removable cover. These coils can’t function properly if they are covered in dust. Twice a year it is suggested to carefully unplug your refrigerator, and slowly pull it out enough off the wall. Now, you can safely vacuum any dust off the coils using a brush attachment for your vacuum.
- Set the right temperature. Cold is cold but for your refrigerator and freezer to run at their optimum performance your refrigerator needs to be set in the 37-40 degrees Fahrenheit range and your freezer needs to be set to 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
- General cleaning and upkeep. At least once a month you should tidy up the contents of your refrigerator. A refrigerator is meant to be full at all times, they need items inside to help maintain low temperatures. For those that order out a lot try keeping beverages in there. Most importantly though, remove items from your refrigerator and clean every tray, drawer and level thoroughly to remove gunk and food particles.
Join us next time here in our Metro-Flow Plumbing Blog for our second entry of July. Until then have a great month Dallas and remember to drink lots of water and stay cool under this hot sun.
