I think most of us would probably agree that the refrigerator is the most-used appliance in the home. It is probably opened dozens of times a day, at least, in the average family. The challenge, of course, is to keep it cold so it is not running and costing you money. Of course, you also want your food to stay fresh. We think these tips will help you do both.
Keep It Filled
This may sound contrarian, but keeping the fridge full makes it easier to keep the fridge cold. All of those chilled items that are in the fridge help absorb any warm air that comes into the fridge when the door is open. A fridge with few items in it will only see a rush of cold air going out with nothing to absorb the warm air coming in. So, the moment you close the door, the fridge not only kicks on, but it stays on far longer than it would had you had it stocked.
Clean the Coils
Depending upon the model, the coils of the fridge will be either on the back or under the fridge. Either way, you need to make sure they cleaned off a couple of times a year to ensure the fridge can run properly. If you allow excessive dust to build up, the fridge has to work extra hard when it kicks on to cool in the inside, which could result in the fridge overheating and breaking down. You can clean the coils with a damp rag or a vacuum cleaner. Either one will do the job.
Proper Temperatures
Most modern fridges have a digital thermometer built in, but there are some lower-end models that do not have them. If that is the case, or if you have an older fridge, buy a magnetic thermometer that you can stick insider the fridge to ensure it is at the right temperature. The fridge should be set between 37 and 40 degrees, while the freezer should be set to 0 degrees.
The Freezer
The one thing you want to make is that you do not have the freezer overstuffed. If you do, the air will not be able to circulate properly to keep the ideal temperature. Make sure the air vent area is clear and there is enough space in the freezer for the air to move freely from top to bottom, which means you should not have food stuffed to the very top of the freezer.
