Refrigerator Maintenance Tips

Refrigerator Maintenance Las Cruces:  You can extend the life of your refrigerator and improve performance by properly maintaining the unit.  Always unplug appliances before performing any maintenance or repairs. 

Proper refrigerator installation is very important.  The unit should be level and placed on a hard floor, not carpet.  It should be plugged directly into a properly grounded outlet without using an extension cord.

Older refrigerators without automatic defrost will need to be defrosted with the ice is about ½ inch thick in the freezer compartment.

For self-defrosting refrigerators, wash the drain pan periodically. The water should evaporate, but in damp weather, water can linger, promoting mold and bacterial growth.

Wipe the interior as needed and keep food covered or wrapped to prevent odors.

Clean door gaskets with warm, soapy water and check them for stiffness or cracking.  Replace as needed. 

The most important refrigerator maintenance task is cleaning the condenser coils, located in the back of older models or at the bottom of newer models.  Dust, lint and dirt can inhibit the coil’s ability to exchange heat and cause the unit to us more energy.  Use a condenser coil brush to clean the coils and keep the floor around the refrigerator swept.  The coils should be cleaned at least twice a year and more often if you have pets.  Daylight savings time changes are a good time to do this, or when you do spring cleaning and holiday cleaning.

Read How to clean the Refrigerator Condenser Coils for more information.

About SoBellas Appliance LLC:  SoBellas Appliance Repair is authorized to service most makes and models of home appliances.  SoBellas also provides appliance maintenance service including dryer vent cleaning.  With over 35 years experience in the appliance service industry, owner Mike LaBeau has served area residents since 2008.  SoBellas screened technicians provide same-day appliance service and provide a 1 year warranty on parts and labor.