Rise | We've Done the Research
Home Maintenance: Taking Care of Your Refrigerator
Living a healthy, sustainable lifestyle begins with a more sustainable home. In our day-to-day lives, many of us try to make decisions for our environment's greater good. These decisions often include recycling, buying products with less packaging, and being mindful about our energy and water consumption. Proper care and maintenance of the things we use can extend their life and further decrease our environmental impact.
A functioning refrigerator is often taken for granted. When it doesn't work, it's an expensive fix, or even worse, a costly replacement—and a lot of wasted materials going to a landfill. But did you know there are things you could be doing to improve their function and help them last longer?
Getting to know your refrigerator through regular maintenance will help you proactively make repairs far before it breaks down, saving time and money in the long run. Through regular care, you can identify and fix energy leaks, avoid surprise repairs, and extend your refrigerator's life as much as 20 years!
Bi-monthly Refrigerator Maintenance
Keeping your refrigerator running in tip-top shape doesn't require much. Scheduling in just 30 minutes of refrigerator maintenance once every other month will keep your food fresher and safer.
Table of Contents
Why Should You Clean and Check the Refrigerator's Drip Pans and Door Gaskets?
Your refrigerator has a drip pan located at the bottom of the unit to collect condensation and ice melt. Cleaning it every 2-3 months will prevent bacteria from build- up. Similarly, the gaskets, or the seals around the door edges, need to be cleaned and checked every 2-3 months. This regular maintenance will ensure a tight seal that will control the internal temperature and avoid any energy leakage. Pair these two tasks for quick and easy refrigerator maintenance.
How to Clean the Drip Pan
- Using your manual, locate the drip pan at the bottom of the refrigerator and follow the safe removal instructions.
- Clean it out with warm soapy water.
- Check for any cracks in the pan. If you notice any, replace the pan to avoid leakage.
- Inspect the drainage hole for built-up debris and pet hair. Remove and clean thoroughly.
How to Clean Door Gaskets:
- Open the refrigerator door.
- Using a vacuum, clean out any crumbs, debris, and pet hair.
- Using a toothbrush and warm soapy water mixed with a splash of vinegar, clean the grooves in the seal around the door.
- Rub petroleum jelly on the seal to extend its life
- Check for cracks and warping. If you find any, replace the gasket for a tight seal. Do the "dollar bill test! Place a dollar bill in the door and close it. Slowly, try to pull the bill out without opening the door. If it slips out without resistance, then it's time to replace your gaskets.
- Repeat steps 1-5 for the freezer door gasket.
Biannual Refrigerator Maintenance
Investing about 30 extra minutes twice per year in a little additional refrigerator maintenance will keep your family healthier and your refrigerator running more effectively for longer.
Why Should You Clean the Refrigerator's Coils? How Often?
Your refrigerator has two sets of coils: condenser coils located on the unit's exterior and evaporator coils situated in the interior. The condenser coils work to expel heat from the refrigerator, while the evaporator coils absorb heat from the inside. Keeping both sets clean will prevent your refrigerator from overworking and consuming more energy than needed. Clean coils also keep the fridge running more quietly and will help you avoid premature compressor failure.
You should clean your refrigerator coils 1-2 times each year, or every three months if you live with pets since pet hair tends to collect quickly.
How Do You Clean Refrigerator Coils?
- Unplug the refrigerator and pull it away from the wall.
- Consult your user manual to locate the coils (a grate may hide them).
- Use a vacuum attachment or a coil brush to clean thoroughly.
- Be sure to clean any grates or vents.
- Clean the floor underneath the refrigerator.
- Slide the refrigerator back into place, leaving an inch between the unit and the wall for proper ventilation.
Replace Water Filters
Suppose you have a refrigerator with a built-in icemaker or water dispenser. In that case, you must regularly replace that filter to avoid build-up and keep your water and ice clean. Consult your user manual for recommendations on how often to replace the filter and instructions for ordering replacements.
Check for a Level Surface
It may seem unnecessary, but ensuring your refrigerator is resting on a level surface every six months is very important. Your flooring may sink or tilt with your home if your foundation is weak or the earth beneath your home shifts. The flooring may also warp or see damage from the weight of the refrigerator, moisture, or leaks. Surprisingly, an uneven surface can dramatically impact your door gasket's tight seal and the refrigerator's overall function.
How to check and adjust your refrigerator:
- Lay a construction level on the top of your refrigerator to ensure it is 100% level.
- If not level, adjust the refrigerator's feet using a hand wrench until it reads level.
Laura Bourland
Laura grew up in the California suburbs, far removed from environmentalism, but nature always has a way. She uprooted her life in 2015, moving to the countryside of Washington to live a more sustainable and simple life on 12 acres. She and her fiancee are learning on the job as they attempt everything from gardening and natural pest control to eco-friendly building and home improvement.
