Do you ever think about your refrigerator? I know I never do, unless it starts to smell funny or there’s so much stuff in there I can’t put the groceries away, other than that, it never crosses my mind.
My friend recently woke up to a refrigerator full of spoiled food. Seems that sometime the day before the fridge had stopped working and no one had really noticed. Until they opened the door the next day and the milk was curdled. What a way to wake up. Now, not only do they have the expense of a new appliance, they have lots of spoiled food to throw away, and repurchase.
How do you prevent something like this from happening? Can you prevent it? Since our fridges are responsible for keeping our food cold enough to discourage bacteria there should be something we can do.
I did some research and it seems that the best way to make your refrigerator last as long as possible is to take care of it.
*Vacuum the coils once a year, these are either underneath the fridge or behind it.
*Check the seals, wash them with soapy water and replace if they are brittle and cracked.
*Clean the drip pan- apparently this is under the fridge and it collects condensation, this should be emptied every few months ( I’m going to have to look for mine)
*Defrost if it’s not a frost free model
*Make sure the fridge is level, if its not the doors will not shut properly and the motor will have to work harder to keep it cool.
*If you have an ice maker- change the water filter
*Check the temperature- it should be between 37 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
*And lastly, keep it clean.
Most refrigerators last between 14 and 17 years. I guess you really can’t prepare for when it stops working, you can only do your best to make it last as long as possible. I better get my fridge fund together, I got mine used and know that it is at least 13 years old.