Chances are, your refrigerator is the appliance in your kitchen that sees the most use on a daily basis. It is also likely that your refrigerator is the appliance that consumes the most energy. After spending thousands of dollars on a brand new refrigerator from appliance stores, you want to care for the appliance properly to extend its lifetime and reduce its energy consumption.

Check the Door Seals

One way you can keep the energy consumption of your refrigerator low and the lifetime of the appliance long is checking the door seals on a regular basis. A loose seal on the door of the refrigerator will allow cool air to slowly seep out. Not only will a loose door seal lead to high energy consumption, but it will also force your refrigerator to work harder than usual. Use a solution of water and baking soda along with a toothbrush to clean the seals twice a year. The door seals should not have food residue build-up.

Clean the Coils Regularly

Another way you can care for your refrigerator is by cleaning the coils regularly. An accumulation of dust on the condenser coils will make it difficult for your refrigerator to work properly. Therefore, you should move the appliance from the wall to clean the condenser coils. Use a vacuum with the brush to clean the condenser coils after unplugging the refrigerator from the outlet.

Set the Thermostat at the Right Temperature

To ensure that your refrigerator doesn't work harder than it has to, you should set the temperature for the fridge between 37 degrees Fahrenheit. Set the temperature for the freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fill Up Your Fridge

Another way you can care for your refrigerator is by keeping it full at all times. In order to maintain low temperatures, your fridge needs thermal mass. If you don't have enough food to keep your fridge full, you should keep a few gallons or jugs of water in the fridge.

It is important to care for your fridge if you want to keep energy consumption low and the lifetime of your fridge long. For more information about caring for your refrigerator and other home appliances, visit Sprowls City Appliance & TV.

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