It can be quite frustrating knowing that the appliance you’ve bought spending thousands of rupees has encountered a fatal breakdown. Without any doubt, finding warm food, spoiled edibles and dripping water is a tough situation for any homeowner.

When such an event occurs, you look for services of an appliance specialist to get it fixed. After spending your hard earned cash on repair procedures, you get back to your lazy life until this painful procedure hits you back after some months.

There are many factors involved in determining a particular appliance’s lifespan. However, regular maintenance could help safeguard your appliance’s longevity thus letting you avoid expensive service calls and lead to lower electricity bills.

Fortunately, there are several ways to avoid this from happening. Today’s post is specifically focused on helping you make your refrigerator run efficiently and last longer even beyond its warranty period. So if you don’t want your refrigerator troubling you again then grab a cup of coffee and read through these tips to know how you can make your refrigerator last longer.

Also check: Latest refrigerator prices in Pakistan

Following the given simple tips, you’ll observe wonders in your energy bill whilst keeping your food safe from spoiling along with making your appliance last for years to come.

• Placement

Most of us really don’t take consideration of where the refrigerator needs to be placed. Normally there’s a handy nook carved out in the kitchen for its allocation. Unfortunately, this may not always be the best place for it to be. Due to lack of ventilation, a huge amount of heat is generated thus making the motor and compressor work harder resulting in shortened life of the appliance.

It is recommended that you place the refrigerator

• Away from the oven.
• Away from direct sunlight.
• Away from heat vents

If you’re short on choices, you can diminish these issues by placing a piece of insulated board between the microwave oven and fridge, shutting the curtains on the window and closing the heat vent neighboring the refrigerator. Also make sure you place the refrigerator away from the gas stove to avoid excessive heat.  For the refrigerator to operate properly, keep it a few inches from the wall to let the air circulate, helping disperse the heat that your fridge creates.

• Vacuum the coils

The cooling coils are another important aspect to consider when maintaining your refrigerator. One of the reasons why a refrigerator fails to cool properly is because that these coils are covered with dirt and debris disallowing them to release heat. To keep the refrigerator’s coils running smoothly, use a hand wand vacuum to remove all the dust and grime surrounding the coils. Repeating this process twice a year will help your refrigerator last longer. If you have fuzzy friends roaming around your house then repeat this process every month.

The condenser coils can be accessed at the backside or underneath the unit. Always start the cleaning procedure by unplugging your refrigerator. Try to remove as much dirt and dust off the coils as possible for optimum results.

• Scrub the refrigerator door gasket

Most people won’t give the rubber gasket around the refrigerator door a second thought. Unfortunately, this can lead to an overworked motor. Dirt particles and grime gets stuck in the gasket over time thus failing to seal properly and promoting air leakage. If not attended properly, the fridge may work overtime to maintain its temperature.

Take a few minutes to clean the gaskets on quarterly basis.

For cleaning methods read: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet for Cleaning Your Refrigerator’s Door Gasket

• Fill the refrigerator properly

While filling the fridge you need to maintain a perfect balance, over-filling it will hinder its ability to efficiently circulate cool air and leaving it empty will make it difficult for the appliance to maintain a consistent temperature. Always leave about 1 to 2 inches distance between items in the fridge or freezer and don’t stack everything up to allow the appliance to properly circulate air in all compartments.

• Keep it clean

It is important to clean your refrigerator on regular basis to avoid the risk housing bacteria and bad smell.  Maintaining cleanliness of your appliance can definitely increase its lifespan. First of all, make certain that the refrigerator is spotless from the inside. Clean the interior with warm soapy water at least once a month to avoid the buildup of particles. If you’re dealing with bad odors, simply place a small bowl of vinegar and lime solution inside the refrigerator for a day (while it’s running). It’ll absorb the bad smell and you’ll have a fresh appliance.

Also Read: 5 Super Easy Ways to Get Rid of Refrigerator Odors

• Defrost when needed

While most of the modern day refrigerators are frost-free, it is still important to consider the evergreen defrosting technique to remove any frost buildup. The frosting can cause the motor to work harder thus shortening the life of your fridge.

To avoid frosting, let your foods cool down to room temperature before placing them into the fridge or freezer and never store uncovered food. These two tips alone will preclude most condensation issues that lead to frost.

• Avoid unnecessary opening

It is a fact that long gone is the time when we used to play with the refrigerator door just to see at what point the lights go off but still it is important to mention that frequent opening and closing the door puts strain on your trusty old appliance. Also, try not to foolishly eat in front of the refrigerator (with the door open) to avoid cold air escape.

• Cover everything

Most foods being placed in the refrigerator contain moisture. When left uncovered, they release this moisture into the air thus resulting the compressor to work twice as hard to remove it.

• Perform an annual inspection

Make sure you catch electrical & mechanical problems when they are still repairable and before they end up breaking down. Consider the following points when annually inspecting your refrigerator:-

• Pay attention towards any unordinary sounds, such as rattling, squealing or grinding. All of these signs indicate motor, compressor or fan issues that can often be rectified with a simple professional appliance tune-up.
• Monitor the temperature in both the fridge and freezer compartment using a thermometer. Evaluate this for a couple of days to determine whether the temperature remains consistent and matches the settings on the thermostat.
• Physically examine the edges of your refrigerator door. If you observe that it is not sealing properly, simply replace the gasket or have the door hinges checked to ensure a perfect seal.

For more information read: How to Fix 6 Common Refrigerator Problems

Well, to be honest, being proactive is the best way to keep your refrigerator running for a longer period of time. Following these tips will definitely extend your appliance’s life and save you from the hassle of a premature replacement.

If you’ve found this post interesting and helpful then do share it with your circle to lend them a helping hand and if you have any other ways to keep your fridge running efficiently for a long time then don’t hesitate to leave your comments in the section below.