Most people use refrigerators several times a day, but did you know that you might be ruining your fridge with seemingly innocent habits? Are you wondering what makes a refrigerator go bad?

Here are the common blunders you’re probably committing right now and will have you calling an appliance repair agency soon:

Having the wrong settings on your thermostat

Setting the temperature too low causes the fridge to work too hard, shortens its life, increases your electric bills, and results in frozen food. On the other hand, setting it higher than 40 increases the danger of spoiling the food.

One of the most important aspects of proper refrigerator maintenance is preventing issues before they occur. To be on the safe side, set your refrigerator to 35-38 degrees Fahrenheit.

Putting hot items in the fridge

If you put food on the glass shelves while it’s still hot, the shelves may break. The hot foods may also raise the temperature inside your refrigerator. This puts a strain on the compressor because it will have to operate longer to bring the temperature down.

To be on the safe side, always let the food cool down before you place it in the fridge.

While this is the case, you should note that leaving food at room temperature for an extended period of time may allow bacteria to thrive. Make sure you don’t keep it out of the fridge for more than two hours.

If the room temperature exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit, you should not leave the food outside for more than an hour.

Before putting food in the fridge, divide it into smaller parts or place it in shallower containers to allow it to chill faster.

Placing the fridge too close to the wall

If you are wondering how this can make your fridge go bad, you should note that doing so prevents proper ventilation from coming about.

To understand why ventilation is so important, first learn how a refrigerator works. These appliances generate cold air and circulate it throughout. This allows hot air to escape from the refrigerator’s back.

This ensures that there is an energy balance, as the refrigerator uses an endothermic reaction to generate cold air and exhaust hot air.

This is why the coils on the back of the refrigerator feel hot to the touch. If they are not, you should get your refrigerator checked because it will not cool anything and you might end up ruining your unit.

So, refrigerator ventilation is critical because you want enough space for air to flow out, and if your refrigerator is in a small area with no windows or ventilation, the entire unit will begin to warm up, which is not desirable.

So, always set your refrigerator in an open area with enough of air to keep the outside cool and you’re good to go.

Failing to clean your fridge

Cleaning your fridge not only keeps it looking good, but it also makes it function better. Due to this, you should ensure that you clean the unit as frequently as possible.

Besides cleaning the insides, you also should clean the outside. While at it, don’t forget the seals. Seals and gaskets limit the loss of chilled air or the intrusion of heated air into the system, ensuring that your refrigerator cools efficiently.

To keep food fresh and the fridge from overheating, the seals and gaskets must be in good, flexible, and clean shape.

Use a soft cloth or sponge to clean the seals around your refrigerator and freezer doors. Avoid using a knife to remove trash from the folds. To prevent damage to the seal, use a toothbrush instead.

You also should avoid using strong detergents. A mixture of one-part vinegar and three parts water works effectively.

Refrigerator maintenance also involves keeping the water pipes clean and in good condition. A blockage or break in the line might cause a flooded kitchen and extensive water damage. To be on the safe side it’s a good idea to inspect and clean the water lines every 6 to 12 months.

In order to keep your refrigerator in proper shape, you must inspect and clean its drain pan. Every time you open the refrigerator door, warm air enters the system. Condensation occurs when warm air meets cold air in the system.

Your refrigerator’s drain pan at the bottom collects excess water and condensation that accumulates throughout the cooling and defrost cycles.

As long as the system is working properly, you don’t need to empty the drain pan; the water should evaporate. Mold and mildew can grow on a cracked, broken, or unclean drain pan so you should ensure everything is working properly.

If left untreated, this mold might cause structural damage to the floor beneath the refrigerator as well as a ceiling in the downstairs neighbor’s home.

Packing your fridge full

It may feel good to have a refrigerator full of food, but overfilling it might be problematic. Your refrigerator cools food by circulating cold air. If the contents are packed too tightly to allow for sufficient air circulation, your refrigerator will have to work extra hard.

Overpacking reduces the appliance’s efficiency and potentially shortens its life. Think about how you use and load your refrigerator. Not only does overstocking it with groceries risk harming your refrigerator, but it also causes the food to spoil faster.

Letting the kids hang on the door

Don’t allow your kids—or anyone, really—hang from the handles. This is because they may damage or bend the hinges, causing your refrigerator door to become out of alignment. If this occurs, cold air may escape, forcing your refrigerator to work harder to keep the inside cool and you don’t want this, do you?

Parting shot

These are some of the things you should do to keep your fridge in top shape and avoid it going bad. As you have seen, it’s not hard to do it. To be on the safe side and ensure that your unit is in top shape at all times, make it habit to have refrigerator repair Fairfax professionals inspect it at least once a year.

The post What Makes a Refrigerator Go Bad? first appeared on HVAC Repair, appliance repair. The post appeared first on Express Appliance Repair