Setting up your refrigerator:
In order to ensure that the refrigerator works efficiently, install it properly. Do not place your refrigerator near any heat source; ovens, dishwashers, and direct sunlight should be avoided.
Ensuring your fridge has proper ventilation:
There needs to be ample space around the fridge to ensure that there is adequate ventilation. A gap of 10 cm between the back of the fridge and the wall is ideal. If the fridge is installed in a recess, there should be ample space over the top of the fridge as well. Poor airflow around the fridge can lead to an increase in the cost of operating the fridge by up to 15%. If the fridge has a condenser attached, the condenser should be placed at least 2.5 cm from the wall. Never install a refrigerator or freezer in an unventilated cupboard. When going on a long vacation, empty the fridge and clean it out. The fridge should be unplugged from the wall socket and the door left ajar to ensure that the fridge does not develop a stale odor.
Maintaining the condenser coils:
Clean the condenser coils at the rear of the fridge regularly to improve its overall efficiency. Remove unwanted dust that accumulates on the coils as it acts as an insulator for the condenser coils. In order to solve this problem, new fridges often have the condenser coils enclosed to prevent dust from settling on it.
Checking your door’s seals for cooling loss:
The seal on the door is crucial to ensure that the cold stays in. Check to see that the seal shuts tightly without any gap. Seals may either be rubber or magnetic. A rubber seal can be tested by inserting paper or currency notes between the doorframe and the seal, and closing the door thereafter. If you are able to remove the paper / currency note easily once the door is closed, it means the seal of the fridge needs to be changed. The leveling of the fridge can affect the seal. If the fridge is not properly leveled then it likely that the alignment of the door gasket may not be proper, leading to air seeping out.
Special considerations for the freezer compartment:
The ideal temperature to set your freezer is between -15˚C and -18˚C and your fridge compartment should be set to a temperature of 3˚C-4˚C. In order to ensure that the freezer works efficiently, the freezer should be not be packed tightly. Keep ample amount of space between dishes for cooling to be effective. Freezers should be packed fully only if the items are completely frozen when placed into the freezer compartment. Minimize the number of times you open the freezer compartment as far as possible. This will help in conserving electricity.
Storing food in your fridge:
Foods that are stored in the fridge and freezer should be covered to prevent drying of foods or transfer of odors. If a fridge compartment on an average is never two-thirds full or a freezer compartment three-quarters full, the size of the fridge is too big for you. This means that there is an unnecessary wastage of energy on cooling. Fridges operate efficiently only if utilized to their full capacity. More cold air is lost when a half empty fridge is open as compared to when the door of a well stacked fridge is opened. One solution is to stock containers of water to fill the fridge if there are too many air spaces.
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