Refrigerator Maintenance Tips to Extend Your Fridge’s Lifespan

Silver fridge Maintenance of Refrigeration System

The kitchen wouldn’t be the same without its king – the refrigerator. Keeping groceries fresh is a part of its role. A fridge is your shelf with culinary inspiration, the protector of taste, and sometimes a mental helper when you need to open and close it just to ensure everything is the same inside. With our refrigerator maintenance tips your fridge will serve you and your kitchen for years longer. 

The Crucial Role of Maintenance of Refrigeration System

At first glance it might seem obvious what refrigerator maintenance gives you: clean inside space, no bed odours and no ice on the walls. But it goes far beyond simple aesthetics. Dust, ice, and spills affect not only the shelves of your fridge, but covers walls and functional parts, which adds stress to the whole working process. 

Proper maintenance of refrigeration system helps fans, coils, the motor and other parts function under normal load. Hence, all of these parts wear slower, consume less energy and perform perfectly as designed. The maintenance is what keeps you away from high energy bills, costly repairs of broken parts, and a shorter lifespan of your appliance. 

Essential Refrigerator Maintenance Tips

We made this guide of the easiest practical tips that anyone can perform at home. You won’t find tips here with any specialised tools or skills needed, so even a child can do them.

Tip 1: Clean The Condenser Coil Regularly

Look at the back of your fridge and you’ll find condenser coils there. They are frequently left unnoticed while regular cleaning, so it’s important to check them from time to time. Remove dust, pets hair and other dirt away, so they can release the heat out of the fridge with no obstacles. We recommend performing this kind of maintenance of refrigeration system 2-4 times a year for efficient operation. You can use a coil brush or vacuum, and don’t forget to unplug the unit first.

Tip 2: Check and Replace Door Seals When Needed

Check your gaskets to see if they still seal the fridge perfectly. These rubber things protect the cold inside from outside warm air. When broken, air from the outside warms the inside temperature and increases load on the whole cooling system. The checking process as part of refrigerator maintenance is simple: put a paper between the door and the fridge, and if it slides out – you need a replacement of the gaskets. It’s fine, just call Fuse Service and we will do the repair for you. It’s much cheaper than paying higher energy bills caused by the extra load of the broken refrigerator.

Tip 3: Maintain Proper Temperature Settings

Another easy refrigerator maintenance tip is to check the temperature range. Cooling temperature should be set between 37°F and 40°F, while freezing one at 0°F. Professionals had calculated these temperatures to keep your food both fresh and safe to eat. 

Tip 4: Ensure Proper Airflow Inside and Behind the Refrigerator

Professional interior design should include maintenance of refrigeration system as a crucial part of the kitchen routine. Therefore, ensure that the fridge has enough space behind it and around for the perfect airflow, which distributes the released heat from coils all over the room. That’s how you avoid heat buildup and higher load on the cooling system. 

Tip 5: Keep the Refrigerator Level and Drainage Clear

It might sound weird at first, but you definitely should level your fridge perfectly. You see, it’s impossible to provide a perfect maintenance refrigerator if the draining system isn’t functioning as designed. An improper level will make water stuck where it shouldn’t and flow away from places it needed to be. In addition, remember to keep your drain hole clean and free of any dirt to avoid water pooling.

Tip 6: Clean Spills and Interior Surfaces Before Buildup Forms

It’s obvious we store food in the fridge. However, when left forgotten for a long time it can harden, stick to the walls and smell. Remember to clean food spills and leftovers with warm water and mild soap to avoid this unpleasant issue. Among other refrigerator maintenance tips this one also protects you from bacteria development as well as prevents damage of plastic components. 

Maintenance of Refrigeration System Schedule

The most frequent one is simple cleaning with wipes — do this weekly. However, you should check seals and temperature settings once a month. Coil cleaning and other deep tasks usually performed every 3-6 months. You can use our tips to create a checklist and a schedule and keep track of your maintenance of refrigeration system.

Warning Signs That Mean Refrigerator Maintenance Won’t Help

Of course, before calling for a technician when you’ve noticed a small issue like bad odours, try refrigeration maintenance first. However, if you’ve cleaned and checked everything, but issues aren’t going away it’s a sign of something more serious. There are other problems that couldn’t be resolved by maintenance: loud humming and frequent cycling, together with water leaks. All the above are concerning signs, and you better call for professional help once you’ve noticed them. The sooner you address the problem, the sooner you’ll get your fridge back online. There are also high chances that the repair will be cheaper when addressed at the first signs of a problem rather than when it’s already in disrepair.

Common Maintenance Mistakes That Shorten Refrigerator Lifespan

The most common mistake we face is no maintenance refrigerator at all before small issues become big. And if there’s maintenance, some people tend to use harsh chemicals to quickly get rid of dirt, while they harm the interior surfaces and seals. The storage system in your fridge is also important: don’t overload shelves, block vents and drain holes. Lastly, don’t wait to call Fuse Service if you’ve noticed an issue that you couldn’t resolve yourself. It won’t disappear on its own, but will harm all the systems in the refrigerator. Careful and regular refrigeration maintenance is what you need to keep your appliance safe and sound throughout the years. 

Don’t forget to follow us on our social media: YouTube, Facebook, Nextdoor — to always be updated with the latest refrigerator tips and news with us.

Filters
  • Sort by Newest
  • Sort by Oldest
  • Appliance Repair
  • Refrigerator Maintenance
Have questions or need assistance? Our friendly team is here to help. Contact us today!
Reviews
Check Out Our Reviews!
Posted on Google Google
Arlene Schindler-Anim profile picture
Arlene Schindler-Anim
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Using Fuse Service Appliance repair was easy! Daniel G. Was a great serviceman who helped my mom and I figure out the root cause of our washer. Quick, easy, and efficient and responsive.
Posted on Google Google
pat mckay profile picture
pat mckay
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Highly recommend! Eltan was extremely knowledgeable and professional. He identified the issue quickly and clearly explained to me what was going with our dryer.
Posted on Google Google
Tony Currie profile picture
Tony Currie
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
The technician arrived on time. He was very polite and professional. He was very honest regarding his diagnosis such that the only fee was the diagnostic fee. The washing machine was up and running within 20 minutes after his arrival. I will gladly call FUSE again.
Posted on Google Google
Pete Morillo profile picture
Pete Morillo
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Great guy!
Posted on Google Google
Gary Kusch profile picture
Gary Kusch
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Repair service was performed in a timely fashion. Repairman was very courteous and professional.
Posted on Google Google
Alon Porat profile picture
Alon Porat
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
David was professional and helped me find a way to get this dishwasher back in business.
Verified by Trustindex
Trustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
Loading content.
Locations
Serving Area in DC Metro Area
Contact Us
We’re Here to Help: Reach Out to Us Anytime!
  • Trained Techs: New trainings in office every two weeks
  • Certification: EPA certified techs
  • Insured: General Liability Workers Compensation Insurance
  • 6 months Warranty: on the labor for Appliance services
  • 12 months warranty: for commercial refrigeration jobs
Name
Checkboxes
Cancel
Submit Request
55 Timber Rock Rd, Gaithersburg MD 20878
24/7
EVERYDAY
(240) 240-9700