Its impossible to overestimate the importance of our beloved refrigerator.  The fridge is vital to our daily lives, but its often neglected when it comes to appliance maintenance even for the most handy of men and women.

Appliance Guard, the longtime South Bay appliance repair company wants to give you some tips to help maintain your refrigerator.

1. Set the right temperature
Keeping your refrigerator at a temperature between 37-40 degrees Fahrenheit will allow the internal environment to stay consistent, providing the highest quality food preservation. Doing this will also allow your food to stay fresh longer. Also, make sure your freezer is set to a consistent temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Make sure the doors seal tightly
This can become an issue for many homes. We take something out of our refrigerator, shut the door and think that we have fully closed it. Many times we will come back to the refrigerator 20 minutes later to find that the door is slightly open. Often times, this is a gasket issue. The gasket is the rubber piece that goes along the edge of the doors to seal the refrigerator so the temperature stays consistent inside. Clean the gaskets off twice a year with water and baking soda, making sure to be clear of food residue or dirt. If necessary, have a professional help you replace your gasket.

3. Clean The Inside 
Frost, residue, spilled food and drink can hamper your refrigerator’s performance if left uncleaned.  This is especially common in households with children but we all do it.  We forget to close the lid on ketchup or milk and it spills because we are in a hurry.  We shut the door and pretend someone else did it.  At least once a year its recommended to shut down your refrigerator and freezer, thaw it out and clean it.

4. Clean Condenser Coils and Fans
Once a year, you should remove the grate on the bottom of your refrigerator and clean out underneath with a brush. Condenser coils are responsible for removing heat from refrigerators and freezers. First, make sure you have unplugged your refrigerator. This might be one of the times that you decide to clean out the whole appliance from inside out. Use a brush to get all the dirt off the coil, cooler fan, and everything else around there. There are special brushes to make this task easier. Then take a vacuum and clean up all the dirt. Follow your refrigerator’s specific instructions in the owner’s manual if you have any questions.

5.  Keep it full!
Aside from the wonderful benefits of having a full refrigerator it also helps its performance. If you keep your refrigerator empty there will be more places for warm air to rush in when you open it. This will reduce efficiency. Keeping it full will help with the overall maintenance and usage of your refrigerator. If you go out to eat a lot, you can fill it up with liquids.

There you have it folks. If you have any questions or concerns about your home appliances, please do not hesitate to give us a call (310) 318-3538.

Thank You !