The maintenance of your refrigerator

The maintenance of the refrigerator allows you to keep the appliance efficient. The maintenance operations are quite simple and infrequent and perhaps for this very reason they are often forgotten. In this article we give you some tips to keep your refrigerator efficient by optimizing consumption and quality of the appliance.

• Remove dust. Dust is one of the main causes of refrigerator inefficiency. The air currents generated by the condenser carry the dust right behind the mechanical elements with the risk of creating complications in the system. It is therefore good practice to keep the refrigerator and the room in which it is stored clean, the walls and the floor underneath, to prevent dust from accumulating.

• Coil cleaning. Cleaning the coil behind the fridge is another maintenance operation. The coil allows heat exchange with the external environment, so it must always be clean. Over the months, accumulations of dust can accumulate on the coil and hinder the heat exchange. This operation must always be done with the refrigerator off and without using liquids. A cloth is sufficient to remove dust.

• Cleaning the gaskets. To ensure the hermetic closure of the fridge door, it is advisable to clean the seals quite frequently, at least once a month. Cleaning the gaskets is a very simple operation, it takes a few minutes, but it is also very important. Impurities deposited on the gaskets can cause cold air to escape and increase the energy consumption of the appliance. Failure to close the door hermetically is also the cause of ice forming inside the refrigerator. To check the condition of the gaskets, simply pass a sheet of paper between the fridge and the gasket when the door is closed. If the sheet does not pass, the gasket is hermetic and safe. Otherwise, if the sheet passes under the gasket, it is very likely that it has deteriorated and it is necessary to contact a technician for its replacement.

• Internal cleaning of the refrigerator. Cleaning the inside of the refrigerator is another very important operation for proper maintenance of the refrigerator. In addition to avoiding the obstruction of the ducts which guarantee the conveyance of the defrost water, the internal cleaning of the refrigerator is also a necessary practice for hygienic reasons. The deterioration of food can favor the growth of molds and colonies of bacteria even inside the refrigerator. It is advisable to use cleaning products specially designed for the refrigerator. The use of unsuitable cleaning products could worsen safety and hygiene as the chemicals would remain inside the refrigerator and contaminate the food as well. If in doubt, it is best to use vinegar and water to clean the refrigerator. The internal cleaning of the refrigerator must be done with the refrigerator switched off.

• Remove the ice. The accumulation of ice on the walls of the refrigerator creates an insulating layer which increases the electricity consumption of the appliance and reduces the internal space available for storing food. The ice can be removed with the refrigerator off with a rag or sponge soaked in hot water and never with force or with the use of sharp tools. It is advisable to completely empty the refrigerator. At the end of the operation it is advisable to leave the refrigerator door open (switched off) for an hour in order to facilitate the melting of the residual ice still present on the internal walls. If the ice occurs frequently, contact a technician.

• Refrigerator too noisy. The refrigerator shouldn't make much noise and the motor shouldn't be running all the time. When these two events occur, it is advisable not to underestimate the problem and contact technical assistance for a check. The presence of annoying and continuous buzzing is not to be considered normal. Malfunctioning of the refrigerator can considerably increase the consumption of electricity.

For each maintenance operation, always refer to the instructions contained in the instruction booklet of the appliance. Failure to follow the manufacturer's instructions may reduce safety and void the warranty.