Its Spring Break time and alot of us are taking vacations and will be away from home for over a week. Its a good idea to turn the water off to your refrigerator and washing machine to help prevent to risk of leaks and flooding while your gone for a long period of time.
Use the energy saver switch on newer models. This
controls an electric heater built into the front perimeter of the cabinet. In
humid weather it keeps moisture from collecting there, but is seldom required
in the dry winter months.
When putting freshly washed vegetables into the fridge,
dry them before hand. Excessive moisture can make the appliance work harder and
use more energy.
To find out if your refrigerator is keeping the proper
temperature, put a container of water on the middle shelf. Let it stand overnight
and then test the water temperature. Because the air temperature varies so
widely, this is the only accurate way to find out. Also see 'The Cold Facts'
for the proper way to set your controls.
If you have to transport the fridge you can lay it on its
side (after securing its shelves and doors). After moving, it should be left to
stand upright at least an hour before plugging it in. This is because when
horizontal, the oil in the compressor will seep into the refrigerant lines
plugging them. The idea is to give the oil time to settle back into the
compressor harmlessly. However, the less time it's on its side and the less
jostling it gets in that position, the better.
If you're planning to leave a refrigerator unplugged or
turned off for a length of time, be sure to keep both doors ajar. Put something
between the door gaskets and the front frame of the cabinet and use masking
tape to hold the doors in place. Moist air trapped inside the fridge will
produce mold and mildew that will be difficult to clean out.
Frequently clean the door gaskets and the mating
refrigerator surface. Any sticky buildup will put added stress on the gasket
material and lead to premature failure.
When storing items in the door, place the heaviest items
closest to the hinge side. This will minimize the distance these items travel
when the door is opened and closed, reducing stress on the door and inner door
panel.
To increase cooling efficiency and reduce power
consumption on a manual-defrost fridge, defrost it often. However, DO NOT use a
sharp object to break up the ice. The refrigerant gas travels through tubing
molded into the freezer box (evaporator), and is easily punctured. Major
repairs will be required to fix it and if the fridge is not unplugged
immediately, moisture will be drawn into the compressor. In this case it will
certainly not be economical to repair.
On frost-free models with a condenser fan motor, clean
the dust from the fan and condenser area periodically. Excessive build-up can
lead to premature compressor failure and does result in higher energy
consumption.
Do not attempt to use regular plumbing solder to repair
copper or steel refrigerant lines. This requires special silver-alloy solders
such as Silfoss or silver solder to withstand refrigerant pressures. In
addition, once tried, it may not be possible to remove the household solder to
weld the lines properly.
I hope some of the tips were helpful to you, if so pass it along to your friends and family, we love to share.
If you need assistance with anything or have a problem you need to call a service tech for, please call Affordable Appliance Repair 214-731-4680, we will be happy to schedule an appointment for you.
Have a wonderful day!
