If things seem to get too warm in your refrigerator, your first thought might be that the appliance needs repair. This is entirely possible, but it's also possible that you're doing things that make it harder for the refrigerator to cool down properly. You shouldn't assume one way or the other as you need to get that refrigerator working properly as fast as you can in order to preserve the perishable food you have in there. Take a look at these four things that you might be doing; if none of them apply, then call a repair company.
Blocking Airflow in the Refrigerator Section
Air needs to flow freely through a refrigerator to keep everything cold. If you pack too much into the fridge, you block the flow of cool air from the compressor to the front of the compartment or from the compressor to other shelf spaces. Try rearranging the contents of the fridge to see if you can make more room; maybe some of what's in there can be moved to the freezer (which sometimes functions better when packed). Sometimes what people like to refrigerate doesn't actually need to be kept cool, such as some types of uncut fruit, and moving those fruits out of the space could increase airflow.
Not Setting the Temperature Controls Correctly
Refrigerator temperature controls typically don't list degrees; instead, they list basic numbers, often 1 through something like 8 or 9. Get two or three refrigerator thermometers and place them at random points inside the refrigerator. Keep the door closed and wait a couple of hours; then check the temperatures on each. They should all be between 33 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit; if they're warmer than that, increase the temperature control knob reading by one to two numbers and wait again. Generally, setting the knob to between 4 and 6 works for many refrigerators, but if you find you've moved the knob up to the highest number and still can't get the temperature into the right range, call a repair company immediately.
Not Making Sure the Doors Close All the Way
Refrigerator doors should swing shut completely, but if the fridge's feet are set so that the front of the fridge is level with or slightly lower than the back, then the door won't swing shut all the way. Move the refrigerator out, adjust the feet (they should just turn, like screws), and see if the door swings completely shut by itself.
Putting Meal Prep Containers Inside Too Soon
When you prep meals for the week, you need to let the containers and food cool down a bit first. Placing hot food into the refrigerator too soon can raise the internal temperature of the refrigerator into the unsafe zone. Let the food and containers sit out for about 10 to 15 minutes and then place them in the refrigerator.
If none of these fix the problem, then you need a repair company to work on the refrigerator. Sometimes the problem is easy to fix, but you still want to make sure your food is safe to eat. Don't put off calling if you find out the appliance needs repair.
To learn more, contact a resource that offers appliance services.
Share14 July 2020
After I purchased my first home, I realized that there were a few issues with my kitchen appliances. It just seemed like nothing worked like it should, and it was really frustrating. To ward off problems in the future, I started looking around for an appliances repair services business that could help. I was able to find a great company that came out, evaluated our equipment, and made the necessary changes. This blog is all about the different things to look for if your appliances start to fail. You never know, you might be able to ward off some serious expenses in the future.