Introduction
Refrigerators are undeniably one of the most expensive appliances in our homes. Some people even resort to taking out loans or opting for installment plans just to afford one. However, despite budget constraints, owning a refrigerator is crucial for most households.
Given the significant investment, it's essential to know how to properly care for and maintain your refrigerator. This knowledge ensures its long-term functionality and helps you avoid costly repairs. Unfortunately, you may unintentionally engage in practices that harm your refrigerator. If this concerns you, then you don't have to worry too much! In this article, Western Appliances provides practical tips on maintaining a single door refrigerator in the Philippines.
Single Door Refrigerators in the Philippines
Single door refrigerators are compact fridges with a single door that grants access to the entire unit. Inside, you'll find the freezer compartment, which is conveniently accessed by first opening the main door and then pulling open the freezer door from within.
Thanks to their space-saving design, these refrigerators are perfect for small to medium families. They can easily fit into narrower kitchen spaces, making them a practical choice. Additionally, the prices of single door refrigerators in the Philippines are lower than other types of fridges, making them an ideal and affordable choice for budget-conscious individuals.
Habits That Can Cause Refrigerator Damage
The life and quality of our single door fridges will depend on several factors, such as brand, model, and frequency of use. However, an equally crucial aspect is our usage habits, which can unintentionally cause damage to our refrigerators. These bad habits may include:
Putting Hot Items Inside
This is a no-no, especially if your fridge has glass shelves. Placing a hot soup pot inside can cause the glass shelves to break. Additionally, the heat from hot items can raise the temperature inside and force the compressor to work harder to restore the normal internal temperature.
Closing the Door Incorrectly
Improperly closing the fridge door can happen in two ways. First, you might be shutting the fridge door too hard by slamming it. This can cause the door to wear down faster. Additionally, you could be closing the door inadequately, letting warm air enter, and causing the refrigerator to work harder to retain its cold temperature.
Overloading the Fridge
Overloading a refrigerator with too much food and other items can cause damage to its shelves. It can also make items inside fall off whenever someone opens the door, causing food wastage and possible injuries. More importantly, this can block the vents, restricting cold air flow and damaging the compressor.
Breaking Ice Off the Freezer Wall
Do you hack ice off your freezer wall with a tool, such as a screwdriver, whenever there's considerable ice buildup? Doing this can damage your fridge's cooling system, resulting in coolant leakage. Whenever there's a huge ice buildup, it's better to turn off your refrigerator to defrost it manually.
Maintain Your Single Door Fridge Properly
Typically, the life span of a refrigerator is around 10 to 15 years, but you can use yours for up to 20 years if you take good care of it. Learn the following tips to help you properly maintain your single door refrigerator in the Philippines:
Keep the Door Closed
As much as possible, avoid opening your fridge multiple times to prevent temperature fluctuations caused by warm air that goes inside. To avoid opening your refrigerator often, find ways to lessen the number of times you need to access something inside.
For instance, you can keep a list of the items stored in your fridge, including their content level, so you wouldn't have to open it to check if you're about to run out of a particular food product. Also, it would help to educate your family members on the importance of closing the fridge door properly and only opening it when needed.
Set the Right Temperature
As recommended by the US Food and Drug Administration, you should set your refrigerator temperature at or below 4°C and freezer at -18°C. Incorrect temperature settings encourage the growth of microorganisms such as E. coli and salmonella, which are harmful to humans.
Meanwhile, when the freezer temperature is too high, it can cause the defrost thermostat to malfunction, leading to your refrigerator working harder than necessary.
Clean Your Fridge Regularly
You should regularly clean your refrigerator every three to four months to prevent bacteria buildup. Remember, this is highly important because a large percentage of what we store in our fridge is food.
Aside from the interior, the refrigerator's condenser coils should be cleaned twice a year. Over time, dust builds up in these coils and may affect your refrigerator's efficiency and cooling abilities. Using a coil brush, gently remove the dust and follow up with a quick sweep or vacuuming.
Check Your Door Seal
A rubber gasket runs along the outer edge of a fridge door to keep it sealed. Since it serves to keep the door tightly closed, you should check it from time to time to ensure that it is still in good shape and not sagging. It should also be cleaned regularly; otherwise, dirt and residue will build up, preventing the door from shutting properly.
Avoid Blocking the Vents
Refrigerator vents have an essential purpose. In many fridges, the vents send the cold air from the freezer into the refrigerator compartment to cool it. If these vents get blocked—for instance, by too many food items—it can result in the refrigerator freezing up or overheating. To avoid accidentally blocking a vent, you should know where they are located.
Talk to Professionals When Needed
If you notice that your refrigerator isn't cold enough, the freezer is excessively cold, or the back part feels hotter than usual, these are indications of a problem. Pay attention to other warning signs such as food spoiling faster than usual, unexplained spikes in your electricity bills, or the presence of condensation or frost.
In such cases, it's advisable to seek the assistance of professionals with the necessary expertise and tools to diagnose and resolve the issue. Attempting to repair a refrigerator on your own can potentially worsen the problem, resulting in more extensive damage and even personal injuries.
Conclusion
By regularly cleaning, properly setting the temperature, and avoiding detrimental habits, you can ensure the longevity of your single door refrigerators, allowing you to enjoy their use for many years.
If you're looking for easy-to-maintain fridges, head over to Western Appliances. We offer multiple refrigerator brands, so you can rest assured you'll find one suited to your needs and budget. If you need help choosing the best single door refrigerator in the Philippines, our store personnel would gladly assist. Shop now!
