Top Asked Appliance Questions: Part Three

Commonly Asked Refrigerator Questions

In the next installment of our top asked appliance questions blog series, we are going to discuss all things refrigerators. A ton of the questions that we get regarding refrigerators have very simple fixes, so we hope by putting them all together you find this article helpful!

How does a refrigerator work?

This is a great commonly asked question! How it works is refrigerant is moved around the unit, and changes in pressure and temperature change it from a liquid to a gas. Refrigerant is a working fluid used in the refrigeration cycle of air conditioning systems and heat pumps where in most cases they undergo a repeated phase transition from a liquid to a gas and back again. This reaction causes cold air to continuously be introduced into the refrigerator and reused again to maintain the cold temperature.

What is the ideal temperature of my refrigerator?

According to the FDA, your refrigerator temperature should be at or below 40°F/ 4°C. Your freezer temperature should be at 0°F/-18°C.

What is the best way to clean my refrigerator?

Cleaning a fridge can be really simple, but there are a couple of steps you need to make sure to not forget. The first tip is to make sure your fridge is unplugged and not running. Then, mix together one to two tablespoons of baking soda with one quart of water and wipe down the walls of the refrigerator with this solution. Lastly, rinse with water and let the refrigerator dry. Make sure not to use any abrasive cleaners, or put any of your shelves in the dishwasher unless approved by the manufacturer.

What should I do if my refrigerator is leaking?

First and foremost you should contact the manufacturer. Since there are many different styles of refrigerators, it is hard to give an exact answer. For a lot of cases, however, this may mean your fridge has a clogged drain tube which would require a service call.

How do I level my refrigerator?

This is important because a refrigerator that is not properly leveled is going to make your fridge work harder than it needs to, thus using more energy. The first thing you should do is remove the level at the bottom of the refrigerator. Consult the manual on how to do this. Then, you should see height-adjustable sides on either side of the refrigerator. To adjust the height of threaded leveling legs, you can simply rotate the legs. To do this, you may need someone to help lean the refrigerator back to gain access to the legs. Some leveling legs can be adjusted with a wrench from the top side of the threads. Typically, rotating the legs clockwise will raise the front of the refrigerator, while rotating counter-clockwise will lower it.

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For more answers to top asked appliance questions, check out our previous blogs here and here.

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