5 Refrigerator Maintenance Tips

A broken or malfunctioning refrigerator can make life extremely difficult. One of the stars of the home appliance landscape, families everywhere rely on their refrigerator to keep food fresh and beverages cool. Replacing a refrigerator can come with a hefty price tag, but don’t fear – there are simple steps you can take to extend the life of this essential appliance.

At Diamond Factory Appliance, we proudly provide expert refrigerator repair service to clients across St. Louis, Kansas City, Overland Park, Olathe, Independence, St. Charles, and many more communities across Missouri and Kansas. Our team of appliance repair experts have over 100 years of combined experience – if the appliance can be repaired, we can make it happen! If your refrigerator is malfunctioning or has a broken part and isn’t under warranty, call Diamond today.

But first – is your refrigerator working well? That’s great! Read on for our top tips for keeping your fridge running and looking like new:

Clean inside and out. There’s nothing worse than opening a refrigerator to find caked-on spills and stains. Commit to giving your refrigerator an allover clean a few times a year to avoid a lot of hassle down the road. Use a wet cloth dotted with a few drops of vanilla extract to wipe down the fridge interior. For tougher gunk, create a DIY cleaner using equal parts dish soap and vinegar, spray on stains, let sit 10 minutes, then wipe clean. Another important element to keep clean is the condenser coils, located behind the refrigerator. A few times a year, unplug the refrigerator, pull it away from the wall (the coils may be located on the front bottom of the appliance – simply snap off the grille to access), and clear away dust using your vacuum’s brush attachment.
Maintain door seals. The rubber seals around the door of your fridge and freezer may seem wimpy but actually play a major role. Loose or malfunctioning seals cause the fridge to leak cold air, which wastes energy. Clean the seals of food gunk a few times a year using a toothbrush and a mixture of baking soda and water. Then, test the seals by closing a dollar bill in the fridge door, half in and half out. If it falls out easily, it’s time to get the door seals repaired or replaced.
Maintain a consistent temperature. Your refrigerator should be set between 37 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, with the freezer set at 0 degrees. Periodically check the temperature to ensure it remains consistent – if not, call in a pro.
Keep your fridge stocked. Did you know that having a full fridge (a.k.a. A high “thermal lode”) actually helps maintain a low temperature? Cooled items in a fridge absorb the warmer air that enters the fridge when you open the door. If you’re not one to keep much food in your fridge, you can create the same effect by storing a few jugs of water in there. Just make sure to throw out that 2-week old takeout!
When the power goes out – keep that door closed! It’s age-old advice, but if the power goes out, only open the door to the fridge and freezer if absolutely necessary. With the door closed, a refrigerator without power can keep food cold for up to 48 hours.

Even if you do all of the above, refrigerators are like any other appliance – they wear out over time. If you’re experiencing refrigerator issues, first check to see if it’s still under warranty. If so, call the manufacturer to schedule a repair. If not under warranty, keep the Diamond Factory Appliance team on speed dial. The satisfaction of our customers is our #1 priority at Diamond. We are proud to be a local company and stock more than 1,000 parts, meaning we can fix your appliance quickly.

If your refrigerator is less than 7 years old and experiencing any of the following issues, it’s likely worth repairing:

Not cooling or maintaining temperature
Leaking water
Malfunctioning ice maker

Proudly providing Whirpool refrigerator repair, KitchenAid refrigerator repair, Maytag refrigerator repair, and more. Give Diamond a call today.