The master tells how to protect the refrigerator from breakdowns

I get called in for refrigerator repairs every other day. Either the freon leaked out, or the circuit board burned out, or something else. Such a pleasure costs several thousand - and the owners could save this money if they handled the equipment correctly.

Now I will tell you how to extend the life of your refrigerator.

Choose the right place

Do not place the refrigerator near heat sources. The oven, radiator, stove must be located at a distance of at least 1 meter. Even the hot rays of the sun will interfere with the operation of the equipment. I’m generally silent about heated floors.

The reason is obvious. The refrigerator produces cold. And the oven or radiator is warm. But the refrigerator is not a closed system; it also heats up. To compensate for the increase in temperature, it begins to operate at higher speeds. Refrigerators are not designed for such a load.

Provide air circulation

The refrigerator in the niche looks great. But there is a problem. To operate correctly, the refrigerator constantly “drives air” - but where can you get it in a tight space? The system “suffocates”, dust accumulates on the compressor and fan, and the parts begin to overheat.

The exception is built-in models. Here the manufacturer initially provided in the design that the equipment would stand in a niche.

Defrost and wash in time

Many housewives think that defrosting and washing is only for cleanliness. Big mistake!

Arctic snowdrifts in the freezer prevent proper air circulation.A refrigerator clogged with ice is worn out, its compressor is constantly overloaded - but it still freezes poorly. Result: the chamber constantly smells of spoiled food, and the compressor will shut down in a couple of years.

And the owner will scold the manufacturer who produces defective equipment. And the instructions, by the way, say: defrost the refrigerator 1-2 times a year! Or even more often if the ice freezes very quickly.

And be sure to wipe the freezer compartment from debris and food residues. If such fines get into the capillary tubes, they will clog. The refrigerator will start to overheat, but then you already know.

Defrost the freezer “naturally”

Do not chip the ice, pour hot water on it, or blow with a hairdryer. The freezer should thaw itself.

Impacts and sudden temperature changes cause the thinnest tubes through which freon flows to crack. A leak appears and after a couple of months your refrigerator stops freezing. You call a technician, he looks for the leak, fixes it, fills in freon - and after some time the situation repeats itself! Because there were a lot of cracks, and the master didn’t find all of them.

As a result, you will pay more than one thousand rubles for repairs.

Because they didn't want to wait a couple of hours. It was worth it?

Wipe off the dust on the back of the refrigerator

Did you see the black serpentine grille there? This is not a designer decoration, but a capacitor. The refrigerator releases excess heat through it. When a thick layer of dust builds up on a condenser, it acts like a warm fur coat. The condenser cannot release heat into the atmosphere, the refrigerator overheats and... well, you get the idea.

Therefore, carefully move the equipment away from the wall, brush off the dust and remove it with a vacuum cleaner.But under no circumstances should you move the vacuum cleaner tube over the grate - it is fragile, one accidental blow, and you will have to call a specialist.

In some models, the condenser and fan are located not at the back, but at the bottom, on a special tray. It's even simpler here. Simply pull out the tray and use a vacuum cleaner to suck up the dust, and carefully wipe off the remaining residue with a cloth.

Clean the door seal regularly

It's not just about aesthetics and hygiene. When the seal is dirty, it doesn't stick well. Gaps appear between the chamber wall and the door, allowing air from the room to leak in. Well, then – the scheme that is already familiar to you. Overheating, overload, breakdown.

Therefore, at least once a month, wipe the seal with a soapy sponge, and then rinse with clean water. Dishwashing gels, vinegar, soda, and especially washing powder cannot be used. From such aggressive agents, the rubber will become hard and there will no longer be a tight seal.

And do not open the refrigerator door by sticking your fingers through the crack! Only by the hand and nothing else! The seal gets wrinkled and deteriorates due to frequent pressure.

If the seal is already damaged, replace it as quickly as possible.

Don't know what condition the rubber on your refrigerator is in?

Take a regular sheet of paper and clamp it with the refrigerator door.

Was the paper left hanging? So everything is fine.

Slipped down or fell to the side? The seal needs to be changed.

Doesn't fall, but you pulled out the sheet without effort? The old seal is still alive, but is already very sick. It's time to look for a replacement.

Fill refrigerators correctly

Dumplings - in the freezer, beer - on the bottom shelf. Kidding. But not really. The instructions tell you what products to put where and in what quantities.

Have your freezer been filled to capacity? Air circulation in the system has been interfered with. Overheating, breakdown, master.

Did you place a bunch of greenery so that it froze to the back wall and blocked the condensate drain? The capillary system is clogged. Overheating, breakdown, master.

Do you stack packages in such a way that you have to sort through the rubble for five minutes to get to the desired product? Yes Yes Yes. Overheating, breakdown, master.

Do not fill the refrigerator to capacity, follow the instructions, and do not place warm or hot foods in the refrigerator. And you will be happy.

And finally, a few more important tips. If you unplugged the refrigerator, wait 10 minutes and only then turn it on. Set the cold controls to medium settings. The maximum is for extreme cases. Do not use the fast freeze mode all the time. They turned it on, put in the food, waited a few hours, turned it off. After defrosting, do not fill the compartments immediately after turning on the refrigerator. Wait for it to get cold.