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I care about my readers, really I do. I also know that if I suggest any type of outdoor maintenance tips as we head into monsoon
season, I’m liable to get beaned with an under-ripe pomegranate the next time I’m at the supermarket! Because I bruise easy, I’m going
to suggest a nice, easy, indoor project that you’ve been meaning to do anyway. Let’s clean those refrigerator coils!
It’s a good idea to clean your refrigerator coils twice a year. Think of those coils as you would your car radiator because it does pretty
much the same thing. The coils help to dissipate the heat from the coolant so your ice cubes stay cold.
When dirty, dust or debris reduces air movement across the coils and your fridge works harder and is less efficient.
If you still have your owner’s manual, look for toe kick removal instructions. Many toe kicks are attached with little clips (and they can
be a real pain to get back on!) but some will have small screws. After you remove the toe kick, you’ll likely find one or two samples of
every kind of cereal you’ve eaten in the past year, along with that really important business card that you blamed you spouse/kid for
losing last October. Unplug the fridge, and with a vacuum remove big dust balls, pet hair or anything else that inhibits air movement.
Don’t be too concerned about getting every single speck -- normal dust is not enough to affect the efficiency or electrical consumption
of your refrigerator.
Since you have to pull the refrigerator out to unplug it, get a flashlight and make sure nothing has fallen behind it that might cause
problems with air circulation-plastic bags are notorious for this! While we’re on the subject of good air circulation, its not a good idea to
use the top of the fridge as a storage shelf. This inhibits circulation and half the stuff ends up falling behind it anyway!
If your refrigerator is more than 20 years old, it is probably an energy pig. New units often consume less than half the energy of
comparable old-timers. Most new units will use less than 1,000 kWh per year, compared to the 1,500-2,500 kWh per year for an older
fridge. Depending on electricity rates, the savings may pay for a new fridge. But don’t go bragging about your refrigerator being
“green”. That could be taken the wrong way.
Catch ya next month!
Copyright © 2008 Christopher R. Prickett. All rights reserved worldwide
| Copyright © 2008 Christopher R. Prickett. All rights reserved worldwide |
| Clean Your Refrigerator Coils! |