When you think of hardworking appliances, the refrigerator comes to mind. But it probably wouldn’t be running as efficiently as it can if you don’t perform regular maintenance on it. Living in your rental home could be difficult and your budget and health may be at risk if your refrigerator doesn’t cool at a consistent and right temperature or if it expends a lot of extra energy. By learning how to perform simple maintenance tasks, you can see to it that your refrigerator in your home will continue to run efficiently and safely.
The first thing you can do to care for your refrigerator is to carefully evaluate its condition. Appliance experts say that it is necessary to do regular energy evaluation on your appliances. According to Mr. Appliance, a home’s major appliances use up to 13 percent of the total electricity load. When they are running efficiently, you can be sure you aren’t paying too much on your monthly electric bill. What many renters don’t know is that old and worn-out appliances greedily consume more electricity than newer, more efficient models. Don’t be afraid to ask your landlord to replace it if your Mount Pleasant rental’s refrigerator is more than ten years old.
But even new refrigerators need regular maintenance to run efficiently for many years. The good news is that refrigerator maintenance is actually easy and anyone can do it. In fact, the part that is most difficult is just remembering to do it every year!
The first thing you have to know about refrigerator maintenance is about cleaning the condenser coils. You have to clean it at least once a year to keep it running efficiently. Dirt and dust can gather on the coils, forcing them to retain heat and put a strain on the compressor. If that occurs, your refrigerator will not succeed in maintaining a consistent temperature or keep food cold and may even break down. To clean the coils, just remove the back panel or the grill on the bottom front section of the refrigerator. Use a vacuum or bristle brush to gently remove any collected dirt, then replace the panel.
One more essential maintenance task is to clean the gaskets. The gasket is the rubber or plastic seal that runs all the way around each door. When this seal gets dirty, it won’t seal properly, resulting in the refrigerator leaking cold air while increasing your utility bills. The gasket should be cleaned with mild soap and a sponge every few months to retain your refrigerator’s efficiency and keep it running in good condition.
As a tenant, you play a considerable part in appliance maintenance. Lots of otherwise conscientious tenants don’t understand basic refrigerator maintenance and may, by mistake, damage it from neglect or misuse. They may additionally be spending so much more for electricity than they ought, precisely because they didn’t perform a couple of easy things. Obtaining the correct information and bearing in mind when maintenance should be accomplished can make a big difference in extending the life of your refrigerator, lowering your utility bills, and keeping food at safe temperatures.
Are you on the lookout to move to a different area? Real Property Management Distinguished Care rentals are run professionally and have the features and amenities that you want. If your current rental isn’t meeting your standards, take a look at our available property listings. We might have a property that fits your needs. If you’re a property owner and want to try our management services, contact us online or call us at 828-342-9683 today.
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