5 Ways to Maintain Outdoor Fridge
Owning a fridge is everyone’s dream, especially people with large families and those who purchase home essentials in bulk or anyone that might find the convenience of having beverages and food nearby while enjoying the outdoors. However, the dilemma is where to store it. In most cases, you may be tempted to set it in your backyard. In that case, you may need to rethink again. The refrigeration concept is similar. However, there is a difference in humidity and temperature in the outside and inside environments. This makes it necessary to adjust fridge engineering and materials, including.
- Flexibility: outdoor fridges are made to operate at a vast ambient temperature. This way, the refrigerator can either function in an outdoor or indoor setting.
- Construction: a typical refrigerator is designed to operate in an environment ranging from 55 to 80 degrees. In case it is outside these parameters, it loses its efficiency. An outdoor refrigerator is designed to handle the effects of temperature fluctuation, lessen system components strains and protect contents.
- Price: outdoor refrigerators are significantly more costly than indoor refrigerators as they have advanced features that enhance their functionality.
Following are five ways on how to maintain your outdoor fridge.
1. Check the Door Seals
A loose door seals waste energy by letting out cool air, thus making the fridge work harder than required. Ensure you check the door seal regularly. When doing so, make sure there is no food residue on the seals. In case of any, clean them with a toothbrush and baking soda, and water solution. After it is clean, try the dollar-bill test. Place a bill on the fridge door so that half is outside and half inside. If it slips out, you may need a professional technician to check it.
2. Clean the Coils
When condenser coils are dirty, your refrigerator cannot function well. Ensure you keep them clean from pet hair, dust, and debris to help your fridge operate effectively and smoothly. The coils are found at the back of your unit. To clean it up, remove the grill by snapping off the plate. Use a special coil cleaner or attach a stiff brush to your vacuum cleaner to make your job easy.
3. Maintain the Temperature
Check both your fridge and freezer section temperature to ensure it is set well. It’s important for your food safety and ensuring the fridge runs effectively. Your outdoor fridge compartment should range between 37 to 40 degrees, and your freezer section should be zero degrees. If you have an outdated fridge model and suspect it is not working efficiently, you can purchase a refrigerator thermometer to check its compartment.
4. Placement
It’s always wise to choose where to place your outdoor refrigerator. If you place it near other heat-generating items, it will work harder to function effectively. Ensure you find an adequate space to let the vents function well. It should not be close to other appliances, cabinets, or crowds. This will tamper with its operations.
5. Clean the Inside
Food residue, frost, and other debris can pile up on your fridge after a while. If you constantly open your refrigerators, this is normal. However, in the course, you spill and forget to close the door or clean up completely. It is recommended to clean your outdoor fridge two times a year and do not keep any food in it on the day of cleaning. Let it defrost, then dry it up later.
