Is Your Refrigerator Losing The Cool Air? Tip To Help You Identify The Issue
Posted on: 19 March 2020
Maintaining a regulated temperature inside your refrigerator is more important than many people realize. If your food isn't stored below 40 degrees, it can spoil, grow bacteria, and put the entire family at risk of food poisoning. Here, you'll find a few tips to help ensure that your refrigerator is maintaining the proper temperature to keep your food safe for consumption.
Purchase 2 Refrigerator Thermometers
In many cases, a single thermometer in the refrigerator will do, but if you've noticed that the temperature doesn't seem to be regulating itself properly, it's best to hang two thermometers inside. Place one on the top shelf towards the front of the shelf and a second on the bottom shelf towards the back.
Having these two thermometers placed in different areas will help to provide you with accurate temperature readings and let you know if the cold air isn't being circulated properly inside the unit.
If you notice that the temperature is different on each thermometer, it's time to do something – you could end up with food spoiling in the top of the unit and freezing in the bottom. This is important information to provide your refrigerator repair professional when the time comes.
Clean and Inspect the Door Seal
The door seal can cause a lot more problems than you might think. This seal is what keeps the cold air inside the unit. When it begins to fail, the refrigerator will have to work much harder to maintain the regulated temperature and the temperature inside can increase even when the door isn't being opened and closed all of the time.
Get a bowl of hot water mixed with a few tablespoons of white vinegar. This mixture will kill bacteria and mold that may be growing in the seal and make it easier for you to identify any damage. Use an old toothbrush to gently scrub the seal entirely – don't forget the underside of the bottom seal, as it captures a lot of dirt over time.
Once the seal is clean, examine it closely. Do you see any cracks or areas where it's pulling away from the door? If so, it's time to replace the seal. If not, there's one more test to ensure it's in good enough condition to keep the cold air inside.
This final test requires the use of a dollar bill or piece of paper. Open the refrigerator door and place the bill where the seal meets the unit. Close the door and tug the bill gently. If it slides out, the seal is worn out and needs to be replaced.
Talk with your local refrigerator repair professional for more assistance in identifying the problem and coming up with a plan to resolve it.
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