6 tips if your fridge isn't cooling properly
Improve cooling quality in 6 steps
Tip 1: check the ventilation space
Your fridge cools best if it has enough air circulation, so the appliance can lose its heat. That's why you should leave at least 5cm on both the sides and the back of the fridge. You can find the recommended ventilation space in the manual.
Tip 2: set the right temperature
The best cooling temperature is 4°C. This temperature gives your groceries the longest shelf life and prevents the spread of molds and bacteria. Check the temperature of your fridge and set it to 4°C. Does your fridge not have digital controls? Use a fridge thermometer to measure the temperature.
Tip 3: distribute your groceries correctly
If your fridge doesn't have air circulation, you're dealing with different temperatures in the fridge compartment. The top will be warmer than the bottom. Keep this in mind when you store meat, cheese, and dairy. You should also make sure you don't place your groceries too close to the ventilation opening and wait until your leftovers are cooled down before you put them in the fridge.
Tip 4: defrost the freezer compartment
Do you have a fridge with Low Frost or no anti-ice buildup at all? If there's a lot of ice in the freezer compartment, the fridge can't keep the inside as cool. You'll also pay more energy costs. When was the last time you defrosted your freezer? A freezer compartment with Low Frost needs to be defrosted about 2 times per year. If it doesn't have anti-ice buildup at all, you'll have to defrost 6 times per year.
Tip 5: clean the condenser
Does your fridge not have a covered condenser? It'll collect quite some dust over time. As a result, the fridge can't get rid of heat as easily, so it doesn't cool as well. That's why you should regularly remove the dust from the condenser. To do this, you turn off the fridge and clean the condenser with a soft brush or a cloth.
Tip 6: replace the door seal
If the door seal of the fridge is worn out, hot air can enter into the fridge more easily. Check the seal for signs of wear or put a flash light in your fridge and aim it at the door. Do you see light coming through the door seal when you close the door? Time to replace the seal.
