保养秘笈: Refrigerators

维护还是更换？

Unlike most home appliances, refrigerators operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every week of the year. Newer appliances are more efficient than older appliances. Before you spend time maintaining your existing refrigerator, determine if it’s time for a new one by answering the following questions.

• 它有一个顶部，底部，并排侧，或内置在冰箱？

• In approximately what year was it manufactured?

• 什么是冰箱的容量？

• What is the model number of the refrigerator?

随着你的手回答，请访问：能源之星的冰箱退休储蓄计算器一个新的冰箱来计算潜在的节省。您将获得多少你目前的冰箱成本降低到每年又有多少新的能源之星冰箱每年可以节省您的操作有所了解。如果您的结果表明，大量的储蓄（一说就可以还给你在短期内），回收在新一旧冰箱和车轮！

Clean Storage

冰箱不应该完全充满。缺乏空间内的冰箱不允许冷空气流通，保持食物冷冻。理想情况下，我们的冰箱内的食物量将占用约总空间的75％，允许最有效的操作成为可能。如果必要的话，扔掉过期食品的自由空间，或者反过来，填补空牛奶壶用清水将占用更多的空间。

NSF国际, an independent, not-for-profit organization, has defined safe food storage guidelines for consumers. According toNSF国际, bacteria growth occurs between 40°F and 140°F. It is important that we keep foods out of this temperature range; NSF advises the following to ensure that foods are stored at appropriate temperatures and are safe for consumption.

• Set the refrigerator temperature at 40°F to discourage the growth of food-borne bacteria. Use a refrigerator or freezer thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator.

• Frozen food should be stored at 0°F. Frozen foods should be thawed carefully to avoid spoilage or contamination.

Aside from cleaning up spills as they happen, regular cleaning of the refrigerator is also necessary to ensure that foods are stored properly. Once a month, clean the interior compartment. Unplug the refrigerator; remove food, interior plastics, and glass shelving. Wash the interior surfaces and parts with a mixture of warm water and soap, baking soda, or white vinegar. Rinse, wipe dry, replace, and plug back in. The freezer compartment should be defrosted and cleaned in a similar manner. This is typically necessary when ice buildup occurs. It is a good idea to place an open box of baking soda in the refrigerator to absorb odor every three months, to ensure that your food smells right.

定期保养

像冰箱的设备进行维护前，这是很好的做法，拔下或切断电源设备。的电力供给的冰箱应在电气面板被关闭。

灰尘，污垢，头发，皮棉了大量可以收集的后面，一台冰箱的下方。碎片收集冷凝盘管和冷凝器风扇需要他们更加努力地工作，使它们效率较低。在较新的冰箱冷凝盘管位于前格栅后面，冰箱下方。旧的冰箱已经凝结沿着背面位于线圈。用刷子和一个缝隙工具吸尘他们每隔几个月保持冷凝盘管和冷凝器风扇清洁碎片。

关爱你的冰箱是不是真的太费时。清洁线圈和风扇后，花费额外的时间检查配置在冰箱门上的密封或垫圈。如果是脆，龟裂，或产生间隙，就应及时更换。如果它似乎提供良好的密封和柔韧，擦拭干净，用肥皂和温水浸泡的抹布或海绵。如果您发现沿面发霉的任何证据，擦洗漂白剂和温水用牙刷表面。

Using a carpenter's level, check to be sure that the refrigerator is level, side to side and front to back. If necessary, adjust the supporting feet, by hand or with a wrench, until the unit sits level. If your refrigerator has an icemaker or water dispenser, be sure to change the water filter as necessary. How often you replace it depends on the manufacturer, your local water quality, and the amount of ice or water used. Replace the light bulb as necessary and wipe clean the exterior surface using a rag or sponge with soap and warm water.

花一两个小时，每隔几个月，并执行这些非常简单的维护任务，将保证你的冰箱持续时间超过预期。它还将通过防止腐烂变质的食物和不必要的服务电话把钱放在口袋里。