With the COVID-19 menace, almost everyone is buying as much as they can as they don’t know what tomorrow holds. As you are stocking up, you must be wondering, can a refrigerator be overloaded? Commercial refrigerators repairs professionals advice against this due to many reasons that include:
Poor air circulation
When you overload your refrigerator, you restrict airflow and limit the ability of the fridge to cool the food properly. As a result, some of the food items might spoil as they aren’t maintained at the proper cooling temperature.
Even if you just came from the grocery store, stock just enough that allows the air to flow through the appliance effectively.
Blockage of the freezer vents
If you have a side by side refrigerator, overstocking it exposes it to damage; hence it has a short life. Too much food blocks the freezer vents causing the refrigerator motor and condenser to work harder than they should.
When you strain these parts, you cause them to burn out hence damaging the fridge.
High energy consumption
An overloaded refrigerator consumes a lot of power. This is because you are trying to cool more food than the appliance is designed to. The blocked air vents and inadequate airflow can also be a contributor.
From the above, you can see that there are plenty of negatives that come with overloading your refrigerator, so you shouldn’t overload it at all.
What should you do instead?
The reason you are overstocking the refrigerator is that you want it to carry more than it’s designed to. To avoid this, only buy the items that the fridge can handle.
If you have a large family and you have the budget, consider investing in an extra refrigerator.
Tips to an optimally functioning refrigerator
Other than avoiding overloading the refrigerator, there are plenty of other things you can do to ensure that your unit has a long life. Some of the things you can do include:
Do clean the appliance: At least once a month, remove all the items in the refrigerator and clean it. This helps you to identify any spoilt food or one that is about to expire.
The beauty of it is that you can clean the refrigerator by yourself—you don’t have to hire an expert to help you out. When cleaning, take care not to use harsh chemicals. Use non-toxic green cleaners. If you can’t find them, mix baking soda and white vinegar and scrub away.
As you are cleaning, also take time to inspect the door, door seal, and other parts of the fridge. If they are faulty, repair or replace them.
Don’t leave the door open for a long time: Did you know when you open the refrigerator door over 40% of the air escapes? This means that the compressor has to work harder to maintain the temperature. This translates to a high energy bill at the end of the month.
For you to keep the refrigerator working efficiently, be cautious of the amount of time you keep the refrigerator door open. Reduce the workload on the compressor and cut on your energy bills by opening the door less and keeping it open for a shorter time.
Do work with a reputable technician.
Even if you clean the fridge every week, you can’t replace the need for a technician. Refrigerator breakdowns don’t happen overnight—they are an accumulation of neglected maintenance. In most cases, refrigerators give you a warning sign they are about to malfunction. For example, they will make weird noises, start leaking, among many other things.
To keep your appliance functioning optimally, contact a commercial appliances repair Northern VA professional when you notice even the slightest problem with the appliance. Don’t wait for the issues to get worse for you to hire a contractor.
