Tag: fridge

8 Signs That You Need A New Fridge Freezer or Refrigerator

In this blog post we’ll discuss;

  • 8 Signs That You Need A New Fridge Freezer: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
  • Steps to Finding the Perfect Signs That You Need A New Fridge Freezer
  • Reasons you may need to stop stressing that you need a new fridge freezer
  • How to quikly fix small issues with your freezer and save money

Here are 8 signs that you need a new fridge freezer or Refrigerator…

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1 – Food Is Going Bad Before The Expiration Date

This may be one of the first obvious signs; if you keep finding that food is going off well before the use before date this may be a sure sign that there’s a problem.

It usually means that the unit struggling to keep the temperature low enough to chill your food sufficiently.

This may be due to issues with the condenser coils or perhaps an overworked motor.

In any case, this may be a good time to call in a qualified engineer to have a look at your machine or consider buying a new model.

2 – You’re Hearing A Lot of Noise

If you’re suddenly hearing a lot more noise than usual from your fridge then it may be a sign that there’s a problem, potentially with the motor.

All fridge freezers will emit some sound as their various parts are working but if you are hearing louder noises than ever before, you may have a problem.

In the first instance you can try unplugging the machine from the wall and re-plugging it.

If that doesn’t work, you may need to consult an engineer or get searching for that shiny new fridge freezer.

3 – The Electricity Bill Keeps Spiking

If your electricity bill keeps going up with no real changes in your habits then it may be a sign that there is a problem with your fridge freezer.

Remember that your fridge is one of the only items in the kitchen and indeed the whole house, that is on 24/7. That makes it a pretty likely culprit if your utility bill suddenly jumps up.

A high electric bill may mean that your machine is struggling to regulate its temperature and is no longer as energy efficient as it once was.

Paying for a new fridge may be painful in the short-term but it is likely that you will save yourself far more in electricity costs through a more energy efficient fridge.

4 – You Need A Jacket To Open It

8 signs that you need a new fridge freezer - its too cold

If you feel like you are getting a blast of cold air every time you open your fridge door then you may have an issue. Your fridge should be cool enough to keep your food safe and it can sometimes have a little bit of ice or water at the back.

But if you’ve noticed that it is unusually cold or you need to chip away at ice to retrieve your mixed vegetables then this may indicate a bigger problem.

5 – Your’e Noticing Excessive Condensation

Have you noticed water trickling inside the fridge? If this is happening you may also notice a pool of water at the back of the fridge which tends to be the coldest part of the refrigerator and where the moisture builds.

Some moisture may be normal for your machine especially if the door is frequently opened.

However, excessive condensation may mean that your fridge is struggling to keep cool.

This may be due to a worn out or damaged door seal (gasket). A simple replacement may well fix the issue.

If it doesn’t, then you may well have to consider your options.

6 – It’s Getting Hot In Here

Sometimes your fridge may get a little hotter than usual if it’s working hard to keep cool especially in the warmer summer months with frequent door opening.

However, if you’ve noticed that it is running hot more often than usual or over 24 hours then you may need to get it seen to.

It may be that your motor fan is not working as it should.

Replacing it may well be an option you want to consider however, if the cost is high it may be time to look at a new fridge freezer instead.

7 – Your Fridge Is Over 10 Years Old

A fridge can typically last 10 to 15 years though generally once it gets to 10 years plus it’s a good point to start planning for a replacement.

If you notice that you are having to pay for repairs more frequently then it may be worth considering if it would be more cost effective in the long-run to replace it.

Even if you have not had excessive repair bills, you may find that it is no longer as energy efficient and could be costing you more to run than a newer model.

8 – Your Fridge Has Gone Silent

You may be used to the gentle hum from your fridge as it works through the motions but if you suddenly don’t hear anything it may be a sign of trouble.

If it goes silent and the light is also out it may be a sign that there’s no power, so check the rest of your kitchen to make sure there has been no trips.

If however, it’s silent but the light is still on when you open the door then it could mean there is a problem with the compressor.

You may be able to restart it by turning the fridge off for a while before switching it back on.

Alternatively setting the thermostat to its lowest setting may also trigger a restart.

If that doesn’t work try to defrost the fridge freezer.

If not perhaps call in an engineer to take a look. If that results in a potentially large repair bill or doesn’t work, then it may be time to start looking for a potential replacement.

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Why Is My Refrigerator Is Freezing My Vegetables?

Why is my refrigerator freezing my vegetables?

Why is my refrigerator freezing my vegetables?

We’ve all been there – you open up the fridge to grab some fresh tomatoes only to find they’re are half frozen over. And you think why is my refrigerator freezing my vegetables?. Here are a few possible reasons for why your vegetables are being frozen:

1 – Your Vegetables Are Too Close To the Cooling Vent

Most refrigerators have a air flow vent in the side or the back of the fridge for cooling.

Make sure that you are not placing sensitive items too close to this vent as they are likely to freeze over.

2 – Your Freezer Is Too Cold

The temperature of the freezer could be the reason your refrigerator is freezing your vegetables.

There are some side-by-side models that pass cold air from the freezer into the fridge via a vent. If the freezer temperature is too low, it will make your fridge colder too, especially by the vents.

3 – Your Fridge Temperature Is Too Low

You should also check that you have the temperature set to the appropriate level in the fridge. The level you set it to should be partly determined by the amount of food you typically store in there.

Ideally your fridge should be set to between 3°C (37°F) and 5°C (40°F) for optimum food storage.

If your fridge does not have easy to read temperature settings then you may want to consider grabbing yourself an appliance thermometer.

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If your fridge has a temperature dial (e.g. 1 to 5) then generally you want to make sure it is set to:

  • 3 or 4 if it tends to remain quite full
  • 1 or 2 if there’s typically not much food in there
  • The temperature dial lowers the temperature the higher up you go with 5 being the lowest temperature.

4 – Find The Cold Spots

Something to bear in mind is that the issue may be confined to one area of the fridge. The most common places where food is accidentally frozen in the fridge are the top-shelf, bottom of the fridge and door shelves.

If you have found that the problem only occurs in certain compartments then this should be easy to fix; only place food that can withstand the cold in those areas.

5 – Your Fridge Needs Be Defrosted

Sometimes your vents may become blocked which means the air cannot circulate as it should. Try defrosting your fridge and freezer to see if this will solve the problem. Empty the fridge of all its contents and leave it for 24 hours to settle. Give it a good clean and then plug it back in. With any luck this should solve the problem.

6 – The Fridge Is Not Full Enough

This might seem like an odd one but the fact your food may be freezing in because your fridge is not full enough.

Refrigerators work at their best when they are well packed. This is because fridges need to be adequately filled to absorb the cold air circulating inside. If they sit relatively empty then the cold air will sink to the bottom freezing any food there.

Doing this may also help to regulate the temperature in the freezer.

Use The Crisper Drawer

To keep your vegetables at their freshest for longest, the best place to keep your fruit and vegetables in your fridge is the crisper drawer. Take a look at the best way to use your crisper drawer here.

What if it’s still happening?

If these suggestions don’t solve the issue your fridge may have a problem that needs a bit more attention; be aware of some of the signs that could mean you need to call an engineer or consider a new fridge.

What Goes In The Crisper Drawer In The Fridge?

What Goes In The Crisper Drawer In The Fridge?

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What Goes In The Crisper Drawer In The Fridge?

The crisper drawer in the fridge is the best place to keep your fresh fruit and vegetables.

What Is The Crisper Drawer?

The crisper drawer is the compartment (sometimes two side by side) at the bottom of your fridge which is designed to prolong the life of your fruit and vegetables.

It has a different level of humidity to the rest of the fridge allowing you to optimise the conditions for fresh produce storage.

A lot of crispers will have a humidity slider at the back. This allows you to control the air flow into the drawer from a cooling vent;

  • Close the air flow for high humidity
  • Open the air flow for low humidity

Managing the crisper drawer correctly can significantly extend the life of your fruit and vegetables. This has a few noticeable benefits:

  • It will keep your food tasting fresher for longer
  • It will lower your grocery bill

How Do You Use The Humidity Control On Your Crisper Drawer?

Generally speaking you want to keep produce that rots easily in a low-humidity environment e.g. apples, avocados etc.

Whilst a high-humidity drawer is better for items that tend to wilt easily e.g. lettuce and spinach.

The high humidity section also works well for ethylene sensitive items.

What is ethylene gas and why does it matter?

One of the main reasons certain foods go bad quickly in the fridge is ethylene gas. Ethylene gas is naturally produced by foods such as bananas and apples. It is a plant hormone that is released as gas.

The ethylene hormone initiates cell degredation, turning fruits soft and sweeter.

There are some fruits and vegetables which produce high amounts of ethylene whilst others are more sensitive to it.

High Ethylene Producing Fruits and Vegetables

  • Apples
  • Bananas (ripe)
  • Apricots
  • Avocados
  • Grapes
  • Nectrines
  • Peaces
  • Potatoes
  • Plums

Ethylene Sensitive Fruits and Vegetables

  • Bananas (unripe)
  • Brocolli
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Garlic
  • Kale
  • Onions
  • Strawberries

The above information should give you some help and guidance when it comes to storing your food. For example you may want to segregate your ripe bananas and your onions.

Some fridge models have more than one crisper drawer which makes it easy as you can separate foods as you need to. If your fridge only has one crisper drawer then you could always look at small storage containers to isolate the items you need to.

How Full Should My Crisper Drawer Be?

Make sure that you do not overfill your crisper drawer. If you are having to cram the last red peppers into the top of the drawer before closing it then take some stuff out.

It’s a good idea to leave space for air to freely circulate which will maintain the set temperature.

Should You Store Meat In The Crisper Drawer?

Given the ease in which you can set the relative humidity in the crisper drawer it could potentially be a good place to store meat.

However, generally raw meat should be isolated from everything else to avoid the risk of cross-contamination.

Therefore if you only have one crisper drawer which you tend to use for fruits and vegetables, avoid placing raw meat in there regardless of how tempting or convenient it might be.

If you have separate drawers and you use one of them for raw meat, make sure you do not use it for anything else.

In the case where your fridge does not have more than one crisper drawer, consider getting a reusable container with seal to if you need to store raw meat in your refrigerator.

What To Do If Your Fruits and Vegetables Are Still Not Staying Fresh?

If you’re still having trouble with keeping your fruits and vegetables fresh after trying out the above, then your fridge may have a problem that needs some technical attention or in the worst case, you may need a new fridge.