When a freezer’s on the fritz, it can mean all kinds of trouble for both domestic and commercial enterprises. But aggravating noises, layers of frost, and puddles of water are just the beginning of your worries. For amateur chefs, caterers, and professional restaurateurs, a total breakdown can mean huge losses to revenue and stock as food quickly thaws and becomes unsafe or spoiled.
Luckily, when timing’s on the line, you do have a dependable organization at your disposal. It’s been our pleasure to serve your repair needs for the past fourteen years, and our expert team is available around the clock to get your freezer — or any other home appliance, for that matter — back to working order. But time and time again, we make repairs to appliances that could have been avoided if only proper care was taken. That means that many freezer meltdowns are entirely preventable, given adequate maintenance.
When was the last time you defrosted your freezer? If you have a model that manually defrosts, you’ll want to do so about twice per year, or more often if you notice half an inch of frost building up inside. Even though they won’t have icy build-ups, automatically defrosting units will benefit from a thorough (and frequent) clean as well.
First, you’ll want to empty the freezer of food and trays. Then turn off your freezer to begin melting the frost. Steadily break away and remove the melting ice (don’t wait until it’s all one puddle, or you’ll have a huge mess on your hands). If you have an automatic model, or a manual freezer that’s been stripped of frost, it’s then time to give your freezer a thorough clean. Use warm water and soap, vinegar, or other household cleaner. Make sure you clean the door and any hard to reach places using a scrub brush or toothbrush (while you’re doing this, ensure your door closes properly). If you’d like to deodorize the unit, scrub the walls with water and baking soda. Make sure you rinse everything thoroughly so that you don’t leave behind scum or residue, and make sure everything is very dry once you’re done.
If you then coat the walls of the freezer with non-sticking cooking spray, you won’t have to deal with frost again! Turn your freezer back on, and load it back up once the temperature drops down to zero degrees Fahrenheit. Test your freezer’s temperature by placing a thermometer between some frozen items for at least 24 hours — you want things to stay from about -12 to -19 degrees Celsius to keep an optimum temperature. The more objects that are placed in the unit, the more efficient it will operate, as these items will help keep the unit (and everything else inside) cold just by rubbing up against each other. If you don’t have enough food to pack your freezer, you can load up empty containers or plastic jugs filled with water to get the same results.
Another way to save energy and save on wear and tear is to regularly clean the coils. Suck up any dust and dirt using a vacuum cleaner and sweep up around where the refrigerator is normally stored. Doing this will give your condenser a well-earned break from switching on so often. By pulling the whole unit out a few inches, away from the wall, you’ll give your coils even more room to breathe, and you’ll save more energy.
Being kind to your freezer means it will last longer and keep your food the way you want it — frozen but never burned, in need of a thaw but always safe to consume. And if you turn to Toronto Refrigeration if and when things do heat up, you’ll be back to a safe temperature faster than our cordial repair team can say, “Ice to see you!” Give us a call for all your appliance needs or to simply chill out!
