Do you think that it’s enough to buy a refrigerator, put it in the kitchen, load products and that’s all - will the equipment work for many years? This is not entirely true: you need not only to deliver and install, but also to follow the rules of operation of the refrigerator for its long-term and uninterrupted operation. Learn how to use this appliance properly to avoid future problems.
Shipping
The refrigerator can only be transported vertically, that is, while standing. An inclination of more than 40 degrees is unacceptable, and even more so laying on its side.
What does this threaten? If the angle of inclination of the equipment during transportation is greater, then oil from the motor-compressor can flow into the circuit. Turning it on, you run the risk of collision from the first hours - clogging of the capillary pipeline. In this case, there will be dirty repair work and unnecessary expenses, because the service center will certainly refuse to repair the warranty after improper transportation.
What should I do if the cabinet does not stand upright in the car and the angle of inclination is above 40 degrees? In this case, make sure that the position of the compressor tube is vertical. You can find this tube on the motor: it is indicated by special marking on the factory packaging. In this case, the oil will still get into the circuit, but only to the part where the lowest pressure is. When starting, freon will not entail oil, and it will flow back into the motor.
How to place the equipment
Correct installation of a new domestic refrigerator requires complete isolation from heaters and radiators. Install it in a cool and well-ventilated area. Do not place near gas stoves or stoves. Also, experts do not recommend placing near the southern windows through which direct sunlight will penetrate the body daily. Oddly enough, the best place to install is with a draft.
If the temperature of the kitchen room increases due to "warm" floors, select a place on the inactive area. Or consider in advance when equipping such a floor that electrical appliances will be installed on it.
What threatens the constant presence of the refrigerator in warm areas? This will cause continuous operation of the compressor due to the constant circulation of warm air around the housing. Uninterrupted operation of the motor will significantly reduce the service life of both himself and the appliance.
Installation
Before releasing the loaders and installing the refrigerator, check the equipment, re-read the warranty card and check the operation. Only after making sure that all the components are available, that the warranty is filled correctly and that the equipment is in good working order, let go of the store representatives. If something went wrong, make claims on the spot and in fact, otherwise it will be difficult to prove something later.
Installation Requirements:
- Room humidity should not be higher than 80%. If there is nothing to measure humidity, pay attention to the walls, floor and ceiling of the kitchen - if you notice condensation, the humidity is too high.
- Provide adequate ventilation. If you find a problem, contact the Housing Office to clean the ventilation ducts.
- Select the coolest place on the kitchen.
Pay attention to the climatic class indicated on the information sticker. Read more about the climate classes and the installation conditions of the refrigerator in accordance with them in a separate publication.
Are you planning to install 2 refrigerators at once or put a freezer nearby? Do not place them close to each other - provide a distance of at least 2 cm.
Also observe the rules for connecting to the mains:
- Relate the parameters of the equipment with the parameters of the mains. If it works with a voltage of 220 V, connect to a two-phase power supply network, 380 V - three-phase.
- Connect to a grounded power outlet to ensure safe operation. Installing a difavtomat to protect equipment from power surges will not hurt.
- Do not use extension cords, carry and adapters - the connection is permissible strictly in a stationary outlet in the wall.
Camera cleaning
Any brand of refrigerator needs care: Atlant, Veko, Nord, LG, Bosch and others. Moreover, you need to take care of both the old and the newly purchased. Internal surfaces can be washed with a mild baking soda solution or detergents without abrasive particles. Read more in the article "How to wash the refrigerator."
Important! After washing, air the equipment with the door open for at least 24 hours.
Do not neglect also external cleaning, but be careful: the coating should not be rubbed with brushes and brushes, as well as aggressive detergents. Wet the sponge in soda solution, handle pens, plastic parts, sealant, walls and other areas. Wash stainless steel surfaces especially gently: it is best to buy special tools for treating stainless steel surfaces so as not to damage them.
Even if you bought a refrigerator with technology No Frost, this does not mean that you don’t have to clean it. Easy wet cleaning is recommended to be done monthly. Your diligence will protect the cameras from the appearance of odors and pollution.
Can I use fragrances and fresheners? See for yourself: if you are satisfied with the chemical smell of food, you can hang "Christmas trees" in the cells. But it is better to pay attention to special absorbents that will eliminate unpleasant "aromas" and will not mask them due to chemical components.
Attention! As soon as you notice that the cell smells unpleasant, sort through the products. If you find nothing rotten and spoiled, check the drainage hole. If the drain pipe is clogged, it needs to be cleaned.
Read more about how to get rid of the smell in the refrigerator in a separate review.
Cleaning the back wall is not so much for hygienic reasons as for reasons of economy. Cleaning the condenser (the metal grill on the back of the cabinet) will save you from excessive energy consumption. You can collect dust from the grill with a sponge, a damp cloth or a vacuum cleaner with a thin nozzle.
Important! Be careful not to damage the parts. Before handling the cabinet, disconnect the appliance from electricity.
How to defrost a refrigerator
We wrote about this in detail in the publications “How to Defrost a Refrigerator” and “How to Defrost a Refrigerator Nou Frost”. But in three words we will describe the important points:
- In order not to defrost the equipment too often, monitor seal integrity and door closure density. The denser it is closed, the less ice will freeze on the walls of the chambers.
- Defrost the freezer at least once every 3-4 months. A model with No Frost also needs defrosting - at least 1-2 times per year.
- Leave the equipment for 24 hours - no less, give it thaw naturally.
- Do not chip ice and a snow "fur coat" with sharp objects so as not to damage the evaporator and other important details.
- Do not speed up the process with a hairdryer or fan heater. If you really need to urgently defrost the chambers, put a heating pad in them or install a bowl of hot water.
- When defrosting take products from the camerasso that they do not deteriorate.
- Cover rags or place containers under the casing so that water does not run down to the floor.
- Do not completely fill the shelves. after thawing, otherwise the motor will not cope with the load. Load the shelves in batches, leave time to cool each batch.
How to load and store products
Follow the recommendations to preserve the taste and appearance of the products and not harm the device itself:
- Do not overload shelves with warm food.
- Arrange and arrange everything in such a way that there is space between objects. This is necessary for the free circulation of cold air flows between the shelves.
- Do not place the pots and containers against the back wall so as not to cause a blockage in the drain hole.
Important! Condensate draining into the drainage tube can “take” food particles with it that will create a blockage.
- Send well-washed and fresh products to freeze.
- Before freezing, hermetically pack food in special freeze bags or plastic containers.
- If there is also No Frost in the main chamber, carefully pack absolutely everything to prevent chapping. The same goes for pungent food.
- Use the "fresh zone" to store perishable foods. Read more about what a freshness zone is in a separate article.
- Use special trays and shelves marked with drawings. So, for eggs there are special trays. Also often in the doors there are boxes for butter, cheese and other things.
- Store vegetables and fruits in the lower plastic boxes.
- Do not store strong drinks in chambers unless special shelves are provided for the vertical arrangement of bottles.
Important! Wine and champagne should not be stored in the refrigerator - it can only be cooled there before serving.
We examined the topic of food storage more extensively in the review "Proper storage of food in the refrigerator." From it you will learn at what temperature to maintain the taste and attractiveness of food.
How to extend the "life" of the refrigerator
Any brand - Minsk, Stinol, Biryusa or Indesit, Samsung, Hotpoint Ariston, Virpul, Liebher - can and must work for the years allotted to it. This is quite possible if you use all the manufacturer's instructions and clearly follow the instructions for use. The working conditions of the two-chamber refrigerator for 1 or 2 compressors do not differ.
In conclusion, we note a few rules that must be strictly observed:
- You can not use the equipment at sub-zero temperatures - send it to the balcony or take it out to the unheated summer cottage for the winter.
- You can not carry out independent repairs if you do not have professional skills and do not have experience.
- You can and should notice any malfunctions in the equipment (or error codes) and report them to the service center in order to receive repair under warranty, or to a verified master.
We wish long work of the refrigeration equipment and the absence of any problems with it!