For almost 20 years, I have been working in Geelong and along the Surf Coast maintaining, installing, servicing and repairing commercial and industrial refrigeration. I regularly have clients ask me for advice about the best ways to maintain their fridge and freezers, so I thought I would share some of my knowledge with you.

Firstly for optimal performance your refrigerator temperature should be set at 5°C or colder and in the freezer your temperature should be set below -15°C. Modern fridges also have a temperature guide on the inside which you can set to the right temperature. You can use a thermometer to check the correct temperature.

Regular fridge and freezer maintenance is essential to prolonging the life of your unit. By doing a few basic things each year, your fridge and freezer will look better, cool better and be more energy efficient.

1. Check door seals regularly – Every refrigerator has seals on the outer edge of the door. Over time these seals can wear down. If door seals are cracked or loose, then cool air escapes which wastes power. Mako Air can assist you by replacing any damaged door seals and making your unit as good as knew again.
2. Keep vents clear – In your fridge and freezer, vents enable your appliance to circulate cool air. It is important to keep the vents clear from food, so the correct temperature can be maintained.
3. Defrosting – If your freezer has a manual defrost, please defrost it regularly. Don’t let ice build up as this hinders the freezer’s ability to balance the temperature and uses more power.
4. Keep your fridge full – This may sound strange, but the less space in your fridge, the cooler it will stay. This is due to each time the fridge or freezer door opens, warm air goes in. Therefore the less space, the less warm air to cool.
5. Keep your fridge clean – Clear and clean any drip trays and wipe out your fridge at least weekly. This may not seem as important, but it improves your fridge and freezer’s performance and also reduces the chance of harmful bacteria.
6. Age of Food – If your food has a “use by date” this means the food must be eaten by that date, because they are classified to pose a health risk if eaten after the use by date. Food which have a “best before date” means that the food’s quality is best if eaten before that date. If in doubt, throw it out!
7. Cooling Food – Allow hot food to cool slightly before putting it into your fridge. This will prevent the fridge temperature from rising to cool the food down quicker and prevent bacterial growth.
8. Storage of Food – It is vital to read food packaging to ensure your food is stored safely. The Food Safety Standards Australia also provides great information about the recommended storage of food.

We hope the above tips help keep your fridge and freezer in great working order, but it is also important that your appliance receives professional regular maintenance. Our team at Mako Air are experts in maintaining, repairing and servicing refrigeration units to ensure they work efficiently. We focus on servicing door seals, coils, filters and all parts, so please give us a call on 0490 333 461.