3 Ways to Maintain Your Freezer

You rely on your freezer to keep meat, produce, and leftovers frozen as needed, so it is important that you take good care of it. Over time, freezers may malfunction due to a variety of issues, from not being defrosted properly to having a broken thermostat. By cleaning and maintaining it regularly, you are able to reduce many issues and look for signs of disrepair so you can contact a freezer repair service right away. Here are some easy ways to take care of your freezer.

Clean the Interior and Exterior

First of all, keeping your freezer clean is very important. Don't clean out the inside of your refrigerator, then forget about the freezer! If you have a chest freezer, make sure that is also cleaned. Freezers need to be cleaned on the inside and outside. Inside, take everything out and place it temporarily in a cooler filled with ice. Unplug the freezer for safety reasons when you are going to be cleaning the exterior. Start cleaning inside the freezer, making sure you wipe all surfaces down, and use mild dish soap. You shouldn't need bleach or other harsh chemicals. To improve the freezer's smell, distilled vinegar that has been diluted with water works great. 

After cleaning, make sure the soap or vinegar is rinsed thoroughly and that the freezer is completely dry. Place a new box of baking soda in the door of the freezer or inside the chest freezer. For the outside, clean the entire exterior of the freezer or refrigerator, then make sure you wipe down the evaporator coils. Clean the door as well.

Verify That the Thermostat Is Working

Your freezer needs to be functioning at a freezing temperature, which you can ensure either by manually setting the thermostat or using a dial set to your desired freezing temperature. If your freezer has a thermostat, you should make sure it is set to the right temperature. Also look for any signs of damage or wear on the thermostat, as that can affect how well it works. If you have noticed that food seems either not cold enough or that it is experiencing rapid freezer burn, it might be due to a faulty thermostat.

Defrost Your Chest Freezer

If you have a chest freezer, it won't defrost automatically like with a stand-up freezer. In this case, you will need to manually defrost it a few times a year or as needed. You know it is time to defrost the freezer when frost has starting building up inside the freezer, often on the bottom or walls of the unit. Move the food from the freezer, unplug it, and allow the frost to melt. Also drain the water from the drain plug, then let it dry. You can then plug the freezer back in and turn it on.

If you notice any problems that will require a freezer repair service as you follow any of these steps, contact a company like Seattle's Best Appliance Repair.