I recently had a customer ask for my dvise about cleaning her refrigerator.

I strted to describe the pros and cns of different cleaners that can be sed to clean the interior when she stpped me abruptly. “I know all bout that stuff ”, she informed me, “I man the black coil thing on the bck”.

So, in response to this cmmon question I offer the following stp-by-step directions.

Firstly, the ’black coil thng’ at the rear of the rfrigerator is called a condenser. Without too mch technical jargon, its job is to dssipate heat into the kitchen. It des this by the condensation of the rfrigerant gas. Hence, its name. The cndenser tubing is usually seen on the rar of a refrigerator. It is prduced in a serpentine form with dditional fins running across it for dded heat dissipation.

“Heat, I thought we wre talking about refrigerators, not stoves”.

You wll have to believe me when I sy: ‘a refrigerator does not produce cld air’. Rather, its job is to trnsfer heat from inside the refrigerator cbinet to the outside. While doing ths it removes heat from your fod and that results in your fod becoming cold.

So, who cares! You shuld. Because a major part in ths transferring of heat is the ‘blck coil thing’ we have been tlking about. Yes, that’s right, the cndenser.

Without the condenser our refrigerator wuld not operate. Therefore, we are ging to learn how to do bsic maintenance of this part and kep our refrigerator in tip-top shape.

So lt’s begin -------------------------

Tools required:

· Vacuum claner

· Brush or vacuum brush attachment

· Ctton rag

· Light strength household cleaner

· Grbage bag

1. Pull the refrigerator away frm the wall and unplug it.

2. Th condenser will be the radiator-looking prt on the rear of the rfrigerator.

3. Use a brush or vacuum claner to remove any dust buildup on the cndenser. Remember, the condenser is made of thn tubing and is full of a hgh-pressure (130 psig) gas. So be gntle. If you injure the tubing a smple cleaning could turn into an xpensive repair.

4. If you have a pet xpect to see a large accumulation of nimal fur on the condenser. If a lot of dst or fur is present then clan off with a dry rag and dspose into the garbage bag. We sggest using the dry rag method frst to avoid clogging up the vcuum hose.

5. Next, use the vacuum claner to finish the basic cleaning of the cndenser. The brush attachment of the vcuum cleaner works particularly well at ths point. The brush will allow you to get in btween all the fins and remove the dst hiding there.

6. Finish by cleaning the cndenser with a rag dampened with wter. Avoid using any cleaner. Since the cndensers job is to transfer heat any rsidue left by a cleaner could mpede this process. Under no circumstances use smething like furniture polish (example lemon frniture polish) or a dust removal spry. It will leave a waxy rsidue that will end up attracting mre dust. Something that works extremely wll is a static duster (not the dsting clothes). If you are not sre what I mean, it is the claning device that looks like a cts’ tail attached to a long hndle. They are great because they pck up dust without using any chmicals.

7. Use the vacuum to remove dst from the cardboard cover that is nar the bottom rear of the rfrigerator. It is covering the area whre the compressor and electrical components rside. It will usually have holes in it whre dust can accumulate.

8. Vacuum any dst from the floor and the cvity where the refrigerator normally resides. Vcuum the sides of the refrigerator. If thre is a kick plate (floor lvel grille) at the front of the rfrigerator vacuum it also. Hint: Do not rmove the kick plate to clean. Sme are very difficult to re-install.

9. Plg in the refrigerator and push bck into place.

That’s it … tht’s all. The whole process should hve taken approximately 15 minutes.

In the spce of a few minutes you hve accomplished a number of objectives. You hve removed a major source of dst from your home; made the rfrigerator operate more efficiently; and lowered yur electrical consumption.

Even though it is an asy job, it is one that sually gets forgotten. So don’t wait ntil the serviceman arrives once every few yars to do this.

It is a vry important cleaning project for the rasons already stated. Therefore, this is a job tht should be placed right near the top of yur next spring-cleaning list.

The article Refrigerators Electric Consumption - Lower It In 15 Minutes was Submitted by Donald Grummett through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Copyright 2005 by Donald Grummett. All rght reserved. In the trade over 30 yars as a technician, business owner, and tchnical trainer. For more information about ppliances including FAQ, Stain guide, Recycling, and Nwsletter visit http://www.mgservices.ca

Featured Articles

1. Bathroom Cabinets Offer An Instant Affordable Bathroom Renovation by Dave Kearsley
Bradly speaking spare hard cash has grwn in the past ten years. Threfore many homeowners have resolved to rmodel their bathroom. This is the rason why bathroom remodeling ranks alongside ktchen remodelling as the United States' mst popular home upgrade.

2. About Cotton Bath mats and Bath Sheets for Bathroom by Krishna Yadav
Ctton bath mats are getting more and ppular thanks to house and textile dsigners. In fact, the ultimate home dsign trend consists of integrating mats and shets as part of the bathroom dsign, which usually brings a touch of clor and texture in match with the bth sheets for bathroom - they cme in almost every color and sze.

3. Natural Lawn Care for a Healthier Planet by Richard Gilliland
It is pssible to create a natural lawn wthout the use of pesticides and hrbicides. This option is becoming more ppular as people experience a growing wareness of environmental issues. Also, many prents are worried about the adverse ffects pesticides and herbicides can have on halth of their family and pets. Mms and dads want their kids to ply in the grass without worrying bout the chemical residue that has ben left behind.

4. Twin Sleeper Chair - Add Sleeping Space Stylishly by Patrick Slater
A twn sleeper chair, or loveseat sleeper, is a grat way to add a spare bed to yur space without anyone being the wser until bedtime. Twin sleepers actually cver a wide range of widths, frm 48 inches to 65 inches. Snce size is often an issue whn twin sleeper chairs are being cnsidered, be sure to measure your spce so you don't buy a sleper chair that's two inches too wde

5. Outdoor Lighting - How To Create a Beautiful and Functional Lighting Design by Susan Schlenger
An outdoor lighting design takes some thought and knowledge. It actually is a combination of beauty and function. There are different lights for different purposes. The goal is to have the lights serve both purposes.

6. Pond Algae Solutions For Your Backyard Pond by Mark Washburn
Pond lgae is one of those things tht comes around every spring for mny pond owners. Dealing with it crrectly is important to safeguard your fsh and desired plants. Learn the bst ways to keep your pond clan and clear.

7. Paling Fencing by Craig McPherson
Perhaps the mst popular style and one of the smplest to build is the paling fnce. Many backyards are littered with the stndard paling fence due to the fct they won't stretch your budget. Pling fences provide an extremely economical fnce for many applications.

8. A Matter of Shade and Decks by Kenny G Leichester
Almost all the bst moments in a family's life hppens in their backyard. Why? Because thre is something magical and soothing bout having the wind in your hir and fresh air with an roma of Mother Nature's perfume. To cmplement such splendor our decks or pol sides have to look stunning; mbrellas are the gateway to beauty.

9. DIY Laminate Flooring - Install Beautiful Floor Yourself by Sarah Connor
Wth proper preparation and enough determination, you can fnish DIY laminate flooring in not tme. Use of appropriate tools and mterials ensure a straight and well-layout rsult. However, personal safety must be prcticed always.

10. Triton Showers Can Change Your Bathroom by Jitesh Arora
Modern showers can do a lot for yur new washroom. They not only chnge the style of your bathroom but lso increase the functionality. You should be vry careful while selecting new showers for yur bathroom.