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Is Your Refrigerator Running? Well go catch it...

By
Home Inspector with IHI Home Inspections 404-788-2581

     I was thinking of this silly old joke and it sparked a blog entry! Go figure. You just never know when inspiration will hit, do you?

      We pass by our refrigerator numerous times daily as we enter and exit rooms throughout the home and also as we enter and leave our home. We open our refrigerator many times a day, also. However, we don't often stop to consider whether or not we are running our refirgerator at a maximum efficiency level.  

      Did you know that at 31.6 cu. ft. french door refrigerator can hold an equivalent of 32 bags of groceries?  Good Golly!! That sounds like a lot of food. However, it is suggested that your refrigerator's ability to keep your food fresh depends upon how jammed full it is and how many people are being fed. For instance, each adult per houshold should reserve 4 to 6 cu. ft. of storage. Whether or not this theory is correct remains to be seen. 

   One theory that does seem to have merit is the durability of the refrigerator's seals. The door seal should hug snugly to the door so that no air leaks out of the unit.  Also, it is important to leave space between the refrigerator and the wall in order to allow for proper air circulation. Checking the seals and the space allotted for your fridge is a good checklist item for your routine home maintenance. 

     Another efficiency tip concerns your freezer. Don't let your freezer get empty. Not only does this mean you need to go to the grocery store, but also it means your freezer will use significantly  more energy to run. The strain of keeping an empty freezer cold can actually place up to 25% more energy usage on the unit. The same applies for properly regulating the temperatures. Make sure you are keeping temps below 40 degrees for the refrigerator and 0 degrees for the freezer. Remember, however, that the colder the temps, the more energy being exerted. Keep safe temperature, but do not go crazy with the coldness!! 

                                      

                                             refrigerator                                       Don't forget, we check model and serial numbers in the Recall Chek system to see if there are any recalls on your home's appliances at no additional cost during the home inspection service!!

Visit our website at http://www.ihihomeinspections.com to book your Atlanta home inspection today!

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To read our maintenance tips visit http://www.ahomeinspectoratlantaga.com, and

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We look forward to working with clients and agents during the real estate process. Experience the IHI Difference. 404-788-2581 – See more at: http://activerain.com/blogsview/4209168/a-health-and-wellness-check-up-for-your-home#sthash.0Is3G9LY.dpuf

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Comments (3)

Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi David,

I just added the Recallchek and the 90 day warranty. I was telling my last client about the freebies ahd she was amazed by them.

Have a great day in Atlanta.

Best, Clint McKie

Feb 18, 2014 08:24 AM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

"Don't let your freezer get empty."

   If I keep a couple of 1 gallon plastic water bottles (filled) inside the freezer, will that suffice?

Feb 18, 2014 10:03 AM
Robert Butler
Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC
Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection

Good advice. We also fill empty space in the freezer with plastic water containers. In power failures it will 'keep' the food frozen longer as it turns the freezer into an icebox. This will allow you to stretch things till the power is restored or get to use your food before it spoils.

I fill most of the freezer space with water jugs. Just take them out and put them to one side as more food is stored. A secondary advantage is that you also have an emergency supply of drinkable water on hand.

Feb 20, 2014 02:47 AM