How to Get the Most Out of Your Refrigerator

The average lifespan of a brand new refrigerator is roughly 15 years, but only if it is properly taken care of. If you misuse or neglect your refrigerator, you could find yourself back in the appliance store in as little as 8. If you have recently purchased a new fridge, you know that they aren't cheap. Use these five tips to protect your investment and get the most out of your refrigerator.

• Keep it at the right temperature. If you find your food constantly spoiling before the expiration date or your milk keeps freezing, it is likely that you need to adjust your refrigerator's thermostat. It is recommended to keep your fridge between 34-39°F to minimize bacteria growth and maximize the shelf life of your food.  
• Stock smartly. Even if your thermostat is set to the recommended climate, different zones inside of the refrigerator will vary in temperature. For instance, the refrigerator door is usually the warmest area, and the bottom shelf is usually the coldest. Where in the fridge you store your food can impact how long it stays fresh, learn how to properly stock your refrigerator here.

• Clean it regularly. Tidying up your refrigerator every week will help keep it looking, running, and smelling like new. It doesn't have to be a long process; here is how to give your refrigerator a thorough cleaning in 20 minutes or less.

• Avoid keeping the door open. Every time you open your refrigerator door, as much as 50% of the cold air escapes. This number can be even higher when you leave the door open for long periods of time. By minimizing the amount of times you open your refrigerator door and how long you keep it open for, you can reduce the workload on your compressor and extend the lifespan of your appliance.
• Do basic maintenance. Just like your car needs to have its oil changed every 5,000 miles, there are some basic tasks you can do to keep your refrigerator running efficiently. Vacuum the condenser coils on the back of your unit every six months to remove any dust which has built up and periodically test the strength of the door seal. To do this, close your refrigerator door on a dollar bill – if you can easily remove the bill or slide it up and down, it is time to replace your gasket.

If your refrigerator is leaking, making loud noises, or otherwise malfunctioning, you may be able to get it repaired for a fraction of the cost of buying a new one. If you live in New York City, Long Island, Connecticut, or New Jersey, help is just a phone call away with Speedy Subzero. We offer same-day appointments and one-hour service in emergency situations, so give us a call any time at 866-782-9376.

DIY Home Tune-Up for Your Refrigerator

When was the last time you brought your car to the mechanic for a tune up? What about your refrigerator?

Just like your automobile, your fridge will run better and last longer when it is properly maintained. Luckily, tuning up your refrigerator can be done in 20 minutes and won't set you back a couple hundred dollars like your car will.

Just follow this step-by-step routine every six months to keep your refrigerator running efficiently and extend its lifespan.

1. Remove all food from the inside of your refrigerator and unplug it from the wall. If you want, you can place your food in a cooler to help prevent it from spoiling.
2. Wipe down the shelves, drawers, and inner walls of your refrigerator with a soapy rag to get rid of any stains and residue.
3. Inspect the rubber door seal. If it is cracked or otherwise damaged, you should replace it to stop cold air from escaping. If everything looks good, wipe it down with a wet cloth and apply a thin coat of Vaseline to prevent it from drying out.
4. Slide your refrigerator away from the wall. Using the brush attachment for your vacuum cleaner, vacuum the condenser coils (located on the rear of the unit) to remove any visible dust and hair. This will improve your energy efficiency and place less wear-and-tear on your refrigerator's compressor.
5. If your refrigerator has a water dispenser or ice maker, replace the water filter. This process is different for every model, so refer to your owner's manual for further instructions.
6. Plug your refrigerator in, slide it back into place (leave at least six inches of space between the back of your fridge and the wall to allow for adequate ventilation), and replace your food – you're done!

If this seems like too much work, you can always seek professional help. Long Island residents can count on the services of Speedy Subzero for fast, dependable refrigerator repairs and tune ups. We have more than 75 years of experience and can be at your doorstep within one hour of your call – just dial 866-782-9376 at any time to speak with one of our licensed technicians.

What You Need to Know About Your Refrigerator's Condenser Coils

Pop quiz: Write down everything you know about your refrigerator's condenser coils.

Could you think of anything? If not, don't feel too bad. While almost every American has a fridge sitting in their kitchen, most of us don't know anything about them besides the fact that they keep our food cold.

Although they appear to be a giant box of ice, refrigerators are actually complex machines which require several different components to come together and operate as one. One of these components are the condenser coils, and they are extremely important. Here's why:

On most modern refrigerators, the condenser coils are located on the rear of the model. If you look at the back of your refrigerator, you will likely see a curvy tube that winds back and forth across the whole unit – these are the condenser coils.

During the refrigeration cycle, liquid refrigerant runs through these tubes in order to cool down, and heat is released through the back of the unit. This is why it is recommended to keep at least six inches of space between the refrigerator and the wall; in order to allow for proper ventilation.

The problem is that dust, dirt and pet hair can accumulate on these coils, leaving a thick layer of grime. When the condenser coils are coated in dust, they can't efficiently release heat, which causes the refrigerator to work longer and harder to maintain a cold internal temperature. This not only forces your refrigerator to consume more energy, it places additional wear-and-tear on the compressor.

To save money on your electricity bill and extend the lifespan of your refrigerator, clean these coils every 3-6 months. All you need is a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment and ten minutes of free time, cleaning instructions can be found here.

If you are not up for the task of cleaning the coils yourself, Speedy Subzero is currently offering a $40 special which includes coil vacuuming, motor oiling, freon level testing, and more. New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey residents can all take advantage of this deal by clicking here or calling 866-782-9376.

Why You Shouldn't Constantly Open Your Refrigerator Door

If you are like millions of Americans, you are always looking for ways to cut costs – especially on your electricity bill. In an attempt to reduce your energy consumption, you may have already tried things like unplugging all of your unused devices or drying your laundry on a clothesline, but there is an easier way which you aren't considering: limiting the amount of times you open your refrigerator's door.

Your refrigerator is the most-used appliance in your home – it runs around-the-clock and is used dozens of times throughout the day. Every time you open your refrigerator door, cold air escapes and warm air enters. This causes the compressor, which is trying to maintain a cool temperature, to go into overdrive, raising your electricity bill and shortening your refrigerator's lifespan. In fact, opening the door can account for nearly 10% of the appliance's total energy consumption, according to Good Housekeeping.

If you are looking for some ways to minimize how long you keep your refrigerator door open, try using the following tips:

• When preparing a meal that calls for multiple ingredients, get them all out of your refrigerator in one trip instead of repeatedly going back for one thing at a time.
• Know where everything in your refrigerator is located so you can get in and out as quickly as possible.
• Avoid standing in front of your open refrigerator and blankly staring for long periods of time – we all do it!

For more expert tips about refrigerators, energy efficiency, and the kitchen, connect with Speedy Subzero online – we are active on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

5 Things to Know About Your Refrigerator

Your refrigerator sits in your kitchen and quietly works around-the-clock to help keep your food cold and fresh, but how often do you think about it when you aren't using it? Here are five things to keep in mind about your home's most important appliance.

1. It is your only appliance that runs 24/7.

Your home has many appliances – stoves, dishwashers, microwaves, washing machines, and clothes dryers to name a few; but none of them work harder than your refrigerator. The refrigerator is the only appliance in your house that runs around the clock, working to keep your food fresh and your drinks cold and refreshing.

2. Like your car, it needs some basic maintenance.

Because your refrigerator never gets a break, it is important that you do some routine maintenance work in order to keep it running efficiently for a long time. The average lifespan of a refrigerator is about 10-15 years, but many won't last this long due to poor maintenance. Some things you can do to extend your fridge's lifespan include vacuuming the condenser coils every six months and periodically examining the gasket for air leaks.

3. There is such a thing as “too much”.

You may have heard that keeping your refrigerator full will help your food last longer because it better retains its temperature when the door is opened. This is true – to an extent. However, there is a such think as overstocking your refrigerator, which hinders air circulation and leads to warm spots. To achieve optimal food freshness, keep your refrigerator full, but not stuffed.

4. It is a bacteria hotspot.

If you regularly buy raw meat and fresh produce, your refrigerator is constantly exposed to an enormous amount of germs and bacteria. To help prevent cross-contamination, keep all uncooked meat, fish and poultry on the bottom shelf – this will prevent it from dripping onto and infecting foods below it. You should also clean your refrigerator every 1-2 months using this method.

5. Some spots are colder than others.

While you may think your refrigerator is one big, consistent box of coldness, this is actually not true. Certain spots in your refrigerator tend to be colder than others. Since warm air rises, keep foods resistant to spoiling (such as ready-to-eat foods, juices, and soda) on the top shelves and sensitive foods such as raw meats and dairy towards the bottom. The door is the warmest area of the refrigerator, so avoid storing your milk here.

If your refrigerator ever breaks down, you might be able to repair it for a fraction of the cost of a new model. Speedy Subzero has provided fast, reliable refrigerator repairs to New York residents for more than 75 years. We provide emergency support on nights and weekends and offer one-hour service to Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. To schedule an in-home repair, call us today at 866-782-9376.

Does Freezing Batteries Extend Their Life?

There are countless tips and tricks for everything imaginable posted on the internet and discussed around office water coolers, most of them too obscure to believe. Keep dust and dirt off of your home's curtains by applying several coats of hairspray to them. Place three drops of vinegar on your tongue to cure the hiccups. Store your household batteries in the refrigerator to make them last longer. Speedy Subzero may not know much about curtains or the hiccups – but we know refrigerators – which is why we are going to take a closer look at the last tip to see if it is true or not.

According to GreenBatteries.com, standard alkaline batteries stored at a normal room temperature self discharge their energy at a rate of 2% per year. Raise the temperature to 85° F and the rate increases to about 5% per year. Increase it again to about 100° F and the rate skyrockets to 25% per year! With this knowledge, it is easy to understand why people advocate storing your batteries in the fridge.

The truth is that you should not store batteries in the refrigerator, especially if you do not live in an extremely hot climate. The best case scenario is that you increase their lifespan by an insignificant margin. On the other hand, refrigerating your batteries can lead to condensation, which can actually corrode and damage them. In fact, both Energizer and Duracell advise against this method, instead saying to store their products in a dry, room-temperature climate for optimal performance.

For over 60 years Speedy Subzero has been repairing refrigerators so that everything in them stays fresh, even batteries. Our “warehouse on wheels” storage approach allows us to provide one hour service to New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. We are open 24/7, even on holidays, so give us a call at 866-782-9376.

How to Quickly Clean Your Refrigerator

Neglecting to clean your refrigerator can have many negative consequences. Besides it becoming unorganized, cluttered, and stuffed with a lot of expired items, a dirty refrigerator can become a breeding ground for bacteria. Uncleaned spills and spoiled foods can leave behind tough residue and a nasty smell in the fridge that is near impossible to remove, so take twenty minutes every week to prevent that from happening by properly cleaning your refrigerator. Use the steps below to give your refrigerator a complete cleaning in twenty minutes or less!

1. Remove all items from the refrigerator

Before you get started, it is important to have an empty refrigerator so that you have access to every inch of it. Remove all of the food in it and put it on the counter while you clean. If you want to be cautious, you can store food that is prone to spoiling (such as dairy items and raw meat) in a cooler.

2. Clean shelves and drawers

After the food is all out, take out any removable shelves and drawers that you may have. You can clean these in the kitchen sink under warm, running water with a sponge and your dish detergent of preference. Most of these should be a quick rinse, but if there is any sticky residue from a leak or spill, get it out with some elbow grease. You want your shelves to be as clean as new. After washing, place these items in your drying rack so they can air dry while you continue cleaning.

3. Clean the interior

Everything that can be removed from your refrigerator should now be out, leaving just the bare interior. Take a paper towel and a cleaning agent or a sponge with soap and clean these surfaces. This should be a quick wipe-down, but look out for any stains or residue that you may have to scrub off.

4. Dry and replace shelves

If the interior is still a little wet due to the cleaning supplies, dry it off with a clean rag or paper towel. The same goes for the shelves and drawers that you washed in the sink earlier. If they have not dried completely yet, wipe them dry with a towel before replacing them in your refrigerator.

5. Organize and filter through your food

While your food is all laid out in front of you, take advantage of the opportunity to organize it. Go through each item, throw away anything that has expired, and make a mental note of what items will expire soon. You can also wipe down anything that may cause a mess at some point if left uncleaned (such as a sticky jelly bottle). Group all of your meats, dairy, condiments, fruits, and vegetables together while you are at it- it will save you time when restocking the fridge

6. Restock your fridge the smart way

Now that your food is organized, put it back in the refrigerator where it belongs.

• The door: keep condiments, juices, and water on the door. Avoid keeping milk here because the temperature of this area fluctuates more than any other space in the fridge, which can cause it to spoil prematurely.
• Upper shelves: Keep your leftovers, ready-to-eat foods, and drinks on the upper shelves of your refrigerator.
• Lower shelves: Store your milk, eggs, raw meat, and other foods that spoil quickly down here. As you may know, warm air rises, so the bottom of your fridge is naturally the coldest and will keep your food preserved for the longest possible time.
• Crisper drawers: This is where your fruits and vegetables go. Make sure you keep them separated and use the proper humidity settings for each.

You have now cleaned your refrigerator from top to bottom, properly washed everything, got rid of expired items, and organized your food in the same amount of time it takes to watch an episode of your favorite TV show on Netflix. If you find your refrigerator is not working properly for any reason and you live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, give Speedy Subzero a call at 866-782-9376. We provide fast, reliable service to the tri-state area, 24/7! You can also like us on Facebook for more kitchen-related advice and tips.

5 Foods You Think Are Supposed to be Kept in the Refrigerator But Aren't

Growing up, everybody had their household rules about what gets kept in the refrigerator and what is supposed to go in the pantry. “Everyone knows you're supposed to keep the maple syrup in the fridge!” “Ketchup should go in the cabinet, who in their right mind puts it in the refrigerator?” The truth is, there are some foods that can be stored in any climate, but there are some foods that should never go in the fridge. Below are five foods that are currently sitting in millions of refrigerators around the world, even though they really shouldn't be.

Tomatoes

The general thought process behind this is, “If I put these in the refrigerator, it will make them last longer.” The truth is that putting tomatoes in the refrigerator stops the ripening process, causing them to lose their flavor. It also changes the texture of tomatoes, making them soft and mushy. Simply store tomatoes on your counter-top in a plastic bag for best results.

Potatoes

Refrigerating potatoes is the worst way to store them. The cool temperature affects the starch in potatoes, turning it into sugar. This causes the potatoes to have a sweet taste when you cook them, and not in the good way. Store potatoes in a paper bag in a cool (not cold), dry place.

Honey

Many people do not know this, but honey is a naturally preserved food. If stored in a tightly-sealed container, honey will taste the same years after it was made. Putting it in the refrigerator causes the sugars in the honey to crystallize – a process called granulation. This results in the honey turning from a thick liquid into a solid which makes it almost impossible to get out of the jar. For best results, just stick the jar in your pantry and don't worry about it for the next couple of decades.

Coffee

Whether they are whole beans or grounds, don't store coffee in the refrigerator. The primary reason for this is because the coffee will actually begin to absorb the scents from other foods in the refrigerator, causing its taste to alter. Once this happens, it is impossible to get its original flavor back. Instead of the refrigerator, store your coffee in an airtight container in the pantry.

Hot Sauce

This is something that many people don't know, but most hot sauces should not be refrigerated. Cold temperatures can affect the flavor and consistency of the hot sauce. Depending on the brand, hot sauce can safely be stored in the pantry for up to three years. Frank's, a large hot sauce producer of over half a dozen different flavors, only requires one of them to be refrigerated. In order to be sure, it is best to check the label on the bottle.

If your refrigerator is not working like it used to (regardless of what food is in it) and you live in the tri-state area, call Speedy Subzero today. We offer one-hour service to New York City, Long Island, Connecticut, and New Jersey so call us today at 866-782-9376. You can also like us on Facebook to keep up to date with our company blog.

What is the right temperature setting for your refrigerator?

Every refrigerator was designed with one goal in mind; keep your food cold. Just exactly how cold is up to you; most refrigerators allow you to adjust the internal thermometer to keep your contents at the exact temperature that you prefer. Programming your fridge to the right temperature seems like an easy task, but in fact it can be difficult to perfect. Turning the thermostat down too low results in frozen milk and icy watermelon chunks. On the other hand, open the door to a refrigerator with its temperature even just slightly too high and you might see (or smell) a dozen rotten eggs or a bag of spoiled oranges.

Speedy Subzero is here to help solve this dilemma and keep your fridge at the temperature that is best for you.

What temperature should my refrigerator be?

The professionals at Speedy Subzero say that the ideal temperature of a refrigerator is between 35 and 39 degrees Fahrenheit. Water freezes at 32 degrees, so it is recommended to keep your fridge at least a few degrees above the freezing point to avoid turning your orange juice into an orange slushy. 40 degrees and above is what is referred to by many experts as “The Danger Zone” because, as The Kitchn reports, this is where bacteria growth rates begin to triple.

Many newer models have a digital programmable thermostat which allows you to choose a precise temperature to maintain. However, many of us do not have this luxury, and instead have a manual dial you must adjust without knowing the actual temperature. If this sounds like your fridge, Speedy Subzero (with some help from Lifehacker) has put together a list of tips and tricks to help you figure out the temperature of your refrigerator and maintain a constant cold.

 

• Invest in a refrigerator thermometer. This is the only way to be absolutely certain that your fridge is at the exact temperature you want it to be.
• Keeping your fridge well stocked will help it better hold its temperature when you open the door. This will also result in lower energy consumption.
• If you pack your refrigerator too much, however, you can restrict airflow, which causes uneven cooling and a higher electricity bill.
• Store the items you want to keep coldest in the back or the bottom of your fridge. The cooling element is located in the back, and the bottom naturally stays cold because warm air rises.
• Do not put food that is susceptible to spoiling on the door. It is not uncommon for items on the door to reach temperatures above 50 degrees.
• Minimize the opening of your refrigerator. Know what you want to take out before you open the door and when getting multiple items, take them all out in one go-around.
• Let hot food cool down before putting it in the fridge. Putting those steaming hot lasagna leftovers in the refrigerator warms up the space around it and can affect the temperature of other foods.

Speedy Subzero has been servicing refrigerators in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey for over 60 years. We stock 99% of our parts in our “warehouse on wheels” which allows us to be at your door within an hour of your phone call. Visit our website for more information and be sure to like us on Facebook for more refrigerator-related advice!