The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Your refrigerator's only job is to keep its cool. Help it out on the days it has to work hardest. Summer's heat coupled with high humidity can put refrigerators to the test. Give your hardest-working appliance a break by reducing the moisture level in your home. Cover pots and pans while cooking and use the range hood to whisk away extra moisture. Even with frost-free models, you may notice frost and ice drops on the interior walls and on food containers. That's because today's refrigerators retain colder temperatures and when the door opens, moisture rushes in and instantly condenses. Lower household humidity will alleviate the problem. Keep your fridge clean to help it run efficiently. Vacuum the coils at the back regularly and experiment with the energy saver switch to reduce condensation. Check the door gasket to ensure a tight fit that will keep moisture out. Remember to defrost your refrigerator when more than a quarter inch of ice builds up. It's also a good idea to cover liquids and let food cool completely before storing it inside the fridge. And arrange the shelves so air can circulate. A full, but not overloaded refrigerator is an efficient one. Remember that your fridge will have to work even harder if it's near a range, water heater or dryer. It works best in a well-ventilated, cool and dry environment. Now take a look at that second fridge you bought for a song at a garage sale. The unit may be handy for extra drinks on a hot day, but this comes at a high cost. A refrigerator can account for 20 per cent of your annual energy bill and an older model most certainly costs more. Consider getting rid of this energy guzzler
