Refrigerator electricity usage lowered in 15 minutes

November 2004I recently had a customer ask for my advise about cleaning her refrigerator.I started to describe the pros and cons of different cleaners that can be used to clean the interior when she stopped me abruptly. "I know all about that stuff ", she informed me, "I mean the black coil thing on the back".So, in response to this common question I offer the following step-by-step directions.Firstly, the 'black coil thing' at the rear of the refrigerator is called a condenser. Without too much technical jargon, its job is to dissipate heat into the kitchen. It does this by the condensation of the refrigerant gas. Hence, its name.

The condenser tubing is usually seen on the rear of a refrigerator. It is produced in a serpentine form with additional fins running across it for added heat dissipation."Heat, I thought we were talking about refrigerators, not stoves".You will have to believe me when I say: ?a refrigerator does not produce cold air'. Rather, its job is to transfer heat from inside the refrigerator cabinet to the outside. While doing this it removes heat from your food and that results in your food becoming cold. So, who cares! You should.

Because a major part in this transferring of heat is the ?black coil thing' we have been talking about. Yes, that's right, the condenser. Without the condenser our refrigerator would not operate. Therefore, we are going to learn how to do basic maintenance of this part and keep our refrigerator in tip-top shape.------------------------------So let's begin Tools required:?Vacuum cleaner?Brush or vacuum brush attachment?Cotton rag?Light strength household cleaner?Garbage bag1.Pull the refrigerator away from the wall and unplug it.2.The condenser will be the radiator-looking part on the rear of the refrigerator.3.Use a brush or vacuum cleaner to remove any dust buildup on the condenser. Remember, the condenser is made of thin tubing and is full of a high-pressure (130 psig) gas.

So be gentle. If you injure the tubing a simple cleaning could turn into an expensive repair.4.If you have a pet expect to see a large accumulation of animal fur on the condenser. If a lot of dust or fur is present then clean off with a dry rag and dispose into the garbage bag. We suggest using the dry rag method first to avoid clogging up the vacuum hose.5.Next, use the vacuum cleaner to finish the basic cleaning of the condenser. The brush attachment of the vacuum cleaner works particularly well at this point.

The brush will allow you to get in between all the fins and remove the dust hiding there.6.Finish by cleaning the condenser with a rag dampened with water. Avoid using any cleaner. Since the condensers job is to transfer heat any residue left by a cleaner could impede this process. Under no circumstances use something like furniture polish (example lemon furniture polish) or a dust removal spray. It will leave a waxy residue that will end up attracting more dust.

Something that works extremely well is a static duster (not the dusting clothes). If you are not sure what I mean, it is the cleaning device that looks like a cats' tail attached to a long handle. They are great because they pick up dust without using any chemicals.7.Use the vacuum to remove dust from the cardboard cover that is near the bottom rear of the refrigerator. It is covering the area where the compressor and electrical components reside. It will usually have holes in it where dust can accumulate.8.Vacuum any dust from the floor and the cavity where the refrigerator normally resides.

Vacuum the sides of the refrigerator. If there is a kick plate (floor level grille) at the front of the refrigerator vacuum it also. Hint: Do not remove the kick plate to clean. Some are very difficult to re-install.9.Plug in the refrigerator and push back into place.That's it ? that's all. The whole process should have taken approximately 15 minutes.In the space of a few minutes you have accomplished a number of objectives.

You have removed a major source of dust from your home; made the refrigerator operate more efficiently; and lowered your electrical consumption. Even though it is an easy job, it is one that usually gets forgotten. So don't wait until the serviceman arrives once every few years to do this. It is a very important cleaning project for the reasons already stated. Therefore, this is a job that should be placed right near the top of your next spring-cleaning list.

Carpet Tips: Make Your Carpet Last Longer

You are free to publish this article online, in an email newsletter or in print as long as you print the footer. Please hyperlink where possible. Courtesy copies are welcomed but not required. Contact us at fisher@thriftyfun.com Find more frugal articles for your publication at: http://www.thriftyfun.com/webmasters.ldmlCarpet Tips: Make Your Carpet Last LongerBy In this article we outline some tips to help you get more life out of your carpet.1. Rearrange Your Furniture It is good to move your furniture from time to time to change the traffic pattern in your house.

Your carpet is worn down faster where people walk.2. Vacuum Regularly Dirt helps wear down the fibers in your carpet. Vacuum regularly and place a welcome mat at your home's entrances. Also consider a "no shoes" policy. High traffic areas can often use vacuuming once a day while low traffic areas can be vacuumed a couple of times a week.3.

Area Rugs Depending on how your house is laid out you may have some areas...

Carpet Tips: Make Your Carpet Last Longer

You are free to publish this article online, in an email newsletter or in print as long as you print the footer. Please hyperlink where possible. Courtesy copies are welcomed but not required. Contact us at fisher@thriftyfun.com Find more frugal articles for your publication at: http://www.thriftyfun.com/webmasters.ldmlCarpet Tips: Make Your Carpet Last LongerBy In this article we outline some tips to help you get more life out of your carpet.1. Rearrange Your Furniture It is good to move your furniture from time to time to change the traffic pattern in your house.

Your carpet is worn down faster where people walk.2. Vacuum Regularly Dirt helps wear down the fibers in your carpet. Vacuum regularly and place a welcome mat at your home's entrances. Also consider a "no shoes" policy. High traffic areas can often use vacuuming once a day while low traffic areas can be vacuumed a couple of times a week.3.

Area Rugs Depending on how your house is laid out you may have some areas...

Organizing Your Home: The Family Room/Living Room

Some homes have a "great room" and no living room, others have a "family room" and a living room. No matter what you call it or how many of these rooms you have, organization is necessary to make it a welcoming haven for your family.Walk in to this room as a visitor would. Notice the small details that you've overlooked in daily living. Do you see clutter? Your guests do, too. To make this room inviting, we're going to reduce the number of *things* in this room and make it more homey.1.

What did you see in terms of clutter? Magazines and newspapers all over? Toys? Shoes lying around? Start with several laundry baskets (empty, please!) and put things that don't belong in this room in the baskets. The idea is to send things to different areas of the house in these baskets and make your de-cluttering that much easier. Throw away the newspapers and old magazines. If you're just not going to have time to read them, get rid of them. Why have them hanging around making you feel guilty?...

Home Loans ? Repair Your Credit Before You Buy

Before you take out a home loan or make any major purchase, you should be aware that any prospective lender will want to take a look at your credit report. Your credit report is a record of all of your past financial dealings, and any loans, credit cards, judgements, bankruptcies or other major financial transactions are listed there. Along with your credit report will come your credit score, which is a three digit number between 300 and 850 that represents a distillation of all of the above....

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The Chimney Flashing Brake Co. LLC Launches a New Safety Railing for Contractors Working on Ladder Jack Scaffold Systems

Battle Creek, MI (ContentDesk) August 15, 2006 -- The Chimney Flashing Brake Co. LLC is proud to introduce a new safety railing for contractors who use a Ladder Jack Scaffold System called The Siders and Painters Barrier Rail Support.