Home equipment and appliances are of invaluable help and value in our homes. While this equipment’s usefulness allows us to live lives of comfort and style, the equipment also needs one the other hand needs proper handling and maintenance, especially equipment like under-counter refrigerators.
When it comes to owning under-counter refrigerators, several things need to be taken into account to get the best out of the equipment. Let’s take a look:
What to buy
The first thing to consider before you start is determining what to buy. There are several brands both on the retail store on online stores to pick from. You need to take into account your budget, both purchasing and maintenance cost, safety, size of your kitchen, size of the fridge (height, width, and length), quality and if any warranty of the equipment in case of any potential complications.
How to transport
Transport of your under-counter refrigerator needs to be handled with care. It’s best to take advantage of any free transportation and delivery from the manufacturer or retail store you bought your equipment from.
How to install
One of the best advises one can get when it comes to setting up your brand-new under-counter refrigerator is to allow professionals to do the installing. A lot of people make the mistake of doing all the installation themselves and end up damaging the equipment.
Take advantage of free installation offers by the retail store you bought your fridge from. In case there are no offers, then it’s better to contact professionals that are most likely to be available near the store, or networking with the store.
If you’re adamant about doing the installation yourself, then you need to be cautious about how you handle the whole process. Many manufacturers will not honor the terms on the warranty if your purchased unit is improperly installed.
What you need to take care of as the owner is where the compressor’s intake and exhaust of the fridge are located. This will allow you to be able to make some adjustments if the exhausts end up on the wrong side of the unit as indicated on the specification sheet.
Things to considers during installation:
• Never lift the unit by the door handle.
• Handle the whole installation using gloves to avoid personal injury.
How to run
Before starting to use your fridge, you need to make sure you have a go-ahead from the technicians who installed the under-counter refrigerator. Once you have the green light, take the manual and go over for final confirmation you have understood everything regarding how to run the fridge before officially turning on your fridge.
After everything is set, allow the fridge to run for at least 24 hours in order for the temperature to stabilize you start using.
Importance
There are several things you need to take extra precaution when you get an under-counter refrigerator.
How to clean
Cleaning under-counter fridge and most household equipment require extra care. Before cleaning or doing maintenance of any equipment, you need to disconnect any electrical appliances from the power to avoid short-circuiting the equipment or electrocuting yourself.
You should also clean the condenser every three months to prevent the unit from malfunctioning and voiding your warranty in the process.
Cleaning is done in two ways, exterior cleaning and interior cleaning.
Interior cleaning
• Remove all the contents before proceeding
• Remove all the shelves
• Defrost the unit
• Use a clean cloth to wipe the interior of the fridge gently
• Return the shelves in place followed by the contents
• Reconnect power again to the unit
Exterior cleaning
Use a mild detergent, two tablespoons of baking soda to 1-quart water, lukewarm water solution for cleaning the exterior.
Never use any solvent-based abrasive cleaners. Use a clean sponge and rinse with clean water before drying with a soft clean towel to avoid residual water from spotting.
How to repair
Just like cleaning, any attempt to repair the unit before disconnecting from a power source could lead to electrocution.
Ensure your working area is dry at all times.
Mistakes to avoid
1. Not going over the manual. This can lead to mishandling the unit and voiding your warranty claim in case your fridge gets damaged.
2. You are using an extension cord to power the unit. This action overloads the extension leading to short-circuiting of the extension cord. Try connecting your unit directly to the socket.
3. You are getting the dimensions wrong. This happens sometimes, and you end up with a unit that either doesn’t fit or is too small. To avoid this, get the exact measurements of the counter (length, width, height, and depth) or the previous fridge if you’re replacing an old model.
Conclusion
Getting an under-counter refrigerator, whether for the first time or replacing an older model, can be a great addition to the comfort and style of modern-day living. Just like most home equipment, several things need to be taken into account from the moment of purchase to running the equipment. But with the right information, nothing is stopping you from getting the best out of your under-counter refrigerator.
