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Experiencing issues with your refrigerator? It could be due to improper positioning. Let's delve into why incorrect placement of your refrigerator can impact its functionalities.
1. Properly Positioning Your Refrigerator: A Comprehensive Guide
Experiencing issues with your refrigerator? It could be due to improper positioning. Let's delve into why incorrect placement of your refrigerator can impact its functionalities.
When bringing home a new refrigerator for your kitchen, one of the first steps before pushing it into place is to ensure the appliance is properly leveled. Neglecting this step may result in unsafe operation and potential issues with the internal mechanisms while in use.
According to CNET, when positioning a refrigerator, it's advisable not to have the bottom completely leveled. In fact, the refrigerator should be slightly tilted backward, meaning the front should be slightly higher than the back. It's possible your household refrigerator hasn't met this requirement. However, there's no need to worry as positioning the refrigerator is typically quick and straightforward (with most modern models).
The Consequences of Incorrect Refrigerator Placement
When your refrigerator isn't positioned correctly, it has to work extra hours to keep your family's perishable foods cold.
Refrigerators operate by circulating a special liquid called refrigerant (a volatile liquid placed within the refrigerator to create cold temperatures) through a loop, expelling 'heat' from the refrigerator as it changes from a gas to a liquid state. Behind the refrigerator, this process continues, expelling hot air. For this process to run smoothly, the refrigerator must not tilt forward or lean to the right or left. Otherwise, refrigerant can leak through the conduits, making the compressor work harder and the refrigerator less efficient. You might not realize it, but a tilted refrigerator consumes more energy and electricity for your household than it needs.
Additionally, the ice maker may not function properly; the freezing cycle or the main cooling compartment may not be as dry as they should be.
Proper Refrigerator Placement Techniques
To avoid these issues or rectify a frosty refrigerator, you simply need to make some minor adjustments to the front bottom of the refrigerator. Here's a guide to help you:
- Remove the bottom grille of the refrigerator. This grille typically has a few clips to hold or some screws to loosen before removal. This varies depending on the refrigerator model with different structures and designs. Refer to the user manual if you're unsure how to remove this grille.
- Behind the grille, you'll see an adjustable leg on both sides. You'll also notice a roller. Some refrigerators use a roller to adjust the height for proper placement.
- To adjust the height of the refrigerator's legs, simply rotate them. You may need someone to support the back of the refrigerator to do this. Some refrigerator legs can be adjusted from the top. Typically, turning the legs clockwise will raise them, and turning them counterclockwise will lower them.
- For refrigerators with a roller for height adjustment, look around the roller for the adjustment screw located right above it. Different refrigerator models have different designs, but usually, tightening the screw (clockwise) will raise the front of the refrigerator, and loosening the screw (counterclockwise) will lower the front.
- If your refrigerator has both a roller and adjustable legs, then the adjusting leg needs to be raised just enough to support the weight of the refrigerator, raising the roller higher than the floor. If you've done this and raised the front of the refrigerator about 13mm higher than the back, consider pulling the refrigerator away from the wall and also lifting the back of the refrigerator a bit.
Image Source: Tyler Lizenby/CNET
You may need to repeat the process several times to achieve the perfect tilt for your refrigerator. There's another way to assess the correct tilt: gently open the refrigerator door, then release it. If the refrigerator is properly tilted, the door will gently close without any intervention.
In general, refrigerator manufacturers recommend placing the refrigerator so that the front is higher than the back by about 6 to 13mm. With this ratio, the refrigerator door will automatically close. This also means it's the perfect position for the refrigerator to perform its intended function.
Final step: Use the accompanying tools to lock the adjustable legs, maintaining the perfect tilt of the refrigerator. And if your refrigerator doesn't come with these tools, don't worry. For these types of refrigerators, unless your floor is severely sloped or very slippery, or unless you habitually slam the refrigerator door shut, the refrigerator is designed to stay in place.
