Tag Archives: refrigerator repairs suffolk county

5 Ways to Upcycle Your Old Refrigerator

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Once your refrigerator kicks the bucket, you may be tempted to throw it away. Don’t.

Not only do refrigerators take up massive amounts of space in a landfill, but they also contain toxic chemicals which can leak out and pollute soil and nearby bodies of water. Instead of tossing out your old refrigerator, turn it into something great. Here are a few ways you can upcycle your fridge:

1). Store your books, clothes, or food

Just because your refrigerator has lost its ability to keep cold, doesn’t mean it has lost its ability to act as a storage container. Take off the doors and use it as a bookshelf, or keep the doors on and turn it into an armoire or a standalone pantry.

2). Turn it into a cooler

Your refrigerator is well-insulated; use that to your advantage by turning it into a cooler. Just detach the doors, turn it on its side, fill it with ice, and voila – a place to keep your beer cold during your next party.

3). A bed for your flowers

Garden beds can cost upwards of $100, but if you have an old refrigerator, you already have one you can use for free. GeeksOfGardens.com gives you step-by-step instructions for turning your old refrigerator into a raised garden bed.

4.) Use it at your next BBQ

Believe it or not, refrigerators can easily be converted into meat smokers. Just cut a 6” hole near the bottom, attach a smoke box and seal it up, and add a vent at the top. The shelves are perfect for smoking ham, turkey, and salmon!

5). A scenic addition to your landscape

Do you dream of having a pond in your back yard? A broken refrigerator can help turn your dream into a reality. Just remove the compressor, refrigerant, doors, and shelves, bury what’s left, and add plumbing.

Looking for more ways to upcycle your refrigerator? Check out this list from Green Eco Services!

Before you go turning your refrigerator into a garden bed, make sure that it can’t be salvaged first. Speedy Refrigerator Service provides same-day refrigerator and freezer repairs to New York City and Long Island. Our phone lines are open 24/7, so call us anytime to schedule your service at 866-782-9376.

How to Fix a Frosty Freezer

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Does the inside of your freezer look like it was hit by a blizzard? Just follow the steps below to manually defrost your freezer, then find the cause of the problem to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

  1. Unplug the freezer from the electrical outlet.
  2. Remove all food and place it in a cooler or your second freezer to keep cool.
  3. For the quick method, melt the frost using a hair dryer on low heat. Make sure that the hair dryer doesn’t come in contact with any water, and don’t keep the nozzle pointed at one place for too long.
  4. For the longer method, line your freezer with towels and leave the door open overnight. The ice will eventually melt, and the towels will help prevent the water from leaking on to your floor.
  5. No matter which method you use, thoroughly dry the inside of your freezer with a clean towel in order to prevent mold.
  6. Plug your appliance back in and re-stock it with food.

Be advised that this method is only a band-aid approach. In order to prevent your freezer from frosting up again, you need to find the source of the problem. Here are a few common causes of frosty freezers:

  • Damaged gasket. The rubber gasket (or door seal) creates an airtight barrier between your fridge and the outside world. One small rip or tear in this seal can allow warm air to enter, even when the door is closed. The moisture from this warm air condenses and freezes, turning into frost.
  • Temperature set too low. Most freezers have an adjustable thermostat to control the temperature. Ideally, your freezer should be as close to 0° F as possible. Frost build up may indicate that your thermostat is set too low.
  • Freezer is too full. When your freezer is overfull, air can’t properly circulate, which causes frost to build up.

Can’t get your freezer to stay frost-free? The refrigeration experts at Speedy Refrigerator Service can! Our licensed professionals have more than 75 years of experience fixing refrigerators and freezers in the NYC area. We guarantee one-hour service to New York City and Long Island! Call us anytime to schedule your same-day freezer repair at 866-782-9376.

What Temperature Should Your Refrigerator Be?

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Refrigerator thermometer inside the top shelf of a cool food storage fridge to make sure perishables are kept safe and cold enough.

We know that refrigerators are supposed to keep our food cold, but how cold is cold enough? If your fridge is too warm, your food will spoil, and if it’s too chilly, it will freeze. The key is finding an optimal temperature range, but not everyone knows what that is. Fortunately for you, the experts at Speedy Refrigerator Service are here to help – read below for all of the answers to your temperature-related questions.

 

What is the best temperature for your refrigerator?

According to scientists, bacteria growth rates spike at about 40° F, which is why this temperature range is considered to be the “danger zone” for food. On the other side of the spectrum, water freezes at 32°. For these reasons, the optimal temperature range for your refrigerator is between 34-38°.

 

How do I know if my refrigerator is at the right temperature?

Like anything else, the easiest way to measure the temperature of your refrigerator is with a thermometer. Some models have these built in, but if yours doesn’t, don’t worry. You can find thermometers made specifically for your refrigerator online or at a local retail store. Once purchased, set the thermometer on different shelves to make sure the temperature is consistent throughout your whole refrigerator.

 

Do you have any tips for keeping a consistent temperature?

If you find that you are having trouble keeping your refrigerator’s temperature consistent, these tips will make the job easier:

  • Open your refrigerator door less. If you are cooking a meal that requires multiple ingredients from your fridge, take them all out in one trip. Avoid keeping the door open for long periods of time.

  • Vacuum the condenser coils. These are located on the back of the unit and release heat. If they are coated in dust, warm air can’t escape and your refrigerator has to work harder to keep cool.

  • Make sure the seal is not damaged. The rubber seal on your door forms an air tight barrier. Just one small crack or loose edge can allow cold air to escape your fridge, even when the door is shut.

 

If your refrigerator is too warm, trust the experts at Speedy Refrigerator Service to keep it cool. As New York’s premier fridge repair service, we have all the tools and experience needed to fix any make or model of refrigerator. Our phone lines are open 24/7, so call us anytime at 866-782-9376.

Why Your Next Refrigerator Should NOT Have an Ice-Maker

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If you are in the market for a new refrigerator, you have a lot of things to take into consideration. You must think about the appliance’s size, style, storage space, and energy efficiency. You also need to consider additional features such as touchscreens, temperature-controlled compartments, and ice dispensers. While all of these features seem like obvious benefits, one of them might actually bring some hidden drawbacks.

The downfall of ice dispensers

At first thought, ice dispensers are great, right? Who doesn’t want an on-demand supply of ice cubes available at the push of a button? Unfortunately, they are not as great as they sound. Let’s take a closer look:

  • Ice dispensers bring added costs. iStock_000075196475_SmallNot only will a refrigerator with a built-in ice dispenser have a higher price tag, but they create additional costs down the road too. You have to consider that your utility bill will go up due to an increased use of water, and you will periodically have to buy new filters.

  • Ice dispensers take away storage space. If you already have trouble fitting food into your freezer, an ice dispenser isn’t going to make things any better. Valuable storage space will need to be given up in order to accommodate an ice bin, which is something most people don’t realize until it’s too late.

  • Ice dispensers need to be repaired more. This is the biggest downfall of ice dispensers: they break down. According to Consumer Reports, refrigerators with ice dispensers break down at a higher rate than those without them, and the repairs tend to cost more. Is it really worth it?

New York residents can have peace of mind knowing that if their refrigerator does break down, help is just a phone call away with Speedy Refrigerator Service. With one-hour service to all of Long Island and New York City, don’t trust anyone else to fix your refrigerator, freezer, wine cooler, or ice maker. Give us a call at 866-782-9376 to schedule your same-day appointment.

Common Refrigerator Mistakes

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For such a universal appliance, there are a lot of mistakes that people make when it comes to their refrigerator. Mistakes that can spike their electricity bill, compromise food safety, and cause their fridge to break down prematurely. Here are five of those mistakes that you should avoid making.

Mistake #1: Not cleaning the condenser coils.

If you asked everyone you know when was the last time that they cleaned their refrigerator’s condenser coils, the vast majority of them would probably say never. These coils are located on the back of your appliance and are known to collect dust, which can negatively affect your energy-efficiency. Clean them every six months using your vacuum cleaner’s brush attachment.

Mistake #2: Letting frost build up.

If the inside of your freezer looks like an arctic snowstorm, it’s time to defrost it. When too much ice accumulates on the freezer walls, it can limit air flow in addition to reducing precious storage space.

Mistake #3: Neglecting the gasket.

The gasket is the rubber seal on your refrigerator door. It is responsible for creating an air-tight barrier that prevents cold air from escaping your fridge. Unfortunately, any loose edges, cracks, or tears in the gasket prevent it from doing it’s job, which ultimately increases the wear-and-tear on your appliance. Inspect your gasket every month to make sure all is well, and replace it immediately if you notice any problems.

Mistake #4: No method for stocking food.

When we get home from the grocery store and it’s time to unpack all of our food, many of us simply put it wherever it will fit. While this is a quick and easy method to stock your refrigerator, it’s not the best way. Where in the refrigerator you keep your food can impact how long is lasts, so be sure to stock smartly by following this advice.

Mistake #5: Not changing the water filter.

If your refrigerator has a water dispenser, make sure you are changing the filter in accordance with the manufacturers specifications. The older filters get, the less effective they are at removing impurities and bacteria from your drinking water.

Sometimes, these mistakes will cause your refrigerator to leak, make loud noises, or completely break down altogether. If you experience any of these problems, call the repair experts at Speedy Refrigerator Service. Our technicians have more than 75 years of experience repairing refrigerators and freezers all across Long Island. We guarantee one-hour service to Nassau and Suffolk County, so call us today at 866-782-9376.