Gas-Fridge suggests spring cleaning tips for your propane appliancesMost homeowners have their furnace and air conditioner systems checked in the spring and fall to make sure they are operating properly and efficiently. Your propane appliances also should be checked on a regular basis to ensure that they continue to operate at maximum efficiency. Gas-Fridge would like to offer a few tips to help with your spring cleaning efforts:

Safety: Make sure that the area within 10 feet of your propane tank and/or cylinder(s) is free of clutter. Remove any combustible materials, such as long, dry grass, wood, and debris. Do not store propane cylinders or tanks indoors. If you plan to add some plants or trees to your yard this spring, call 811 to have your utility lines marked before you start to dig to plant spring flowers, new trees, or for any other reason.

Cleaning Inside: Proper cleanliness is important, especially on the inside of the refrigerator. Spring might be a convenient time for cleaning your refrigerator is during the regular maintenance or right after defrosting. Cleaning both inside and outside should always be done with a soft cloth and mild soap and warm water solution. Rinse the inside with a baking soda and warm water mixture of approx 1-2 tbsp. to 1 qt. warm water. Then wipe dry with soft cloth. Never use harsh or abrasive cleaners and never use coarse clothes for cleaning.

Cleaning Outside: Waxing the outside of the refrigerator box may prevent against minor scratches and add to rust protection. Just use a standard auto wax on the painted metal surfaces only. Do not use on the plastic handles or rubber gasket. Always check the gasket surfaces for debris as this can cause a cold air leak from the interior.

Cleaning the absorption cooling unit: This will help with the units overall efficiency and should be done every three months. Simply use a large, soft bristle brush and clean the dust and lint from the condenser fins (at rear top of cooling unit) and the coil pipes below. Keeping the area around and under the refrigerator clean will help prevent debris from being sucked into the burner tube. This is the most common problem with propane powered refrigerators not operating correctly.

Defrosting: The easiest way to defrost the refrigerator compartment is to do it overnight without turning it off. Simply turn the thermostat to minimum in the late evening and the ice should dislodged by morning. Using a plastic ice scraper on the fins at the rear of the refrigerator compartment can help with the thicker pieces of ice. Place a cookie sheet or towel under the fins to catch the ice. Never use a metal scraper or ice pick. Reset the thermostat to the original setting. The defrosted water from the refrigerator compartment will drain down the drain tube into the catch pan under the rear of the unit. It will eventually evaporate without harm, or it can be removed with a sponge.

Your gas refrigerator is now ready to continue giving you long years of service with just a little attention. If you haven’t yet made the move to propane refrigeration, why not give the experts at Gas-Fridge a call and learn more about propane refrigeration and maintenance needs for your propane appliance. We can be reached at 928-636-6674 to learn more.