How to Adjust the Temperature in Your Refrigerator During the Winter & the Summer
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While many people don’t pay much attention to the temperature dials inside the fridge, it is a good idea to keep your food at the right temperature because it is very important when it comes to matters of food safety. The number on the dials can sometimes seem complicated and most of the times make it hard for people to know whether the refrigerator is operating within the right temperature. If you are looking to avoid dealing with frozen lettuce and melted ice cream — or worse bacteria in your food — then you should consider adjusting the temperature so you can be able to cater for different situations and seasons.
When the thermostat of the fridge is adjusted, a device known as a thermocouple will be responsible for the maintenance of the required temperature. The in-built thermometer is going to send a message to the compressor that the desired temperature has been achieved, and it will shut down; it will also send a message to the compressor to turn back on when there is an increase in temperature.
The thermocouple is at the center of the operation of the fridge, but you are the crucial element for regulation of the temperature. You will be able to keep your food safe by having a good understanding of temperature control and knowing the ideal temps. You will be able to keep your energy bill consistent.
Make Adjustments
Most of the modern fridges come with a preset temperature, and you will need to learn how to tweak the temperature because the process will vary from one appliance to another. One of the best ways of learning is by going through the user manual that comes with the appliance. The make and model of your fridge are going to determine the time it is going to take to reach the desired temperature.
Food Storage Safety
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Bacteria that cause illnesses tend to thrive in temperature over 40 degrees F. According to USDA, it is important to have the fridge set at a maximum temp of 40 degrees Fahrenheit. This does not mean setting the temp as low as it can go. If you want to keep your food from freezing, you should have it between 38 and 40 degrees F. The freezer should be set at around 0 degrees because this is the best temperature to keep the food frozen.
Fridge Temperature
There are different factors that can have an effect on the temperature inside the fridge, including changes in temp as a result of the change in seasons. During the winter months, the temperature inside the home is lower, while it is higher during the summer months. Even if the door of the fridge is closed, the change in temperature inside your home is going to have some impact on the temperature inside the refrigerator and freezer. Opening the door is going to allow the cool air inside to come out and warmer air to get inside the freezer or refrigerator. The interior temperature can also be affected by leaks in the seals on the doors of the fridge.
How Temperature Controls Work
There is a common misconception people have when it comes to adjusting the dials of the refrigerator, that you can adjust the two dials independently, but this is not the case, save for the high-end models. The standard models don’t have this feature. One dial is for directing the unit to less or more cold air. The other one determines the amount of cold air that is going to be released into the fridge. If you want to know which knob does what, wait till you can hear the fridge compressor running then turn one of them to its warmest setting. If the compressor shuts down, then know you that is the temperature knob. If the compressor continues running, then that is the baffle control knob.
Adjustments of the Refrigerator Temperature
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The USDA and an experienced HVAC company in Spring Texas will always recommend the use of a refrigerator temperature instead of having to deal with the adjustments dials on your refrigerator. This is a device that has been designed to work effectively and accurately even at low temperatures found inside a freezer or refrigerator. If you want to take accurate measurements, take a glass of water then place the thermometer inside it then have the glass at the center of the fridge. Come back and have a look at the thermometer reading after about five to eight hours. If the reading is more than 40 degrees F, then you should do adjustment of the baffle knob so as to let more cold air enter the fridge, and this will lead to a lower temperature inside. If the reading on the thermometer is less than 38 degrees F, then turn the baffle knob the opposite direction so as to reduce the cold air flowing inside the freezer to the fridge. Once you have your temperature between 38 and 40 degrees F in the fridge, take the thermometer then put it between frozen foods packages inside your freezer then give it five to eight hours. If the reading is below 0, turn it up. If it is more than 2 degrees, turn the knob down because it is going to result in a lower temperature, bringing it closer to zero.