Top 5 Articles of 2014

The refrigeration experts at 24/7 Refrigerator Repair dedicate their time to share their wealth of knowledge to anyone who is willing to read it in the form of our official blog. Since August, we have published more than 25 blogs for our visitors to read and share. Now that 2015 is upon us, let's take a look at our 5 most-viewed articles from last year. If any of these articles interest you, click the title to be taken straight to the webpage.

5. 4 Foods That Shouldn't Be Refrigerated

Every household has their own unique set of rules about which foods should be refrigerated and which foods should be stored in the pantry. Some foods – such as ketchup or grape jelly – can safely be stored warm or cold, but there are four specific foods that shouldn't be refrigerated under any circumstance. Learn what those foods are in this article.

4. How to Properly Clean & Maintain Your Refrigerator

Like a car, your refrigerator will run for longer with a regular maintenance schedule. And because they store items such as raw meats, dairy, and leftover food, refrigerators can quickly develop bacteria and unpleasant odors if left unattended. This article gives a full maintenance and cleaning routine with detailed instructions to help extend your refrigerator's lifespan.

3. Benefits of Counter-Depth Refrigerators

Due to their aesthetic appeal and upscale appearance, counter-depth refrigerators are growing in popularity across the country. They are more than just a pretty face, however and offer many benefits to their owners. If you are thinking about investing in a counter-depth refrigerator for your kitchen or would like to learn more about the style, give this article a read.

2. Tips When Shopping for a New Refrigerator

Since the average refrigerator lasts roughly 12 years, it is not too often that you find yourself in the appliance store looking for a new one. So many advancements and improvements have been made to refrigerators in the past ten years, that it can be difficult to determine which models are better than others. If you are currently shopping for a new refrigerator, read this short article to help you pick the one that is best for you and your kitchen.

1. Different Products We Service

Even though we are named 24/7 Refrigerator Repair, we service more than just refrigerators. Our licensed technicians are experts in the restoration of all makes and models of freezers, ice makers, and wine coolers too. If you live in New York City or Long Island and are in need of a refrigeration repair service, see if we can help you out.

24/7 Refrigerator Repair is a repair service located in New York. Our technicians are certified to repair any make and model of refrigerator, freezer, or ice maker and have over 70 years of experience. Our vans are fully stocked with tools and spare parts, which allows us to provide 1-hour service to Long Island and New York City. To schedule a visit at your earliest convenience, call us at 866-782-9376.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Refrigerator

If you have recently purchased a refrigerator, you are aware of how expensive of an appliance it is. Chances are that your fridge set you back several hundreds of dollars, if not more. When making a purchase as expensive as a refrigerator, you want to get the most out of your money. These tips below will maximize your fridge's lifespan and help add to its everyday value.

• Follow a proper maintenance schedule. Following an adequate maintenance routine is the best way to maximize your refrigerator's lifespan. Staying on top of tasks like cleaning the condenser coils will cut down on the wear-and-tear of your fridge and keep it running efficiently. See an example of a good refrigerator maintenance schedule here.
• Stock your refrigerator and freezer. Your refrigerator and freezer both operate best when they are well-stocked. If your fridge is filled with items, they will help keep each other cold when the door is opened. In addition to reducing the amount of electricity that your refrigerator consumes, it should also make your perishable food items last longer.
• Store food in the right places. Different foods should be stored in different sections of the refrigerator. Items which are susceptible to spoiling, such as meats and dairy, should be stored at the bottom because that's where it is the coldest. Likewise, items like condiments should be kept on the door because temperatures fluctuate the most there. Everything you need to know about this can be found here.
• Move the fridge a couple of inches forward. In order to allow for proper ventilation, the back of your refrigerator should be at least six inches away from the wall. In order for a refrigerator to stay cool, it removes internal heat, which escapes through the back of the unit. Having adequate ventilation is a key for the energy efficiency and operation of your appliance.
• Stay organized. Keeping the inside of your refrigerator organized is the best way to maximize space. Instead of putting things wherever they will immediately fit, taking the time to sort your food out will let you fit more in your fridge than you knew was possible. Here are 8 tips to organizing your fridge.

If your refrigerator is malfunctioning, consider getting it repaired over replacing it. Repairing your refrigerator with 24/7 Refrigerator Service is fast and much cheaper than buying a new model. We offer around-the-clock coverage and have over 70 years of experience serving Long Island and New York City. Visit our website for more information, or connect with us on social media – we are active on both Facebook and Twitter.

How to Properly Stock a Refrigerator

When we get home from the grocery store, most of us want to put our food anywhere in the refrigerator that it will fit so we can get on with our lives. It usually doesn't get thought about, but where in the refrigerator we keep our food has a big impact on how long it lasts. Using this infographic from Greatist, 24/7 Refrigerator Repairs has produced a guide detailing which foods should go where in the fridge.

Top Shelves

The upper shelves of the refrigerator should be reserved for foods which do not need to be cooked, because the temperatures up here are a little warmer than the bottom of the refrigerator. Examples of items perfect for the top shelves are:

• Juice and Soda
• Leftovers
• Ready-to-eat foods

Bottom Shelves

As elementary school science taught us, warm air rises. This is true even inside your refrigerator, and it naturally causes the bottom shelves to stay colder than anywhere else in the refrigerator. Because of this, you should place food which is prone to spoiling here in order to preserve it for as long as possible. Some examples of these foods are:

• Dairy
• Raw Meat
• Eggs

Crisper Drawers

Those drawers located at the bottom of most refrigerators are called crisper drawers. The purpose of these drawers is to provide ideal conditions for fruits and vegetables. They are able to create this environment by producing humidity levels which vary from the rest of the refrigerator. You should keep your produce in these drawers, but keep your fruits and vegetables separated to maintain optimal freshness.

Door

When you open the refrigerator door, the items on it become surrounded by warm air, sometimes for extended periods of time. The temperature of the items on the door fluctuates more than anywhere else in the refrigerator, so it is recommended to keep items resistant to spoiling here such as:

• Condiments
• Water
• Juice and Soda

24/7 Refrigerator Service has been repairing refrigerators in Queens and Long Island for more than 50 years. We offer emergency service every hour of the day, and can be at your door within one hour. Because our technicians keep their vans fully stocked, most repairs are done on the spot. Don't trust anyone else to fix your refrigerator, freezer, ice maker, or wine cooler – dial 866-782-9376 today.

Refrigerator Cleaning Tips

Everyone knows how much of a chore cleaning the refrigerator can be. No matter how much precaution you take, unpleasant odors, spills, and sticky spots are inevitable. Use these tips from 24/7 Refrigerator Repairs to shorten your cleaning process.

Cover your shelves in plastic wrap.

Every thorough cleaning of the refrigerator includes the shelves. Most of the time, this means removing them and washing them in the sink. While this is a very effective method to keep the inside of your fridge looking like new, it can be time consuming. To clean your refrigerator shelves in seconds, line them with plastic wrap. Next time a spill occurs, simply remove the covering and your shelf is spotless again. Just don't forget to put another layer down afterwards.

Start from the top.

Use gravity to your advantage and always start cleaning from the top of the fridge and work your way down. Starting at the top will prevent bits of grime or dirty water from dripping down on to surfaces you have already cleaned. When cleaning the back wall, starting from the top will cause you to use less soap because it will trickle down and naturally clean the lower surface.

Don't forget the drip pan.

Not every refrigerator has a drip pan, but most that do often go neglected. To check your model, remove the grill on the bottom on the fridge and grab your flashlight. The drip pan should be easy to identify because it is meant to be pulled out. If it is your first time venturing down there, it may be wise to use rubber gloves. Drip pans which have never been cleaned can be home to mildew and a strong, unpleasant smell.

Eliminate the odors.

If a bad smell is lingering inside of your refrigerator even after cleaning it, don't panic. Stick an open box of baking soda on the top shelf and it should eliminate the odor within a day or two. For stronger odors, sprinkle vanilla extract on cotton balls and place them on a small dish in the refrigerator. This should have your fridge smelling great in just minutes.

24/7 Refrigerator Repairs has been servicing Queens and Nassau County for over 50 years. Our licensed technicians can service almost any make and model of refrigerator, freezer, ice maker, and wine cooler. As our name suggests, we are available at any hour on any day of the year. Call us today at 866-782-9376 to schedule an appointment or visit our website for more information.

3 Signs That You Need to Get Your Refrigerator Fixed

You may not realize this, but the common household refrigerator is actually a complex machine that has a lot of individual parts all working together to keep your food cold. If just one of these parts malfunctions, it could cause your whole refrigerator to stop working. Combine that with the fact that the fridge is the only household appliance to work 24 hours a day, and it is easy to see how breakdowns can occur. Luckily for you, 24/7 Refrigerator Repair has put together this list of common signs that you should get your fridge fixed so that you can address these problems before it is too late.

The Motor Doesn't Turn Off

It is normal for your refrigerator's compressor to cycle on and off throughout the day. It is not normal for the compressor to run all day, every day. If you feel like your refrigerator has not stopped running in a while, it may be in your best interest to get it checked out. Keep in mind that if you have recently adjusted the temperature settings, it is not uncommon for a refrigerator to run for up to 24 hours straight. However, if it has been going for days, there is most likely a problem – usually either with the thermostat or compressor. In either case, call a local appliance repair service, such as 24/7 Refrigerator Repair, to have a professional take a look.

Spoiled Food

All food will eventually spoil, regardless of how well your refrigerator is working. But when a lot of your food starts spoiling prematurely, this is a red flag. Food expiring well before it should is a sign that your fridge is not maintaining the temperature that it should be. There is no one problem that specifically causes this to happen – it could be an issue with the sealing system, coolant, compressor, or a number of other things. In order to correctly diagnose the problem and see if your refrigerator can be fixed, contact a local refrigerator handyman service.

Leakage

If you notice puddles of liquid forming either in the refrigerator or under it, there is a problem. This can range from faulty seals, which can be easily replaced for cheap, to a break in the tube channel, which is much more serious. If your fridge is causing liquids to pool, contact a professional immediately.

At 24/7 Refrigerate Repair, our technicians are familiar with all of these problems and the best ways to fix them. With over 60 years of experience, there is no better refrigerator repair service in all of Long Island or Queens. You can visit our website or like our Facebook page for more information. 

Source: eHow

Go Green: 7 Ways To Make Your Kitchen More Energy Efficient

Green. Ten years ago, this word was simply a color. Now, it is a lifestyle. Individuals and businesses alike are constantly changing in order to consume less energy and reduce their carbon footprint. These changes range from paying their bills online in order to reduce paper waste all the way to installing solar panels on their roof.

If you are thinking about joining the green movement, here are seven ways you can save both energy and money in your kitchen.

Buy Energy-Efficient Appliances. This is the most obvious step if you are in the market for new appliances. EngeryStar.gov is a great place to start your search. The Energy Star label is given to energy efficient products by the EPA. You can find a list of their most efficient products here.

Use the Right Sized Burner on Your Stove. This may sound minuscule, but putting a 6” pan on an 8” burner can waste almost half of the heat generated by your stove top. Also, covering your pots and pans with tight-fitting lids helps retain heat and allows for faster cook times.

Use the Microwave and Toaster Oven for Small Meals. Energy Star estimates that you can reduce energy by up to 50% when cooking small meals in a microwave or toaster oven instead of a conventional oven.

Location, Location, Location. Where in the kitchen you place your appliances can make a difference when it comes to energy efficiency. Refrigerators, for example, should be kept six to eight inches away from the wall, out of direct sunlight and away from heat-generating appliances such as your stove.

Be Mindful When Washing Dishes. If you don't have many dishes to wash, fill a large container with soapy water and another one with rinse water in order to avoid constantly running your faucet. If you have too many dishes for that, your dishwasher will actually be more efficient, as long as it is a full load. Also, pre-washing your dishes is not necessary. Most modern dishwashers are powerful enough to blast dirty food off your plates without the extra work.

Unplug When Idle. Even though you only use your toaster during the morning, it will use electricity all day if you leave it plugged in. Same thing goes for your coffee maker, electric can opener and waffle iron. Even when these devices are turned off, they are still using electricity if they are plugged in to an outlet. Unplugging your small appliances when not in use can result in noticeable savings on your utility bill.

Keep it Closed. Every time you open the refrigerator door, cold air escapes and the fridge must now work to restore its internal temperature. Constantly opening the oven door to check on your food while it's cooking does the same thing. Instead of opening the oven door to see if your food is ready, simply turn on the oven light and peek through the glass. When going to the fridge, you should already know what you want so the door stays open for as short of a time as possible.

A broken or defective refrigerator can also significantly hinder your energy efficiency. If you face this problem, the solution is simpler than you think. Instead of breaking the bank and buying a brand new model, give 24/7 Refrigerator Service a call at 866-782-9376. Our professional technicians have been repairing broken and busted fridges for over 50 years! With same day service to New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut at a great price, nobody beats 24/7 Refrigerator Service.

How to Choose the Refrigerator That is Best for Your Home

Anyone who has been appliance shopping in the past decade will tell you that it is not as easy as it used to be. Advances in technology have allowed appliances to come stocked with options that many of us have never even considered (like the drier that texts you when your clothes are done). On top of that, there are now thousands of models to consider, sometimes several hundred from the same manufacturer. 24/7 Refrigerator Service has put together this simple buyer's guide when purchasing a new refrigerator so you can spend less time in the appliance store and more time in the kitchen.

Step 1. Choose a size

Before you start thinking about anything else, it is important to know your size limitations. It doesn't matter if you found the refrigerator that is the perfect style and color and has all of your wanted features for 90% off the original tag price, if it is unable to fit in your kitchen you will have to return it. Measure the space that is available for your new model, then remeasure it and measure again. Also make notes of any obstacles that may restrict the opening of your refrigerator doors, such as the stove, cabinets, or walls.

Step 2. Choose a style

More than likely, your refrigerator will be sitting in your kitchen for at least the next ten years; it is important to pick one that you like. There are four main styles of refrigerators – top-freezer, bottom-freezer, side-by-side, and french-door – each offering their own unique benefits. Consider your family's food buying and consuming habits when making this decision, such as how much frozen food you buy compared to fresh food. These factors will often point you to the refrigerator style that is right for you.

Step 3. Choose your features

Now is the time to think about extra features that you may want in your new refrigerator. Sure you want it to keep your fresh foods fresh and your frozen foods frozen, but do you want any additional features? If your plumbing allows for it, you may wish to buy a model with a water dispenser and automatic ice maker. You may also want a refrigerator with adjustable shelves and drawers to ensure that your fridge will have the space to hold any food that you can buy. Temperature and humidity controlled zones are also common features that many appliance shoppers look for.

Step 4. Shop around

Once you have picked a refrigerator that is the right style for you and has all the right features (and most importantly, one that will fit in your kitchen), it is time to shop around. Do some research online to compare brands and models side-by-side and read reviews from other customers about specific model's functionality and reliability. Compare prices from online vendors and local appliance stores and find out what each price includes. Delivery, installation, removal of your old refrigerator and warranties are desirable options that may be included in the prices of some companies but not others.

After making a final decision, all that is left is to buy the refrigerator and put it in your kitchen. Before you buy a new refrigerator, it may be worth checking if your current one can be repaired for a fraction of the cost. If you live in the tri-state area, call 24/7 Refrigerator Service at 866-782-9376 for same day service. We have over 60 years of experience repairing refrigerators and can be at your door within an hour. You can also like us on Facebook for more refrigerator guides and tips.

How Refrigerators Work

Refrigerators are the most used appliances in our kitchens; sometimes being opened and closed dozens of times a day. Whether we reach our hand in for a can of our favorite soda or last night's leftovers, we always find it cold and refreshing. The science of refrigeration truly is a modern luxury, one that didn't exist a couple of centuries ago. Most of us don't think twice about it, but the refrigerator is something that is taken for granted in our every day lives. For those of you who are interested in the process of refrigeration or perhaps would like to learn a little more about an appliance that makes your life better, 24/7 Refrigerator Repair has put together a simple explanation of how your refrigerator operates.

The process of refrigeration is a continuous cycle, but before we explain that cycle, it is important to have some background information:

1. The temperature of a gas lowers when the gas expands.
2. When two surfaces of a different temperature make contact, the cooler surface becomes warmer and the warmer surface cools down. This is the second law of thermodynamics, according to academic textbook publisher Pearson.
3. If you have ever looked behind your refrigerator, you may have noticed a long pipe that winds back and forth. This pipe is hooked up to a motorized pump and contains a chemical coolant in it.

Now, with these three points understood, we can illustrate the process of refrigeration with help from Buzzle.

1. The refrigerant starts in a gaseous state and is passed through the compressor, which raises its temperature.
2. As the gas continues to move through the pipes, it loses its heat through fins in the back of the refrigerator, causing it to cool down.
3. The refrigerant, still in gas form, then moves to the condenser (different than the compressor) where its temperature is reduced and it is converted into its liquid form.
4. The liquid refrigerant flows through a part of the refrigerator known as the expansion valve, where it is exposed to lower pressure.
5. The lower pressure causes some of the refrigerant to evaporate and expand, thus lowering the temperature of the refrigerant.
6. Due to the second law of thermodynamics, the cold refrigerant cools the inside of the refrigerator and absorbs the heat of the food inside as it passes through. This causes the liquid to transform back into a gas.
7. This gas is sucked back into the compressor, and the cycle repeats itself.

At 24/7 Refrigerator Repair, our technicians not only know how refrigerators work, we also know how each part independently operates, why these parts break, and how to fix them. We have been repairing refrigerators in the tri-state area for over 60 years, providing outstanding service and workmanship to every customer. If your refrigerator is broken, call us toll-free at 1-866-782-9376 and we will be at your door in an hour; no matter if it's daytime, night time, or the weekend. 

 

8 Tips & Tricks to keep your refrigerator as organized as possible

Space in your refrigerator can be prime time real estate. It seems like we are always reorganizing food in order to get those last few items to squeeze in. Using these eight simple tips, you will not only have the most organized fridge of your life, but you will be able to fit more in it than you ever knew was possible!

Use a lazy susan to make sure that you never forget about food in the back of the fridge again.

(Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart)

Take this idea a step further with a lazy susan designed specifically for leftovers.

(Photo courtesy of Amazon)

Have loose beer bottles rolling around the fridge? A simple binder clip can solve that.

 (Photo courtesy of Check Me Daily)

Use the six pack containers that those bottles came from to organize your door.

 (Photo courtesy of Reddit user Neut12)

Turning magazine racks on their side gives you extra shelves in your freezer!

(Photo courtesy of Aunt Peaches)

Invest in an egg holder. It offers more protection than that flimsy foam you buy the eggs in and allows you to stack things on top of it. 

 (Photo courtesy of Space Savers)

Another alternative to keep your delicate items, such as eggs or bread, safe is to buy a shelf riser. This also maximizes your storage space.

(Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart)

Buy a wine rack to stack 2 liter bottles on their side without having to worry about them rolling around.

(Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart)

At 24/7 Refrigerator Service, we are always looking for ways to help our customers with their refrigerator-related problems. For over 60 years, we have been the tri-state area's leading repair service for your kitchen's most used appliance. This is because we keep 99% of our inventory in our “warehouse on wheels” so that we can be at your door within an hour of calling us. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more tips around the kitchen!