Eleven money saving tips that will extend the life of your refrigerator/freezer and lower the cost of energy in Atlanta.

To reduce the need of repairs, use the following preventative measures. Proper maintenance and care is essential in keeping your refrigerator and freezer running efficiently. Improper care will cause your unit to overwork by using more electricity to keep you clothes clean than if properly maintained. By following these tips, you can prolong the life of your refrigerator/freezer and avoid many costly repairs. Eleven money saving tips that will extend the life of your refrigerator/freezer and lower the cost of energy in Atlanta. 1. Always ship refrigerators upright. Placing the refrigerator on the side may cause a Freon leak that will prevent cooling. Placing refrigerator on its back will damage the condenser coils and cause the compressor to fail because if the unit is restarted before allowing the oil enough time to drain out of the lines and compressor back into the oil chamber. 2. Locate refrigerators away from heat sources like your range, a radiator, or a sunny window. To prevent overheating and system failure, do not locate the refrigerator near anything that can restrict the airflow to the motor, coils and compressor. Also, do not place refrigerators on top of carpeting because most condensers are located under the refrigerator and carpeting retains heat and restrict air flow. 3. To avoid burning out the compressor, always plug the refrigerator directly into the wall. If you absolutely need to run an extension chord, make sure a heavy duty, 3-pronged extensions cord. If unsure, consult the manufacturer specifications in the user guide. 4. Never run frost-free refrigerators with freezer compartments in unheated areas with air temperature below 60 degrees. When the air temperature goes below 60 F, the compressor runs less, keeping temperatures in the refrigerator compartment cold enough for fresh food but not cold enough in the freezer. At air temperatures below 40 F, the compressor stops running, so the freezer compartment rises to air temperature and food thaws and spoils. Also below 32 F, water melted during the automatic defrost cycle may freeze again and block air passages. 5. When leaving for an extended time like a vacation or other long trip discard perishable food, turn off the ice maker and leave the refrigerator on. 6. Do not over fill the refrigerator because cold air can't circulate freely to regulate the temperature food. 7. To prevent odors and food quality; cover or wrap all exposed foods. Clean up spills and remove spoiled food immediately 8. Clean the refrigerator/freezer regularly by taking out all food and removable interior parts. Wash with a mild house hold detergent or baking soda and rinse with warm water. Rinse and wipe dry. Take out removable glass shelves and plastic and repeat the procedure. Be careful not put cold glass or plastic in hot water; they may crack. Clean the door gasket with detergent solution; rinse and dry. Do not use abrasives. 9. Especially in warmer climates like Atlanta and its long hot summers, it is recommended to clean condenser coils twice a year by gently brushing off the buildup that may cause overheating. 10. Regularly clean the seals in order to maintain proper temperature control and system efficiency. Atlanta, Georgia has high humidity, to prevent mold growth, clean the seals monthly with warm water and a mild detergent 11. Sweep or vacuum dust and other debris under and around your refrigerator to promote good airflow and temperature. By following these tips, you can prolong the life of unit and avoid many costly repairs. Nonetheless, there are times when a repair is needed; in North Georgia contact Atlanta Refrigerator Repair. Atlanta Refrigerator Repair can fix most brands and models of refrigerators and freezer including Kenmore, Whirlpool, General Electric, Amana, Maytag, Jenn-Air, Insinkerator, Frigidaire, Sub Zero, Kitchen Aide, Magic Chef, and Scottsman. They repair most refrigerator problems including poor cooling, leaks, loud noises and icemakers. Attempting to repair a refrigerator or freezer without proper training and safety standards is dangerous. Refrigerators and freezers should only be repaired by skilled professionals who have the knowledge and experience to safely bring them out of disrepair. Repairs performed by unqualified people risk serious injury or even death. A relatively small outlet can easily carry 150 times the current needed to kill a person. Atlanta Refrigerator Repair can be reached at (678)-391-9243 or info@Atlantrefrigeratorrepair.com for fast, reliable professional service. They service most of Atlanta and North Georgia including Fulton, Cobb, Dekalb, Gwinnett and Cherokee Counties. Some of the municipalities serviced include Alpharetta, Roswell, Marietta, Decatur, College Park and Duluth. Proper maintenance and care is essential in keeping your refrigerator and freezer running efficiently improper care will cause your unit to overwork By following these tips, you can prolong the life of your refrigerator/freezer and avoid many costly repairs. By Manuel Enrique Lopez "QuiQue" is Chief Marketing Officer Home Partners Associates in Atlanta.

Fridges - A Brief History on how they have evolved

The chances are that you use your fridge every single day of your life, but I doubt you think about it very often. It just sits there, gently humming away, doing its job – it’s just part of life.

Yet before the 1920s, there were no fridges, and they weren’t mass-produced until after the Second World War. Instead, there were iceboxes, non-mechanical fridge-like cupboards that kept food cold using an enormous block of ice. Icemen had to come every day to deliver new blocks of ice for iceboxes, an expensive practice. Most homes didn’t have them, and instead had to settle for keeping things in cupboards and not eating anything that needed to be kept so cold.

The impact of the fridge on the post-war diet is not often looked at, but it has been huge. Fresh food like fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and dairy products can be stored for days or even weeks without spoiling, meaning that these things can be sold in shops more easily and eaten more often. Before, it would have been necessary to grow fresh produce in your garden, restricting you to foods that grew in your country and that were in season, but as refrigeration can be used during transport in refrigerated lorries and ships, fruit and vegetables from all over the world can now reach us without spoiling.

Today, fridges usually come in combined units with freezers, another endlessly useful 20th century invention. They can be built-in to the kitchen or freestanding, and often come with all sorts of extra features, such as the ability to produce cold water and ice on-demand from the front of the unit. Probably the most useful feature addition has been the advent of ‘frost free’ fridges, which use automatic temperature control to make sure that no ice forms inside the fridge.

Kitchen Shortcuts for Busy Families

Do you need to save some time in the kitchen, but are not quite ready to tackle a lot of freezer cooking just yet? Here are some shortcuts that work for my family, and might just fit with your family, too. Most of the meals my family eats start with the basics, like chicken and beef. A lot of grocery stores lower the per-pound price on meat when you buy in larger quantities. I buy 5 pounds of beef and 3 pounds of chicken at a time. All 5 pounds of beef get thrown in a pot and cooked while I’m cooking dinner that evening. The chicken also gets diced up and cooked. I then divide the beef into sandwich bags, 2 cups each. The chicken gets divided into approximately 1 ½ cups each. I never thaw out meat in advance now, because it only takes 4 minutes to thaw one of our pre-cooked bags in the microwave. As our lives have gotten busier, we have definitely learned to simplify our meals. I am the queen of one-skillet meals and simple dishes. My family enjoys tacos in a pan, goulash, macaroni & cheese with hot dogs, and a ton of other easy dishes. Keep a family favorites cookbook, and add to it when you find any new and easy recipes you would like to try. Determine the ingredients that you use on a regular basis, and keep stocked up on them. Make vegetables the easy way. Most dishes are even better when veggies are thrown into the mix. We try to eat vegetables every evening, so I have become pretty creative in slashing the task in half. Don’t be afraid to throw vegetables into skillet meals, or mix them up with dishes. This will save on washing an extra pot. My family just recently discovered steam fresh vegetable bags. They steam in the microwave in a matter of minutes, which makes the task of adding veggies to the menu even easier. Look for them in your grocery store’s frozen vegetable isle. There are plenty of ways to save you time in the kitchen, and spend a little more time enjoying meals with your family. Try out different techniques, and stick with what works. You don’t have to feel guilty for not making fancy dishes, as long as your family enjoys what you cook. In this day and age, you should feel good about the fact that you are cooking for your family, instead of eating out.