Frigidaire fridges are used by millions of people across the world. Like most fridges on the market, they also have styrofoam around some components.
This foam variety is quite similar to what we see in microwaves, air conditioners, and various other electrical appliances. Thanks to its low weight, it is considered the best material for packaging.
Frigidaire Styrofoam Inside Fridge
Most Frigidaire fridge models come with styrofoam around the control dial, vents, temperature control, etc. As mentioned earlier, the Frigidaire fridges are packaged in this foam. So, many users mistake them for leftover packaging material. However, as it turns out, that is not the case.
Why is Styrofoam Used in Frigidaire Fridges?
Styrofoam has a low thermal conductivity, making it an excellent choice for the insulator material. It is 98% air and traps the air in its tiny bubbles, disrupting the heat flow. This way, heat from the outside won’t invade the cool interior of your Frigidaire fridge.
The better the insulation, the better your Frigidaire fridge will retain its cooling. Without the styrofoam, your Frigidaire fridge will have to work hard to maintain the temperature. Not only will it affect its energy efficiency, but it will also take a toll on the components.
If your Frigidaire fridge keeps working without styrofoam insulation for a long time, the components will likely wear out sooner than their average lifespan.
Insulation
In addition to that, a good insulator improves the energy efficiency of your fridge. If the warm air finds its way into your Frigidaire fridge, the system will start consuming more energy, leading to hefty electricity bills. This can cost you an awful lot of money in the long run.
Surveys suggest that fridges are for around 20% of the overall energy consumption of your home. And it is seen that styrofoam improves energy consumption by as much as 60%. This is why it is important for the optimal energy efficiency of your Frigidaire fridge.
If your Frigidaire fridge is using more energy than it usually does, the chances are that its styrofoam has worn out. Although styrofoams are rigid, they can also wear out over time, and when they do, it will cause problems to your fridge.
Symptoms of Bad Styrofoam
Of course, the worn-out styrofoam won’t be able to keep warm air from entering the fridge. You may notice a decline in the cooling performance of your Frigidaire fridge, and the food may start rotting in severe cases.
Condensation is another common symptom often associated with worn-out or broken styrofoam. For those who do not know, condensation is when warm air cools and turns into moisture or frost.
Of course, it is a serious issue and can lead to several problems, which is why you should reach out to a professional at the earliest to get it fixed. If you notice excess moisture or a spike in energy consumption, it’s time to replace the styrofoam in your Frigidaire fridge.
Visit your nearby electrical appliance store to get a replacement and ask a trained professional to replace it. To avoid condensation, minimize the time the door of your Frigidaire fridge spends open. Many people make the common mistake of removing styrofoam and throwing it away.
Buying a Styrofoam Block
While purchasing a replacement, make sure to buy one with the right thickness, length, and width. It would be a good idea to take the worn-out piece with you to make sure you don’t end up buying the wrong one.
And yes, you can cut a big piece to bring it into different sizes and shapes. Using styrofoam of a different thickness level can cause your Frigidaire fridge to start making noise.
If you hear strange noises emanating from the unit after replacing the styrofoam, make sure that it has the right thickness level.
Replacing the Styrofoam
Replacing styrofoam is a pretty straightforward affair. With little DIY skills, you can also do it at home without the help of a professional. Before starting the procedure, make sure to turn off the fridge to ensure your safety. You don’t need any special tool to install new styrofoam.
However, you may need a screwdriver to remove a few screws depending on the location of the styrofoam. Some components are held in place with the help of screws. If you are to remove those screws, it would be better to put them in a container so you won’t have to search for them later.
Simply pull out the old styrofoam and put in a new piece. It will easily come off, and you won’t need to apply force. Once you have replaced it, put everything back into place. As you can see, the process was quite simple.
However, if you are unsure about it, it would be best to visit an electrician. They have all the tools and know what to do if anything goes wrong.
Modern fridges are complicated, and you must be careful while replacing the styrofoam around sensitive components, such as temperature control and control dial. The last thing you’d want is to damage your Frigidaire fridge while replacing the styrofoam.
And yes, if you hear a noise coming from your unit after putting in new styrofoam, reach out to an electrician immediately.
Apart from that, Frigidaire fridges come with a user manual that has all the information about the unit. It will likely have instructions regarding styrofoam replacement. So, consider going through it before replacing the styrofoam.
Styrofoam As a Packaging Material
Styrofoam offers many benefits over other packaging materials and is widely used in many electrical appliances. For starters, it is lightweight and doesn’t add much to the overall weight of a fridge. It costs next to nothing and is readily available all over the world.
In addition to that, styrofoam can resist the penetration of water to some extent and doesn’t absorb air moisture. However, it is important to note that it is not entirely waterproof.
Furthermore, it is quite durable and can retain its thermal properties for a long time. All these reasons make it a great packaging material.
The Bottom Line
The low weight and water resistance make styrofoam an excellent packaging material. It is also found around the vents, control dial, and temperature control in the Frigidaire fridges.
It acts as an insulator around these components and wiring. It prevents the warm air from entering the fridge, so it should not be removed.