How Magnets are used in the Fridge

Most people are certain that the only magnets that are in contact with their fridge are those small ornamental fridge magnets that are sometimes used to hold up shopping lists and adorable photos of their children. This is however not true.

Your fridge door actually has a magnet inside it. The fridge is made of a metal and so when the magnet is placed there it attracts the metal in the fridge and the door closes smoothly.

Why the magnet

·         It becomes much easier to close the fridge door because there is minimal resistance from the weight of the door.

·         You will always be certain that the door is completely shut. This will save you a lot of money in temperature loss from an open door since it creates an airtight seal. It also ensures that your food cools properly making it last longer if it is stored in the right container.

What if it won’t close?

If your refrigerator door does not close any more it could be that the hinges are damaged or the rubber seal on it is faulty. The hinges can be tightened using a screwdriver if that is where the problem lies. If it is with the rubber seal then it needs to be replaced. You will know it is the rubber seal if you place a piece of paper on the door and then close the fridge door. Try pulling out the piece of paper and if it comes out with no resistance then the seal needs replacing.

You can also place your own magnets to make sure that your fridge door closes. Buy a few neodymium magnets from anywhere that is safe (you can get them online as well). An assortment of sizes may be best so that you have a variety to choose from. Once you get the magnets place them in the space between the outside of the fridge and the magnetic strips. Stack as many as you can until you find that your door closes with ease. It should not take very long and they will continue serving you for a long time.

How it came about

Old refrigerators did not have magnets in them. They just had a latch and that is what was used to close them shut. Just like any other electronic device newer models were introduced into the market and people discarded their old models.

Some would leave their fridges on their lawns but children would come playing in that area. Some children found these fridges a perfect place to hide during a game but they did not know that once the fridge was latched from outside it became airtight. There was also no way of unlocking it from inside. There were a number of incidences where children suffocated in disposed fridges while playing and people began a movement to make fridges safer. That is how magnets found their presence in fridges.

This method has proven to be very useful because small children cannot easily open fridge doors thus keeping it safe. Food also does not go bad fast.

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