Southwestern Electric Cooperative

General Manager

Travis Sullivan

Address

216 Main St.

P.O. Box 369

Clayton, NM 88415

Telephone 575-374-2451

Toll-Free

866-374-2451

Fax

575-374-2030

Website www.swec-coop.org

Office Hours

7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Monday through Thursday

Board of Trustees

President

Joel Gilbert, Grenville-Sofia, District 1

Vice President

Joe Reeser, Sedan, District 2

Secretary-Treasurer

Jack Chatfield, Mosquero, At Large

Ron Green Des Moines, District 1

Mikael Nixon

Sedan, District 3

Roy Perschbacher

Hayden, District 2

Renee Rinestine

Nara Visa, District 3

Board Meeting

The board of trustees meets the first Tuesday following the third Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. in the cooperative boardroom. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Clean Your Refrigerator Coils

Your refrigerator is one of the largest, most heavily used appliances in your home. It requires minimal maintenance—just cleaning of the condenser coils, which disperse heat. If the coils are covered with dust, gunk or pet hair, they cannot diffuse the heat properly and will not run efficiently. A bigger problem can result if the compressor burns out from having to run constantly because of the grimy coating.

The bottom line? Cleaning the condenser coils once a year can save you money.

• Locate the refrigerator’s coil, a grid-like structure or fan that likely will have a covering or grate protecting it. The coils are usually concealed behind the front toe kick or on the back of the fridge. Some newer models have internal coils.

• If the coils are on the back, slide the refrigerator away from the wall, removing the plug from the outlet when possible. You may need to disconnect the line to the water dispenser or ice maker to allow enough room to work.

• Gently vacuum and clean the coils. Using the brush or crevice attachment, carefully vacuum the dust and dirt. If you have pulled out the fridge, vacuum and wipe down the sides and back of the fridge and the floor.

• Once the floor is dry, plug in the refrigerator and rearrange the power cord and supply lines so they don’t get kinked or stuck under the weight of the refrigerator. Slide the refrigerator back into place. If you removed the toe kick panel, be sure to replace it.