Having problems with your refrigerator in the hot summer months is no joke, as you scramble to find a temporary home for your food to avoid it spoiling. It's generally a good idea to call an appliance repair person as soon as you notice an issue with your fridge, given that it might take several hours or even a day until someone can visit your home. Although you'll be primarily occupied with dealing with your food -- perhaps enlisting the help of a neighbor's fridge or a couple coolers filled with ice -- it's wise to invest a little time in preparing your fridge for the repair person. Some legwork now will shorten the length of the person's visit, which will save you money. Here are three important steps to take.

Unplug The Appliance

The very first thing you should do when your refrigerator starts acting up is to unplug it. Doing so has multiple benefits. If the appliance is having difficulty maintaining a cold temperature, the compressor will run consistently. This motor should only run on occasion and having it run around the clock drastically increases the risk of it burning out -- and costing you a lot of money to fix. Additionally, a constantly running compressor will unnecessarily boost your hydro consumption.

Empty Everything

While you'll probably rush to empty all the perishable food items from your fridge, you might be tempted to leave behind those that can survive for a short amount of time at room temperature, such as some bottled products or fresh fruit. You'll save the repair person's time by emptying everything from top to bottom before his or her arrival -- to access the back of the fridge and run some tests to determine the nature of the problem, the repair person's first step will be to remove everything.

Soak Up The Thaw

When your fridge's temperature begins to rise once you've unplugged it, the ice that has built up in the freezer section will melt. The water can fill the bottom compartment of the freezer and even spill out onto the floor. Use some heavy towels to line the bottom of the freezer to soak up the excess water and place other dry towels around the bottom of the appliance to avoid damage to your floor. As with the previous tasks, this job is something the refrigeration repair person would do soon after arriving at your home.